The Love Dare: Day 16

DAY #16:  Love Intercedes

"Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers."  3 John 2

TODAY'S DARE:
Begin praying today for your spouse's heart.  Pray for three specific areas where you desire for God to work in your spouse's life and in your marriage.

MY REFLECTION:

I am definitely guilty of this.  I have tried too many times to count to change my spouse by whatever methods deemed necessary at the time.  Manipulation, coercion, begging, nagging, whining, pouting, griping.... I've tried it all.  None of it ever works!  That would be the definition of insanity.  A wise woman once told me that if something bugged you about your husband then you tell him once, then take it to God after that.  If it continued to bother me, then I was the one with the problem.  There should be a freedom in trusting the God of the universe who makes the impossible, possible, with our spouse.  I know that is easier said than done, especially when you feel like you have carpet burn on your knees for praying so much for them.  He hears every one of our prayers and knows the desires of our heart.  He also knows the desires of our spouses heart and has a plan for them that will only happen in His timing.  I believe that if we are having to wait on our answers for our spouse then the waiting process is more for our benefit than theirs.  We still have something that needs to be learned, a heart that needs to be patient, faith that needs to be built stronger.  We have to learn to love our spouse, for better or for worse, even if the worse seems more prominent.  God answers all prayers, sometimes the answer is "Yes", sometimes the answer is "No", and sometimes the answer is "Not right now."  The "not right now" answers are the hardest to accept because we live in a culture where everything is supposed to happen when we want it;  fast food, emails, text messages.  God doesn't conform to our way of our life, we are supposed to conform to His.  I prayed for Tommy tonight!  I prayed for his health, his work and his position in our household.  I prayed that God would speak to him on how to be a brighter light at work.  I prayed that God would give him ways to spend more time with our daughters.  And above all else, I prayed that God would speak to my husband about what his purpose is and to give him direction and insight.  Pray for your spouse.  It truly does work!

"If anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He listens to him."  John 9:31

 To read today's full dare from the book "The Love Dare" by Stephen & Alex Kendrick please copy and paste to your address bar the link posted below.

http://www.klove.com/blog/post/2010/01/21/Love-Dare-Day-16.aspx