I used to pray for the Lord to change my husband and He didn't. What He did say to me was, you need to change first. Ouch!
If we are not willing to be changed, if we are not willing to die to the things of the flesh (offenses, criticism, gossip, grumblings, naggings, bad habits, etc) then it is not reasonable to ask the Lord to change our husband. NOW, if we ask the Lord to give our husband the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of HIM, that our husband's eyes be filled with LIGHT that he might know what is the hope of the calling of Christ in his life, then that is a prayer God will answer because it lines up with His word.
Col 1:9 ...do not cease to pray for him, and to desire that he might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Col 1:10 That he might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Col 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Col 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
That God would bless the work of his hands, to make him an encouragement, a help and a blessing to his family, his employer(s), to those he meets on the street. These prayers line up with the word of God.
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Cast me not away from your presence O LORD, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of your salvation and renew a right spirit within me. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to you, O God. You are my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? You are the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?!
Father God of mercy and grace. Thank you for the blood of Jesus. Thank you for the resurrection power of Christ living in us by Your Spirit. Thank you for the victory that is ours because of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Thank you Holy Spirit for empowering us to press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Casting down imaginations and every thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. While we think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and praiseworthy. Thank you that your thoughts towards Gladys and her husband are for good. Thank you for the potential and the greatness you see in them because of Christ in them, the hope of glory. Thank you for calling them out of darkness and into marvelous light. Thank you for blessing them with every spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Thank you that you have given to them all things that pertain to life and godliness through the KNOWLEDGE of Him who has called us to glory and virtue. Now unto You, who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that they ASK or THINK ACCORDING to the POWER that works in them.
Father, by your Holy Spirit, come and work in each one's heart to will and to do Your good pleasure. In Jesus name. Amen. Thank you Father for answering swiftly.
