Should we pray to God for a spouse?

[MissAbbyIFBaptist]

That is soooo sweet! It gives me a little hope...
thanks for posting!
**Abby**

 

[Jamal5000]

Thank you for all of your responses, everyone.

Please think about yet another perspective that other Christians have puzzled me about:

If we can pray to God to heal sick loved ones and if we can pray to God to protect loved ones travelling long distances, can we not pray to God to set aside a certain person as our desired spouse?

What do you think?

Jamal5000

 

[Multimom]

In everything give thanks and through prayer and supplication make your requests known to God.

Supplication if you study it out means to constantly "pester" if you will.

There is no sin in asking God to provide you with the love of your life. I know He certainly did for me and every night I pray that God will bring godly men and women into the lives of my 6. My 14 yo obviously will be first and God knows if he's to stay right, he needs a strong willed Godly woman because he's a real player.

My girls are another story, their daddy will determine for them "who God's man is ) They are still just babies 8, 7, 6, and 3.

And Canaan better not even go there since he's only 16 months old.

 

[dave brauer]

I agree with multimom. God answered my prayers for a godly, God-fearing, fellow servant and help meet. It is not good that man should be alone. He that findeth a wife findeth a good thing. Seek godly counsel from your pastor and if you are so blessed, your godly parents.

 

[Jamal5000]

Originally posted by dbrauer:
I agree with multimom. God answered my prayers for a godly, God-fearing, fellow servant and help meet. It is not good that man should be alone. He that findeth a wife findeth a good thing. Seek godly counsel from your pastor and if you are so blessed, your godly parents.

Thank you for your response, dbrauer.

I always wondered how much personal effort that we singles should exert toward finding/waiting for a partner. Why should we necessarily "search" for a wife/husband as if we know our desires and tastes in a companion? Doesn't God know what we want in our hearts better than we will ever know? Why don't we just lay back and let Him work His wondrous power?

When I first posted, I quoted a verse from Mark 9 about the possibility of anything for a believer. How do you think Mark 11:20-24 fits into this? If we pray to God for something, if we do not doubt, and if we believe that we have already recieved it, then Jesus said that we will get it. Does that also apply to praying for a wife or praying for any other personal desires?

Jesus' brother James told us that we ask God for things and do not get them because we ask with wrong motives. How can a man pray to God for a wife using the right motives? Does God only see the right motives as those desires that directly contribute to increasing His ministry in this world? If those exist as the only correct motives for requesting anything, then how does gifting a man with a spouse help him increase God's Name? Paul told us 1 Corinthians 7 that we would most efficiently increase God's Name as singles and that a wife would divide our attentions. In light of that, why would God grant us a request that could hinder us from serving Him first?

What do you think?

Jamal 5000

 

[dave brauer]

Originally posted by Jamal5000

Jesus' brother James told us that we ask God for things and do not get them because we ask with wrong motives. How can a man pray to God for a wife using the right motives? Does God only see the right motives as those desires that directly contribute to increasing His ministry in this world? If those exist as the only correct motives for requesting anything, then how does gifting a man with a spouse help him increase God's Name? Paul told us 1 Corinthians 7 that we would most efficiently increase God's Name as singles and that a wife would divide our attentions. In light of that, why would God grant us a request that could hinder us from serving Him first?

Praying for a wife using the right motives is a very individual, personal responsibility. God is concerned with every issue of your heart. Contentment for one, obedience, submission, and surrender are others. I had surrendered to preach. Have a look at 1 Tim 3:1-7 "This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop(pastor), he desireth a good work." This was my hearts desire and motive when I first realized God's call upon my life. The call came first, then the desire to obediently fulfill it. Verse 2 goes on to say: "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife..." Why the husband of one wife? Take a look at verses 4&5: "One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) The same chapter gives similiar qualifications for deacons. I agree that you should be seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, so that a spouse may be added unto you. I know a few single men and women who are very content as celibate/eunichs. I wasn't. I prayed faithfully, regularly & at times fervently for God's will in this matter for about 7 years. That was 15 years ago, we were married. Those prayers were the best spiritual investment I made since I responded to the preaching of the gospel on September 27th, 1980.
In the pastorate or in a church planting ministry a wife is far from a hindrance. My wife and children have multiplied the effectiveness of the work of the Lord here. Again, you must be in tune with your relationship with the Lord and his plan and direction for your life. Because your posts indicate to me that you desire a wife if it be God's will for you, I recommend you continue to pray & seek Godly counsel.