We join you in thanking our Father for His kindness and His sovereign grace in this marriage and in the hearts of all who have heard the seed of the Word planted over these many months.
We love your confidence in the truth that salvation is of the Lord and that our calling is to plant and water while God alone gives the increase. As it is written, I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 1 Cor 3:6-7. And we give all glory to Him alone, for it is written, Not to us, Yahweh, not to us, but to your name give glory, for your loving kindness, and for your truth's sake. Ps 115:1. From Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to Him be the glory forever. Rom 11:36.
We agree with you that the goodness of God leads to repentance. Rom 2:4 reminds us, Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance. We pray that this dear wife, as a beloved spouse in the holy covenant of marriage which God ordained as a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman, would experience that goodness not as permission to remain in sin but as the loving call to turn from sin and turn to Christ with a humbled and contrite heart. Before honor comes humility. Prov 18:12. As with Nebuchadnezzar who was humbled until he came to his senses and blessed the Most High, Dan 4:34, Dan 4:37, and as the prodigal came to himself and returned to his father, Luke 15:17, and as Hosea's wife was hedged in so that she would return, Hos 2:6-7, we ask the Lord to do whatever is necessary in love to bring her to repentance and to faith.
We also stand with you on the power and faithfulness of the Word. So shall my word be that goes out of my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing I sent it to do. Isa 55:11. The seed is the Word and once sown it works according to its kind, Mark 4:14, Mark 4:26-29, even when we sleep and rise, the seed sprouts and grows, we know not how, because God is at work. We are confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Phil 1:6. The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Pet 3:9. And He desires all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, and calls us to pray for all, 1 Tim 2:1-4.
We pray now together in the name of Jesus, for it is only through Jesus Christ that we have access to the Father, and there is no other name by which we can be saved. Jesus said, Whatever you will ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you will ask anything in my name, I will do it. John 14:13-14.
Father, we thank You that Your Word is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Heb 4:12. We thank You that You are always working, as Jesus said, My Father is still working, so I am working also. John 5:17. We ask that You continue to convict through Your Holy Spirit, who convicts the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment, John 16:8, and that You would restrain evil, deception and the schemes of the evil one, and cause all who have heard the truth to receive the love of the truth that they may be saved. 2 Thes 2:10. Order the steps of the righteous to cross her path and the paths of our patriarchal and matriarchal figures, our progeny and posterity, and all who have heard, just as You directed Philip to the Ethiopian official reading Isaiah, Acts 8:26-31, and Ananias to Saul, Acts 9:10-11, and Paul through a vision to Macedonia, Acts 16:6-10, for a man's steps are established by Yahweh. Ps 37:23.
We ask You to water every seed planted over these fourteen months and over all time, to bring fresh laborers to speak truth with kindness, to show Your kindness that leads to repentance, and to keep this family, these ministry partners and fellow servants and stewards of the mysteries of God, 1 Cor 4:1-2, from evil and temptation. We thank You in advance by faith, for whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them, Mark 11:24, and that You are a rewarder of those who diligently seek You, Heb 11:6, and that the insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective. James 5:16. Do great and mighty things which we do not know, Jer 33:3, far beyond all that we ask or think, Eph 3:20, and let every promise be Yes and Amen in Christ, 2 Cor 1:20, who is the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of God's creation. Rev 3:14. We entrust this wife, this marriage, and every soul You have ordained to hear, into Your perfect and patient hands, asking that You would be glorified in repentance, restoration, and new life in Christ. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.