Pray For Your Wife: 31 Day Challenge—Day Eighteen

Mike Leake 5 Comments

Day Eighteen: That she would be hospitable

Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. -1 Peter 4:9

Our wives hospitality is a great reflection of her grasp of the gospel. Hospitality is a reminder of our alien status. A wife that does not practice hospitality is likely a wife that is comfortably living the American dream. She has started thinking that she is at home and therefore has lost her sojourner impulse. Let us pray today that our wife would have a missional heartbeat. And part of this missional heartbeat would be a drive to open up her home so that the gospel might flourish.

Lord, thank you for my wife’s hospitable heart. Increase it. Help her to consistently have a sojourner impulse and not lay her roots too deeply in this world. Give my wife a missional heartbeat that constantly thinks of ways to fulfill the Great Commission. May her heart be ultimately others-focused for the sake of your glory. Thank you for making your home among us. Might we live the life of Immanuel. Amen.

Pray For Your Wife: 31 Day Challenge—Day Seventeen

Mike Leake 5 Comments

Day Seventeen: That her faith would increase

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”  -Luke 17:5
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” –Mark 9:24

I am continually encouraged by the Puritan adage that “a weak faith can lay hold of a strong Christ”. It is interesting that in Luke 17:5 when the apostles ask for an increase in faith that Jesus points them back to faith’s object. The vivacity of faith is not nearly as important as the One that we place our trust upon. Even still the Scriptures would have us grow in our faith as unbelief dwindles before the Lord. Let us pray today that our wives would increase in their faith. That she would trust the Lord and believe that everything God does is ultimately for her good.

Lord, I thank you for being faithful. You are mighty and worthy of every ounce of our trust. I’m very grateful that a weak faith can lay hold of a strong Christ, because Lord there are times when my faith is weak. I know this same thing is true of my wife. Father, would you graciously increase her faith in you today. Blow her away with your goodness and love towards her. Help her to see you and her heart to leap in faith and joy. Lord, my wife believes, help her unbelief.

Pray For Your Wife: 31 Day Challenge—Day Sixteen

Mike Leake 5 Comments

Day Sixteen: That she would be tender-hearted

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. -1 Peter 3:8

I remember early in my walk with Christ listening to a live Keith Green album. Before one of his songs Green prayed that his heart would have “baby skin all over it”. That is what I want to pray for our wives today. I want to pray that they (and we) would be tender hearted as the Scriptures command us to be. Let us not harden up our hearts to protect ourselves from the bitter world. Our wives are probably more naturally tender than us. Let’s fan that gift into a flame, men. Brothers, we need tender-hearted wives.

Father, I pray that you cause my wife’s heart to have “baby skin all over it”. Cause her to be tender hearted. Though the world may mock a sensitive heart, help her to know that it is very pleasing to you. May her heart be tender towards her church, her friends, her spouse, her children, herself, and more than anything may her heart be tender towards you. May the tender-heart of Jesus shine through the tender heart of my wife. Amen.

Pray For Your Wife: 31 Day Challenge—Day Fifteen

Mike Leake 5 Comments

Day Fifteen: That she would be wise

How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. –Proverbs 16:16

Our wives will make many decisions today. She needs wisdom to guide her. She will hear many messages today, many trying to subvert who she really is in Christ. She needs wisdom to guard her. Real wisdom comes from God and is found in the person of Jesus Christ. It is more valuable than any of the material possessions that our wives may be tempted to set their hearts towards today. Let us pray that as wisdom calls out that our wives would hear His voice. May she listen to the gracious words of Wisdom and not the serpentine words of a forked-tongued fool.

Lord, I pray today that my wife might be a woman that is characterized by wisdom. May she pursue it as she would pursue rubies, diamonds, gold, and silver. I know that you have already given her a great deal of wisdom. And I know that in Jesus Christ she has the storehouse of all wisdom and knowledge. May she draw from Him today. In moments of confusion help her to pause. Help her to look for you and to not lean on her own wisdom. I pray that she leans all of her weight on you and your wisdom. Amen.