Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Praying for Your Wife

Guys, seriously consider picking up a copy of this self-published book, Water of the Word: Intercession for Her, by Andrew Case.

Here's Bruce Ware on the value of this volume:
Andrew Case has provided an ingenious and glorious tool for Christian husbands, one that has the potential of binding husbands and wives ever closer together while these prayers seek more intimate relationship between their wives and their God. By employing themes, principles, promises, and pleas from Scripture itself, Case has crafted hundreds of rich and meaningful prayers that any and every Christian husband can pray for his own wife. What power and insight one finds in these prayers, along with beauty and variety. Husbands here are led not only into specific prayers for their wives that focus on the central and most significant needs they have as women, but they are led also to cultivate better the habit of praying for their wives, and through this assisting the spiritual growth of those closest to them in all of life.
One moving thing to me is that the author dedicates the book to "a woman I have yet to meet." So here is a single man who has scoured the Word of God, turning the precepts and principles and prayers of Scripture into prayers for his wife someday, and a tool we can use to pray for our wives today.

The concept of the book is really quite simple--and very helpful: a weaving together of biblical passages turned into prayers for one's wife. For example:
My Gracious Master,

Cause my delightful wife to work out her own salvation with fear and trembling, knowing all the while that it is You who work in her, both to will and to work for Your good pleasure.

May she rejoice in You always, and let her reasonableness be known to everyone. Please let her not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving may she make known her requests to You. And all this so that Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, will guard her precious heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

Finally Father, make her think on whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, on anything of excellence, and anything worthy of praise. Through Your Son and for Your glory I ask these things. Amen (Philippians 2 & 4).
There are also frequent quotes throughout the book on prayer. I should mention that even though the prayers are personalized for women (i.e., referring to "her" and "my wife"), but there's no reason not to get the book and personalize it for children, or for wives to pray for their husbands.

All in all, a great idea and a most helpful and welcome book!