Marriage Monday - Power of a Praying Wife Week 15

A good reputation is a fragile thing, especially in this day of rapid communication and mass media.  A reputation is something to never take lightly, but something to guard.  A reputation can be ruined simply by something said out of anger, being at the wrong place at the wrong time, or by the people who we are associated with.

We must take care of our reputation.  Treated it with delicacy, living with integrity.

But there are times when a reputation can be harmed at no fault of our own.  Sad but true. These times hurt.  Hurt badly.

I think of that game we play as children, telephone.  We sit in a circle and whisper into someone's ear, then they whisper into the next person's ear and so on.  As the message continues passing, it changes.  The same happens in the real world.  Someone misunderstands something and the message continues to pass from person to person.  In these times we must turn to God and pray the truth come to light.

Praying for your husband's reputation is must.  It is something that needs to be done regularly, not once.  But remember that he has a free will and he must be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Pray that he would listen closely to what God is speaking to him.  If his reputation is ever at stake, pray that God will redeem the situation as only He can.

This week's prayer:

Lord, I pray that {husband's name} will have a reputation that is untarnished.  I know that a man is often valued "by what others say of him" {Proverbs 27:21}, so I pray that he will be respected in our town and people will speak highly of him.  You've said in Your Word that "a curse without cause shall not alight" {Proverbs 26:2}.  I pray that there would never be any reason for bad things to be said of him.  Keep him out of legal entanglements   Protect us from lawsuits and criminal proceedings.  Deliver him from his enemies, O God.  Defend him from those who rise up to do him harm {Psalm 59:1}.  In You, O Lord, we put our trust.  Let us never be put to shame {Psalm 71:1}.  If You are for us, who can be against us {Romans 8:31}?

Your Word says that "a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire" {Matthew 7:18-19}.  I pray that my husband will bear good fruit out of the goodness that is within him, and that he will be known by the good that he does. May the fruits of honesty, trustworthiness, and humility sweeten all his dealings so that his reputation will never be spoiled.

Preserve his life from the enemy, hide him from the secret counsel of the wicked. Pull him out of any net which has been laid for him {Psalm 31:4}.  Keep him safe from the evil of gossiping mouths.  Where there has been ill spoken of him, touch the lips of those who speak it with Your refining fire.  Let the responsibility of those involved be revealed.  Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion who seek to destroy his life; let them be driven backward and brought to dishonor who wish him evil {Psalm 40:14}.  May he trust in You and not be afraid of what man can do to him {Psalm 56:11}.  For You have said whoever believes in You will not be put to shame {Romans 10:11}.  Lead him, guide him, and be his might fortress and hiding place.  May his light so shine before men that they see his good works and glorify You, Lord {Matthew 5:16}.

Amen