Many Christian parents begin praying for a future spouse for their children, even while they are still in the womb. This practice is good and appropriate. The choice of a spouse is one of the most important decisions a person will ever make.
As a young person grows up, the day may come when he or she will take a personal part in these prayers. There is no set time when this involvement should begin. However, as soon as a boy or girl becomes aware that marriage is an institution designed by God, a wise parent will want to pray with the child for a future spouse. As a young person matures, these prayers will take on more and more significance.
Perhaps there are young people reading this article who wonder how they can effectively pray for a spouse. They may question what should they pray for specifically in this matter? Or, does praying for a future spouse really have any benefit? What might happen if a person just waits and sees what God brings? Or, are there specific things someone can pray for now that will lay a solid foundation for a healthy marriage in the future?
Here are a few practical considerations to take into account when praying for a future spouse:
Pray that your future spouse will be sanctified.
Before praying that God will lead your future spouse to you, pray that God will lead that future spouse to Himself. To sanctify means simply to “set apart for God’s use.” Pray that God will sanctify your future spouse by His Word and His Holy Spirit. A good verse to meditate upon is John 17:17, where our Lord Jesus prayed for His disciples: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
Pray that you will be equipped to meet the needs of your spouse.
Even before you know what particular needs your future spouse will have, it is important to pray that the all-knowing Lord will prepare you to meet those needs. Long before Ruth met Boaz in the fields around Bethlehem, the Lord was already equipping Boaz with the skills, temperament, and character qualities that would make him a suitable match for Ruth. Likewise, God is now building into you the virtues that you will need to be a help meet for your spouse.
Pray that your future spouse will be equipped to meet your needs.
When we humbly recognize our own spiritual and physical needs, we are able to pray more effectively for our future spouse. A man who struggles with laziness might pray that God will give him a diligent wife. Meanwhile, he should still continue to repent of his laziness and forsake known sinful habits.
A young lady who is prone to gossip might pray that the Lord will develop discretion in her husband so that he can effectively help her to control her tongue. Yet, in the meantime, she should continue working on eliminating her bad habits in the present. This kind of prayer regarding strengths in one’s future mate takes humility. It is a humble man or woman who is truly equipped for marriage.
Pray that your future spouse will be kept pure in heart and body.
In a world of impurity and vice, it is appropriate to pray that your spouse would be preserved from the evil of this world. A pure heart is a treasure that is very rare in this world. A good verse to consider and pray is I Thessalonians 5:23, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
