My husband and I recently sorted through memorabilia from the past, including letters that we wrote to each other while dating. Would you believe that one year he was away at college, we wrote to each other every day? Re-reading those letters together has brought many a smile–and tear–to our hearts.
Texts, e-mail messages, and social media posts have replaced much of the art of letter writing. And that’s sad to me. Because those represent time and sacrifice from the giver unlike any other gift. Loving words from the heart bleed gold, no matter how or when expressed.
What about Valentine’s Day?
Candy, flowers, perfume—these Valentine’s Day gifts still make up the largest portion of the Valentine commercial industry. And there’s nothing wrong with those. But what if you and your spouse could give each other a special gift this Valentine’s Day–one that would last all year?
Do you pray for your husband/wife? What better time than Valentine’s Day to let your spouse know that you are praying for him/her and what you are praying. It could be one of the best Valentine gifts you could ever offer. (And 50 years later, you may still be enjoying them!) Make your prayer letter personal, but here are some suggestions of how you might pray for your husband or for your wife:
A Valentine Prayer Letter to My Husband
Dear ______,
This year on Valentine’s Day I want you to know not only how much I love you, but how much I’m praying for you. And this year, I’m making my prayers part of my gift to you.
I’m praying for you to be a man who leads your family not just with your heart, but with God’s heart. May God give you inner strength daily to carry out your tasks with confidence and commitment. I’m also praying that your roots will go deep down into the soil of God’s own wonderful love.
God’s Love for You
May God grant you an understanding of how wide, how high, how long, and how deep His love is for you, just as you are. I’m praying, too, that you will know without a doubt what a good, good Father He is. And may you understand how much He wants to bless you and enlarge your influence as you open up your life to Him.
God’s Wisdom and Discernment
I’m asking God to give you discernment in all areas of your life so you will be able to handle every situation with wisdom, resisting temptation and wrong counsel that might come your way. I’m also praying for God’s protection for you as you wear His armor—mind, body, and spirit. In addition, may God keep evil far from you, so that nothing formed against you can prosper. I’m asking God to open your eyes to His truth so you can recognize Satan’s attempts to turn you aside or destroy your faith.
I’m asking God to make you a man who is respected, who honors God and his family, who will be quick to do good, to listen, and to refrain from anger. May God also tear down any harmful strongholds in your life and keep any new ones from forming. I’m praying, too, that He will give you time in His Word and a love for the things He loves. And may your heart beat for others in the same unselfish way that it beats for us as your family.
May God Teach and Guide You
I’m praying that God will teach you and guide you daily in the path He’s chosen for you. I’m asking God to make you a man of ceaseless prayer and great faith. And may you be one who will stand boldly for Jesus, and one will share the good news of Jesus unashamedly.
I’m asking God to make His desire for you, your heart’s desire. May your faithfulness be a source of joy to His heart and to those who know and love you. In all your ways, I pray that you will acknowledge Him, not trying to figure things out on your own. May you constantly trust Him to lead you daily as a steward of all He has given you.
I’m praying that you will not be discouraged if you make mistakes, but that you will always depend on the sufficiency of God’s amazing grace with a spirit of humility and gratitude. I pray that God will give you a willing spirit, quick to forgive others as well as yourself.
May God Enrich You
I’m asking God to show you that He is not finished with you. May you know that He is always at work in you to make you into the kind of man He wants you to be—a man after His own heart. I’m praying that Jesus will enrich you with good things, and that He will help you to enjoy life at its best. May He also fill you daily with the fruits of the Spirit.
I’m praying that at work, at home, and everywhere you are, that you will be a man of integrity. May God make known to you the knowledge of His will. And in doing so, may you understand the hope of your calling in Christ Jesus. In whatever you do, I’m praying you will work at it with your whole heart, as if you are working for the Lord.
I pray that you will always be a godly example for your family, that you will be tender, yet strong in the Lord. I pray that a deep, deep love for Jesus will motivate your every action and attitude. In addition, may God give you a restful spirit, and help you experience the kind of peace that passes all understanding.
You Are Loved More Than You Know
Hear my heart: as a husband and a father you are loved more than you know, and I’m praying that God will impress that on your heart, even as I speak these words to you. May you know not only how much I love you, but how much more you are loved by God. May that kind of love spur you to work with excellence, not perfection, always looking to Jesus as the Author and Completer of your faith.
This is not just my valentine letter to you, but I want it to be my prayer for you all year.
You Are God’s Valentine to Me
You are God’s valentine to me, and it is my highest joy and privilege to pray for you daily. This is my gift and commitment to you. May the Lord bless you and keep you, make His face to shine on you, be gracious to you, turn His face toward you, and give you peace.
With Grateful Love and Admiration,
___________
A Valentine Prayer Letter to My Wife
Dear ______,
This year on Valentine’s Day I want you to know not only how much I love you, but how much I’m praying for you. And this year, I’m making my prayers part of my gift to you.
I’m praying for God to make you a woman after His own heart. May you be a woman who loves the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind, and others as yourself. I’m praying that you will understand how deep God’s love is for you.
You Are of Great Value and Worth
In addition, may you feel security as a woman of great value and worth. I’m asking God to guard your mind against thoughts that would tell you otherwise. I’m also praying He will let you know in tender ways what a good and great Heavenly Father He is. And may you know that He is always looking out for your own best interests.
I’m praying that the concerns of your heart will be light. I’m also asking God to help you share the deep needs of your life with your family and with the Lord. And may you always come boldly to His throne. In addition, I pray you will cast every care on Him, assured that He hears and answers your prayers.
May God Grant Wisdom and Protection
I’m asking God to help you grow in wisdom daily. May God also bless you richly as a wife, a mother, and in all areas of your life. I am praying that Jesus will always feel at home in your heart as you give Him first place.
I’m praying that the things that matter to God will matter to you, and that His desires will become your desires as well. I’m praying that your friendships will be sweet and encouraging. And I’m asking God to give you discernment in every relationship so that it honors Him. May God help you rest in the shadow of the Almighty as you live in the shelter of the most High. I’m asking not only for God’s protection in every area, but that you would feel His protective arms about you everywhere you go.
You Matter to Me and to Others
I’m asking God to bless you as a woman of strength who understands how much your work, your gifts, and your influence make a difference to those around you—including me and our family. May you constantly resist Satan’s attempts to devalue you or to make you doubt your faith or God’s work in your life. May your heart always remain gentle and tender, open to God’s leading and direction.
I’m asking God to show you that His power works best in weakness. May you always remember that His amazing grace is all you need to get you through anything. I’m praying that all your expectations will be met in Jesus. And may you also be gentle with yourself, not expecting more from yourself than God does.
May God Give You Great Faith
I’m asking God to give you great faith to believe the impossible and to do the incredible. I’m praying that He will fill you with a boldness that will push out any fear. May God help you face the future with confidence and assurance in His faithfulness. I’m praying God will make your testimony strong and fill you with the desire to share His love wherever He asks you to do so. Whether as a woman, a mom, or a wife, may you sense the hand of God in every prayer and in every word you speak.
I’m praying you will cling to God’s Word for comfort, teaching, and help for every area of your life. I’m asking God for laughter to decorate your heart and for joy to fill your spirit. May kindness characterize your life, and may God’s purpose for you be clear. I pray that you will always be a godly model for your family. May a deep, deep love for Jesus motivate your every action and attitude.
You Are Loved More Than You Know
As a wife and a mother you are loved more than you know. I’m praying that God will impress that on your heart, even as I speak these words to you. May you know not only how much I love you, but how much more you are loved by God.
This is not just my valentine letter to you; I want it to be my prayer for you all year.
You Are God’s Valentine to Me
You are God’s valentine to me, and it is my highest joy and privilege to pray for you daily. This is my gift and commitment to you. May the Lord bless you and keep you, make His face to shine on you, be gracious to you, turn His face toward you, and give you peace.
With Grateful Love and Tenderness,
___________
These Valentine Prayer Letters first appeared on Crosswalk in 2016 as A Valentine Prayer Letter to My Wife, and A Valentine Prayer Letter to My Husband.
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance….Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 13, NLT).
I try to post these prayers frequently. These are prayers you can pray for your husband or wife not just for Valentine’s Day, but throughout the year. I could not make it without the prayers of my husband for me. They lift me up, encourage me, and draw me close to God’s heart.
You can slip your prayer letter into a card, a lunch box, a purse, under a dinner plate, or tape it to the mirror in your home or car. Or you can read it to your spouse during a time of prayer together. However you choose to share it, I pray it will bless both your hearts.
*Another post might be helpful, called A Valentine’s Challenge: How Can We Mirror God’s Heart? You might also enjoy reading this post about marriage that I wrote called, Is the Light on In Your Marriage?
It’s Your Turn
What will you give your Valentine this year? How often do you pray for your spouse? Will you commit to pray for your husband/wife daily this year? These prayers are only suggestions. What else will you pray for your spouse? Break these down into smaller prayers, or select a Scripture you’d like to pray for your spouse. Then pray that promise/Scripture for him/her often. I’d love to hear from you anytime. You can always write me through my contact page. Just fill out the basic name and address info, and then the e-mail will come to me. Your name or info will never be shared with anyone without your permission.
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