Keep praying, keep believing, and then pray some more.
— Dineen Miller
The Lord revealed something to me this past week that showed me how vital our prayers really are.
Are you ready for a quick Bible study lesson? Turn to Daniel chapter 10.
Although I think it is beneficial to read the whole chapter for context, I specifically want to focus on verses 12 and 13.
Then he {the angel} said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. (Daniel 10:12-13, NLT, emphasis mine)
Daniel prayed here on Earth and Scripture tells us that his request was heard in heaven. God sent an angel to deliver a message in answer to his prayer. But between Heaven and Earth, a spiritual battle took place. An evil angel blocked God’s angel until Michael, one of the higher ranking archangels, came to help. It took 21 days for God’s angel to get to Daniel to deliver the message.
God places a very high value on answering our prayers. For most of us with an unbelieving spouse, it may seem as if it is pointless to pray because we do not see any result in our spouse. And, hey, we prayed once a while back for his salvation, so God should already be working on it, right? Yes, but these prayers may spark supernatural battles that we are not even aware of! Therefore, we should be in constant, persistent prayer for our husbands. If Daniel had stopped praying, he could have missed out on the blessing he received.
This passage brought me to tears when I first read it. To realize that there is a supernatural battle waging for my husband’s soul is not to be taken lightly. These verses reiterate how important it is to pray for our unbelieving spouse diligently, without ceasing. We cannot be saddened or disheartened if we do not see a change in our husbands’. God is doing His work in our spouse. Our job is to continue to pray.
As Dineen says, prayer is truly a journey. As we walk our own journeys of faith, prayer connects us with our Father and opens our hearts to what He has for us. It strengthens us and prepares us for the next step in our life journey. So, draw close to your Father as you pray for your unbelieving husband. Trust Him to answer those prayers in His perfect timing. Trust that He is fighting those spiritual battles for us and He is already VICTORIOUS!
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Let’s Pray:
Lord, thank you for your Word and for teaching us through your Holy Spirit. Help us to become prayer warriors for our unbelieving spouses and to draw strength from you as we continue to walk this unequally yoked journey. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Your Assignment:
Comment below answering the following question – Do you find it difficult to pray for your unbelieving spouse? Why or why not? My challenge to you today is to write out a prayer for your spouse and tuck it into your Bible (you don’t have to post it here)!
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For the “Winning Him Without Words” Bible Study, you will need the book, your Bible, pen or pencil, a highlighter and a quiet place. You can order the book right through our website by clicking the “sign-up here” button at the top of our webpage; which is also where you can sign up to participate in this awesome bible study!
I love this. It holds true for ALL areas of life. My favorite line: "Yes, but these prayers may spark supernatural battles that we are not even aware of! Therefore, we should be in constant, persistent prayer for our husbands." This is so true, ladies! I'm blessed to have a believing husband, but it wasn't always this way. Keep Praying. Don't Lose Hope. God hears you! Great job today, Jen!
Thank you, Shandy. The Lord just keeps impressing on me how important prayer truly is in my walk in an unequally yoked marriage. When he showed me Daniel this week, I was just overcome. Prayer is unbelievably powerful. We can't stop! Thanks for your comment, Shandy!
What an encouraging post, Jennier! Prayer is the only answer <3
Always and forever, dear Megan! 🙂 Thanks!
Amen, we need to pray without ceasing for our husbands regardless of whether we feel the prayers are being answered or not. Thank you for this wonderful blog.
Absolutely!!! Even if we don't see a change, we don't know what is going on behind the scenes!!! Thanks, Jackie!!
oh, jennifer, (except for LOVE, which God has clearly told us is the MOST important thing) i don't know if there is ANYthing else more important to be doing than praying for our husbands. i love where you wrote: "…draw close to your Father as you pray for your unbelieving husband. trust Him to answer those prayers in His perfect timing. trust that He is fighting those spiritual battles for us…." endeavoring to do so! you and shawn remain in my prayers. <3
Jennifer, you did a wonderful job on your blog. I can tell that these verses in Daniel really become a rhema word to you to pray for your husband's salvation. Ironically, years ago, they did me, too. And after a three week Daniel fast with my church, I heard from the Lord and got peace about his salvation. But, I didn't stop praying for him; I am just in another season of life where my prayers for him are different. You are so right – -we are in a battle for our husbands.
Yes, they really struck a chord with me this week. It really helped give me focus to my prayers and why I need to be persistent with them!
Thanks my friend!! 🙂
I don't have enough superlative words for this blog Jennifer! Absolutely awesome! Love it <3 A friend and I were just discussing last night the spiritually warfare that is taking place over our husbands. I had forgotten about Daniel. Thank you for bringing back to my attention. This is such an encouraging post. I pray seemingly continuously for My husband. It is not difficult for me for me, I just become discouraged and weary when it seems like there are no improvements. Thanks for the reminder that the battle is still being waged.
Aw, thanks so much!! I'm glad the blog spoke to you. The battle we fight is not against the flesh, but against the darkness in the world! We must always remember that!!
Thanks Jennifer for this reminder to NOT STOP!. after praying for 33 years I have felt like "really what others word can I use Lord" and God has shown me that its not the words Beverly, it's your persistence to see and experience the result….well you know what I may never see this come to pass in my lifetime…but I can "keep praying" and not let the enemy think that he has him….I have got the muscle and the endurance to keep praying and I WILL….
I love the illustration of building our 'prayer muscles'! God is faithful and His will be done in His good time! Persist, sister.. you are a warrior!
Jennifer, what an awesome post today. I have to be honest with myself and God, that praying for my husband has been extremely difficult for me. Many things have happened in the last 8 years that have left a lot of pain and very deep scars. I know that God has called us to forgive, which I can honestly say that I have. I am just learning to move past the pain. God is healing me, restoring my marriage and and showing me that I can let go and love those that have hurt me, including my hubby.
Thank God for his mercy, for I know that I am not where I need to be but I'm not where I used to be!
Since you are being honest, I will be honest in my reply. I have been hurt, too, but it is only through my faith and trust in God that has allowed me to move from where I was to where I am. I love your last sentence. God can take broken things and make them brand new. I think we are both a testament to that. Even if we are not fully there yet – we are a long ways from where we used to be. And it is because of Him. All Him.
Amen Jennifer. Praise God for all things new!
This is such an encouragement today Jennifer! I do not have a husband, but I have two brothers who have turned from the Lord, I pray for them daily and often get discouraged about praying daily wondering if anything really will ever happen. Thanks for this post!! It reminds me that praying really is the only way or thing I can do in this situation.
Absolutely, Diane! Thank you!!
Jennifer GREAT job!! I loved it!! I'm so amazed by God!!
Thanks Donna!
Amen, Jennifer! Our battle is not with our husband's or even with their unbelief. The battle is with the enemy who wants to keep them blind. When we stand in our faith (with our armor!) and pray, God fights the battle with us! He could do it by Himself but He chooses to work with us. That's a partnership that can't fail!