Lord, thank you for the gift of my wife. The way she loves me and our family is humbling and inspiring. She selflessly gives her time, talents, and resources so we can live our lives more fully. So often, she willingly and joyfully sacrifices her own goals and dreams so we can accomplish ours.

I know I often take these sacrifices for granted. I see them as something I’m intitled to, and by doing so, set an example for my kids to do the same. I don’t always love and care for her in a way that honors both her and you. Sometimes I focus on my own needs instead of working to better meet hers. It is easier to focus on her weakness rather than the ways I can strengthen and build her up.

Empower me by the Spirit to walk with my wife in love. Instead of being irritable and bringing my stress home from work, help me give her a sense of joy and peace. When I could choose to be short-tempered or angry, help me choose patience, gentleness, and self-control. Let her see my desire to offer faithfulness, kindness, and goodness instead of living to please myself. (Galatians 5:22-23) Give me strength to forgive her flaws and failures just as Christ Jesus forgives me.

You say as a husband I should “walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.” (Ephesians 5:1-2) I can only love my wife like that if you show me the depth of your love for me. I know I will let her down at times. When I do, help me show humility to admit my wrong and seek to make it right. Give me strength to pursue her heart and be intentional about loving her well. Help me rejoice in the wife of my youth (Proverbs 5:18) and delight in her over any other earthly treasure and blessing.

Amen.

Follow God’s example, therefore,
as dearly loved children
and walk in the way of love,
just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us
as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Husbands, love your wives,
just as Christ loved the church
and gave himself up for her to make her holy,
cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
and to present her to himself as a radiant church,
without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish,
but holy and blameless. In this same way,
husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies.
He who loves his wife loves himself.
(Ephesians 5:1-2, 25-28)