Scriptures to Pray for Your Spouse

Prayer Marriage

My husband and I met at college, while we were both involved in an organization called Campus Crusade for Christ.

Our final year of college, I started experiencing an intense spiritual battle. My boyfriend (at the time, he's now my husband) was my rock when I felt a mess. It was during this time, seeing his endless love and prayers for me, I knew I wanted to marry him.

I don’t remember if we were at his dorm, or mine, but we were watching the Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. There’s a scene near the end where Frodo is supposed to carry the One Ring up Mount Doom and throw it into the fire to destroy it forever. But he’s exhausted. He’s been traveling for a long time, and the One Ring has power that negatively affects Frodo. He’s so close to finally ending this chapter of his life, and yet it seems impossible.

His friend and companion, Samwise Gamgee (Sam) tries to encourage him, telling him about how wonderful it will be back at home in the peaceful Shire.

But the encouragement is not enough to keep Frodo going. Frodo tells Sam it’s too much for him. So Sam tells us “Then let us be rid of it, once and for all. I can’t carry it for you. But I can carry you!”

And so, Sam puts Frodo over his shoulder and struggles up the rocky mountain, fire falling all around them, instrumental music swelling. As I watched this scene unfold, I found tears in my eyes and I turned to my boyfriend at the time and I told him, “You’re my Sam. Thank you for carrying me when I can’t climb anymore on my own.”

When we marry, we become lifelong partners, friends, lovers, companions, helpers, encouragers, and prayer warriors along the journey of life. Sometimes we both may need help up the mountains of life and overcoming spiritual battles. Sometimes one may be struggling and the other can be a Sam.

“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12

With you, your spouse, and God, all united and fighting for your marriage and each other, imagine what your marriage could be like, or how far you and your spouse could go in fulfilling the calling that God has given to you and your spouse.

I could never carry my husband over my shoulder (unless I had a lot of adrenaline and God worked a miracle to strengthen me), but one way I can be my husband’s Sam, is to carry him in prayer to the throne of God. To let my husband know he’s not alone against the spiritual forces and the struggles of life as I hold him close in prayer.

The movie War Room with Priscilla Shirer is a fantastic movie that shows us the power of praying for your spouse (and your marriage). You may not see what God is doing in your spouse, but trust that God is working in your spouse, and working in your own heart as you pray for your spouse.

Below are 20 Scriptures you can pray for your spouse and your marriage. There are of course thousands more you could choose from, but I hope this is a helpful resource to help you grow in your practice of praying God's Word.

Insert your spouse's name to each verse and personalize it with any prayer requests related to that verse. For example, while praying for your spouse's work, you can pray for any work-related concerns or stresses they are experiencing, pray for their relationship with coworkers or bosses, pray for favor on any specific projects they're working on, etc.

Feel free to pray one of these a day, or several at a time, or all at once. Use the list however you feel led and watch God work in your spouse's life and in your own heart.

  1. Pray that your spouse would grow in their faith if they are already a Christian, and that they would come to love the Lord if they have not been saved yet. Pray that your spouse would "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3:18

  2. Pray that you and your spouse would love each other well. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

  3. Pray that you and your spouse would follow God's design for your marriage. "As the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." Ephesians 5:24-25

  4. Pray that you and your spouse would grow through conflict toward restoration. "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 Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:31-32

  5. Pray that you and your spouse would grow in unity in your marriage. “I will give them singleness of heart and of action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children and grandchildren.” Jeremiah 32:39

  6. Pray that you and your spouse would be able to encourage one another in your faith. "I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong--that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith." Romans 1:11-12

  7. Pray that your spouse would work diligently and be successful at work, that God would bless their work. "May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us." Psalm 90:17

  8. Pray that your spouse would persevere in the work God has given them to do. "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

  9. Pray that your spouse would grow in and produce spiritual fruit. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23

  10. Pray for your spouse's protection. "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." Psalm 91:4

  11. Pray for your spouse's health and lift up any specific health conditions or concerns you have for your spouse's health. "I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." 3 John 1:2

  12. Pray that your spouse would have godly friends and mentors to pour into your spouse's life. "He who walks with the wise grows wise." Proverbs 13:20

  13. Pray that your spouse would grow in godly wisdom and make wise decisions for your family. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing, and perfect will." Romans 12:2

  14. Pray that God would guard your spouse's thoughts, that they would be able to focus on the things of God and His kingdom. "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." Philippians 4:8

  15. Pray that your spouse would love and follow God's Word. "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it." Joshua 1:8

  16. Pray that your spouse would not let fear or discouragement keep them from doing what God has called them to do. "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

  17. Pray that you and your spouse would have God's views regarding sex and grow in sexual intimacy throughout your marriage. "May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth...may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love." Proverbs 5:18-19

  18. If you have children, pray for your spouse to be a godly parent. "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them upon your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deuteronomy 6:5-7

  19. Pray that your spouse would speak with wisdom, truth, and grace to those around them. "For in him you have been enriched in every way, in all your speaking and all your knowledge." 1 Corinthians 1:5

  20. Pray that your spouse would grow as God would desire them to grow during trials. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

  21. Pray that God would bless your spouse. "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26

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Happy praying!