20 Prayers to Pray Over Your Spouse and Marriage

Do you have a regular habit of praying for your spouse? Does it sometimes feel like you want to pray for your marriage, but you feel unsure of the words to say?

Prayer has the power to bind a couple together like nothing else. Making time to seek the Lord together and individually is a key part of a strong and unified marriage. This is how you bring the celebrations and concerns on your heart and your spouse’s heart to the Lord. What a powerful opportunity!

Whether you have a regular habit of praying for your spouse or are feeling stuck in knowing how to pray, we wanted to share a few prayers you can use this week and beyond! Many of these are from our 101 Prayers for Mr. & Mrs. book.

Psalm 145:18 says, “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” Through prayer, we have the opportunity to speak to the Father, to share our concerns, and most importantly, to align ourselves to His purpose and will in our life and in our marriage.

Here are 20 prayers to pray over your spouse and marriage:

1) Pray for Forgiving Hearts

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:31-32

Lord, we don’t always fight fair. Our anger brings out ugly words and accusations. We give in to rage, losing control and each other’s hearts in the process. Bitterness is revealed as old hurts and frustrations come spilling out. The damage sometimes can feel beyond repair.

We pray for a new spirit between us today. Help us to forgive and heal the past. Give your grace that shows mercy and offers a chance to get it right. Quiet us so we’re calm, gentle, and sincere. Enable us to be tender and close again. Amen.

2) Pray for Cherishing Our Spouse’s Unique Qualities

“Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the young women. Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men.” – Song of Songs 2:2-3

Lord, you created our marriage as a priceless gift from you. Yet our busy, distracted days take our eyes off one another. We can feel taken for granted. We focus on our faults instead of our strengths. We forget the delight we used to feel when our love was new.

Help us to recapture the joy in our marriage. Remind us of the unique qualities that set our loved one apart. Teach us to cherish our partner as the one we desire and value the most. Restore our passion and love. Amen.

3) Pray for Love and Respect with Your Spouse

“However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” – Ephesians 5:33

Lord, you know how we’re made. A wife’s put-downs and critical remarks cool the warmth in her husband. His harsh behavior and selfishness bring him down in his wife’s eyes. As tenderness and respect are lost, hard feelings build a wall too high to climb.

Teach us a better way. Silence any words that hurt or dishonor our loved one. Deepen our compassion and commitment. Pour your love into our marriage so we give ourselves fully to one another. Let us be a picture of how Jesus loves the Church—with humility, sacrifice, and devotion. Amen.

4) Pray to Be Rich in Love

“Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.” – Proverbs 15:17

Lord, our marriage is one of the greatest blessings you’ve given. Keep us from trading a close, loving relationship for the pursuit of success and material gain.

Let our love bring us greater joy than anything money can buy. Fill our home with the treasures of kindness, respect, and grace. Satisfy our desire for happiness through the affection and encouragement we share. Teach us to care and serve each other well. Shield us from fear as we both put our trust in you for everything. May we be content as we live in your love—and the joy of our marriage—every day. Amen.

5) Pray Our Eyes Would Be Open

“See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” – Psalm 139:24

Lord, so often I’m blind to my own faults. I don’t realize my words are hurtful. I miss opportunities to show kindness or compassion. Wrapped up in my own concerns, I fail to put others first. I forget to pray or keep the promises I’ve made. In my distraction and self-focus, I sin. I need you to shine your light in the hidden corners of my heart.

Examine me and reveal which attitudes need mending. Interrupt my habits to teach new patterns of living and loving. Soften my stubborn heart and give me humility to take advice. Make me new so I bear the fruit of your Spirit. I want to obey without compromise. May I live a life worthy of the calling I’ve received from you (Ephesians 4:1). Amen.

6) Pray for a Helping Hand

“If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” – Ecclesiastes 4:10

Lord, all my life, I’ve been pushed to be independent. Self-sufficient. Quick to act and slow to show emotion. I’m praised for helping others but shamed if I need help for myself. Yet as my loving Father, you created me to live in community. You crafted friendship, marriage, and your church so I could walk through this world with support at my side.

Show me how to develop authentic relationships with others. When I’m tempted to tackle my challenges alone, give me courage to reach for help. Make me transparent so I share my struggles with those who can help me grow. Teach me to be a loving friend like Christ, especially to my spouse. Move me from loneliness to closeness with those you’ve placed in my life. Amen.

7) Pray for Faithful Love

“’The man who hates and divorces his wife,’ says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘does violence to the one he should protect,’ says the Lord Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful.” – Malachi 2:16

Lord, we put our marriage in your hands today. To hate our loved one is to harm ourselves. Where there is distance, draw us close. Where there is hurt, bring healing. Where there is anger, bring peace and forgiveness. Where there is bitterness, bring warmth and affection.

Protect us from temptation to betray our love. Give compassion and loyalty that never fails. Keep us from hardened hearts that reject the one we should cherish. Sustain our love and devotion. We want to bless one another always. Amen.

8) Pray to Be Filled By the Spirit

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22-23

Lord, without your Spirit’s help, we go our own way. We’re easily irritated. We fight for our rights. We hold a grudge. We’re rude and harsh in our anger. We give in to temptation. We judge and criticize. We step on others to come out on top. There’s no mark of your love to be seen.

Do your work to make us like Jesus. Send us out as peacemakers in the world. Teach kindness and compassion in our home. Make us quick to forgive and slow to become angry. May we love each other well, living in the joy of unity with you and each other. Amen.

9) Pray Two Would Be As One

“Haven’t you read,…‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?'” – Matthew 19:5

Lord, you called us to be joined together. You began your supernatural work of making us one. Teach us how to create a household of our own. Let us face forward as we leave the past behind. Turn the allegiance of our hearts from our childhood families to one another.

We want to be each other’s greatest source of comfort, joy, and influence. Show us how to work as a team. Enable us to share every burden and confide our deepest hopes and fears. Grow our love and devotion to surpass all other relationships. Unite us so we’re never separated in this life. Amen.

10) Pray for a Quiet Anger

“In your anger, do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.” – Psalm 4:4

Lord, we can be so angry sometimes. It fills our minds and keeps us up at night. We feel disrespected. Mistreated. Betrayed. We crave justice and a chance to speak our mind.

In our frustration, keep us from lashing out or demanding our rights. Keep our attention on where we need to grow and lean into our trust in you. Let us respond to arrogance with humility, selfishness with giving, and slander with quiet grace.

Give us loving hearts like Jesus, who endured every kind of suffering for our sakes. Soothe our anger and give us your peace. Amen.

11) Pray for Humble Hearts

“For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” – Matthew 23:12

Lord, life with you is a paradox that challenges my natural thoughts and feelings. Your Word teaches that those who humble themselves will be exalted. I know that is not my tendency! Every day, I am tempted to aim for first place, especially in my marriage. I strive for my own desires, indulge my ego, and focus on myself.

Help me to humbly put my spouse first. Forgive me for pridefully thinking my own needs are the priority. Through your Spirit, teach me how to consider others as better than myself and set aside personal selfish ambitions (Philippians 2:3). Amen.

12) Pray for God’s Power in Hard Situations

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.” – Zephaniah 3:17

Lord, we ask you to work in the details of the pain we are walking through. We know that you are in control. Forgive us when we trust in our own wisdom rather than seeking you. Keep us from allowing fear to guide our actions. Use this struggle to light a fire of faith in us, as you demonstrate your power.

Reveal yourself as the Mighty Warrior who saves the ones you love. Keep us anchored in your hope. Teach us how to speak encouraging words and show love through our actions. Move through our prayers and do a miracle so everyone can know what an awesome God you are. Amen.

13) Pray for Openness to God’s Counsel

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go… Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.” – Psalm 32:8-9

Lord, we confess that we’re often stubborn and must be forced to go your way. We say we want to do your will, but when you ask us to step out in faith, we feel too afraid to obey. When you instruct us to wait on you, we try to take control and make things happen in our own power.

Build our faith to believe your promise to lovingly lead and provide as we trust you. Remind our hearts that you’re eager to reveal your will. We know your plans are best, and we praise and worship you for your faithful love. Amen.

14) Pray for Your Marriage to be a Reflection of God’s Love

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” – 1 John 4:8

Lord, your love is perfect. You’re slow to become angry, you’re full of grace, and you never treat us as our sins deserve (Psalm 103:8,10). You never leave our side, and you rescue and delight in us (Zephaniah 3:1). Because of you, we are forgiven and set free to love others like Jesus.

Keep teaching us how “wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” (Ephesians 3:18). Show us what it means to love each other through our words, actions, and the attitudes of our hearts. Protect us from becoming hard-hearted or holding bitter grudges. Let your love be displayed in our marriage, for your glory. Amen.

15) Pray for a Willing Spirit

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure…” – Philippians 2:14-15

Lord, heavy traffic or long lines at the store can sour my mood in a moment. When I feel like my spouse isn’t hearing me or helping me, it can drive my frustration through the roof. Instead of serving others, I’m tempted to ignore their needs.

Show me how to move from grumbling to gratitude in my heart. Your call to do everything with a willing spirit is an impossible task without your help. Set me free from the habit of dwelling on negative thoughts. Replace my complaining with words of prayer and praise. Let your joy be my strength so that I’m diligent to care for my spouse and the others in my life. Amen.

16) Pray for Grateful Hearts

“They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.” – Psalm 36:8

Lord, help us to cultivate hearts of gratitude, to “taste and see that you are good” (Psalm 34:8). When the world pushes us towards discontentment or despair, show us how to pull up a chair to your table and feast on your love, mercy, and truth.

Satisfy our thirst with your living water. If our human relationships leave us lonely for connection, remind us that in you alone, we find perfect love. Discouragement can cause us to forget your mighty kindness, so we ask for eyes to see your goodness in every situation. Make us steadfast in praising you, Jesus. Amen.

17) Pray to Honor God with Finances

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” – 1 Timothy 6:10

Lord, you know the cravings of our hearts. We are tempted to find security in our bank account. We are attracted to new possessions and experiences that money can buy. We compare ourselves to others who gain the material things of this world. Our affections are torn between loving you and loving money.

Spare us the grief of a divided heart. Help us to devote ourselves fully to Jesus. Teach us to value our heavenly treasure above anything we could buy today. Let us keep money in its proper place as a tool to meet our needs and bless others in your name. Amen.

18) Pray for Growth in Godliness

“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” – 1 Timothy 4:8

Lord, we want to reflect your character, both as individuals and as a couple. Show us how to grow. We strengthen our bodies by working out and eating healthy foods. We educate our minds by studying and gaining knowledge. Yet as worthwhile as these pursuits may be, they can’t compare to growing closer to you.

Give us endurance every day to pursue godliness. Show us the rewards for cultivating a relationship with you above all else. Remind us that earthly ambitions will pass away, but living for you holds promise for this life and the eternal life to come. Amen.

19) Pray for Trust in God’s Provision

“…for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” – Matthew 6:8

Lord, you know everything the future holds. No crisis will catch you off guard. Because you’re in control of all things, we don’t have to fear tomorrow. Like an attentive Father, you watch over us every moment. If we grow tired, afraid, or discouraged, you draw close to build us up. Your Word holds the wisdom we need for whatever comes our way. Perfect love never lets us go.

Thank you for your loving care. Help us walk in bold confidence because you’re with us. Teach us to abide in you every moment. Let peace and hope fill our life as we learn to trust in your loving provision. Amen.

20) Pray for Joy in Your Marriage

“Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” – Nehemiah 8:10

Lord, we know that happiness is a feeling that comes and goes based on external circumstances, but joy is the internal peace and hope we receive from your Spirit. This joy can stay with us even if we’re suffering in the darkest valleys of life. Help us pursue joy in our marriage. Remind us that our relationship is a gift from you.

When we grow weary, joy offers strength and contentment right where we are. Fill us with the sustaining joy that only comes from your presence (Psalm 16:11). Give us steady hope as we trust in your promise to show new compassions every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). With joy, we have the strength we need. Amen.

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We hope these prayers help re-center your focus on Christ in your marriage, and support the unity and partnership you have with your spouse!

If you’d like even more resources to help you nurture your practice of praying for your marriage and more, check out our FREE 30-Day Prayer Journey to get daily encouragement that will help you stay rooted in God: