Have you ever been in a season of your marriage when you honestly don’t know how to pray? It usually happens when you realize what you want to happen may not be the best, but you don’t know an alternative either. It can be a real dilemma, leaving many not praying at all.

Jesus gives us the help we need in knowing how best to pray in such seasons.

He said:

Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
(Matthew 6:9-10 ESV) emphasis mine

I heard one of our pastors teach on this once, and he said asking for God’s kingdom to come means we are actually praying for Christ to come to rule and reign over us in this specific situation. This one Truth has helped me so many times when I haven’t known what to pray.

This past year has been full of opportunities for us to pray in this way. 

How about you? Are you facing a situation in your marriage that has left you baffled? Is your spouse making decisions with which you’re not fully on board? Are your children making choices that leave you heart-broken and sad? Know that God is very much aware of your need/lack. He alone can guide you into His will for your life and marriage.

So let’s choose to submit to Him by praying the Lord’s prayer over our marriages and families.  God is greatly glorified when we choose to pray in this way from a heart of faith, humility and trust. And most likely the answer He gives won’t look a thing like you had previously prayed. His Word teaches us:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
(Isaiah 55:8 ESV)