We all understand the power of words and I believe that power is available to build a marriage or tear it down. Psalm 14:1 The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down. I think we can easily switch the word mouth for hands..

Marriage is a picture of the covenant relationship between Christ and His Bride, the Church. That is important to keep in mind and I believe why the enemy hates our marriages so much! He is the same sly serpent that went after the first marriage in human history and his aim is to steal, kill and destroy ours. But Jesus is GREATER and He has equipped us through the words of our mouths, through what we say to our husbands, what we declare over them and how we intercede to the father for them, to build our marriages and our house with such impenetrable walls that the enemy will find no breach in our walls where he is allowed to enter.

Whenever I practice this truth in marriage I see amazing results. Our husbands bloom under our praise. What is it that you need to declare over them? Health, discipline, creativity, opportunity, wisdom, patience, prosperity. We love our husbands but sometimes we forget to declare the word over them. Our words spoken into their lives and our words spoken in intercession for them have great power. 

The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. James 5:16

When they are blessed so are we! Notice in Ephesians what should be coming out of our mouths towards our husbands; esteem, admiration and praise. 

Ephesians 5:33

33However, let each man of you [without exception] love his wife as [being in a sense] his very own self; and let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates, and esteems him; and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly]. [I Pet. 3:2.]

I want to share a story that took place 42 years ago and not only saved my marriage but set it on a new track. This story certainly reflects my immaturity at 29 years old and my strong willed personality, neither of which I am proud of. However I believe it also highlights one of he greatest secrets to staying in love with your spouse, a truth that does not change with passing years. When our first born was just 2 years old my husband had lost a very successful business and became unemployed. During this time his self esteem seemed to plummet. As his self confidence diminished my respect for him seemed to follow the same trajectory. Soon I found myself only able to see his shortcomings and faults and I found myself falling out of love with the man of my dreams. I knew we were in trouble because I was ready to take matters into my own hands, get a job and leave if necessary. My survival instinct was much stronger than my faith. Fortunately I thought of one person I thought might be able to help. So I called Ed Klein. I remember saying that he needed to come down to counsel us or I was leaving! In retrospect the ask and the threat amaze me. However  true to Ed’s form he was at our house two days later, a mere 12 hour drive! Ed took me for a walk, which was his normal counseling office. He let me go on about all Dave’s shortcomings. Then he simply asked me what I loved about him. I remember saying I couldn’t think of anything! That’s ok said Ed, we will just walk until you do! Finally I said he was a good dad. So Ed told me to tell that to Dave. Every day. Then try to add one thing a day to that. Ed was my mentor and I usually just did what he asked, although I remember how hard this was. You see my eyes had been blinded to Daves amazing qualities and my heart had grown hard. I can’t remember if it took a couple of weeks or a month but I do remember that as I added to the list of genuine compliments daily two things happened. First my heart did a 180. I fell back in love with my husband and two, my husband changed. The words I spoke to him and I am sure the prayers of Ed and Colleen turned everything the enemy was trying to due to dust. My heart was changed, my eyes were changed and my husband was changed. Ladies this is not a lesson easily forgotten. It has sustained our marriage through many years and many trials. Forgotten occasionally but always come back to. 

Remember Proverbs 18:21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue…

Proverbs 12:25 says that “Heaviness in the heart of man makes it stoop: but a good word makes it glad.” and “pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones” (Proverbs 16:24

Sometimes thats all it takes, a good word…..

We live daily with our husbands. We know there strengths and talents and skills. Are we praying that they would increase? We also know their areas of weakness, foibles and troubles. Lets identify them and pray they would be strengthened or eliminated! 

Pray over your husband when he is sleeping. Pray for him daily. If you truly want the man of your dreams find out what his are and pray God would manifest them in his life . 

Speak life into him and your marriage. You have the creative power of God on the tip of your tongue…..

Proverbs 31

10 Who can find a virtuous wife? 

For her worth is far above rubies. 

11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her; 

So he will have no lack of gain. 

12 She does him good and not evil 

All the days of her life. 

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, 

And on her tongue is the law of kindness. 

27 She watches over the ways of her household, 

And does not eat the bread of idleness. 

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; 

Her husband also, and he praises her: 

I have included something I probably found on line years ago, prayers for husbands. 

Remember our prayers are not mere words. They have the life-giving power to perpetuate an inheritance of spiritual blessings for generations to come.