Whether you were a believer before you got married or not, having an unbelieving spouse can be a source of anxiety. We know Jesus and the forgiveness and freedom He gives. When you have an unbelieving spouse, it is often challenging to not be unified spiritually. We desperately long for our loved ones to know Jesus and have a meaningful relationship with Him. But there is hope for the unbelieving spouse. If they are willing to stay with you, there is an opportunity to live your own life before them as an example. The following prayers encourage you to stand with your spouse and intercede on their behalf. We invite you to pray confidently in God and know He has the power to save!
1. For the believing wife brings holiness to her marriage, and the believing husband brings holiness to his marriage. - 1 Corinthians 7:14 NLT
Holy God, I thank You for the life You have given me by declaring me to be holy through faith in Jesus, which is a gift from You. Let my spouse share in the faith You have given me so we can follow You together all the days of our lives. Amen.
2. In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives. - 1 Peter 3:1-2 NLT
Lord, the task of living a godly life before my spouse is daunting. I know I have everything I need to live life through the power of the Holy Spirit. May my life be an example to my spouse, and may they accept Your Gospel. May we live together as one in spirit and truth. Amen.
3. But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? - Romans 10:14 NLT
Father, I know it is Your will to live a life of unity and love. My spouse and I are not united, but we have committed ourselves to each other. Therefore, I pray that You will overcome the unbelief of their heart and bring us together in a shared faith in Jesus so that we might be one in spirit. In Jesus' name, amen.
4. If someone who isn’t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience. - 1 Corinthians 10:27 NLT
Heavenly Father, I pray that I might have a clean conscience as I share my home and table with my unbelieving spouse. May I lead by example and not be contentious. Give us peace at our table so we can speak of Your Gospel. I pray that You would give my spouse faith in the completed work of Jesus on the cross and in His resurrection from the dead. May we share in the Bread of Life! Amen.
5. But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers. - 1 Timothy 5:8 NLT
God, I pray that I might genuinely care for my household's life, health, and welfare. Give me faith to boldly come before Your throne and seek the salvation of all who dwell in my home. May I keep my true belief and serve as an example to my spouse. Amen.
6. And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. - Philemon 1:6 NLT
Father, I am troubled, but I know that You care. You are the lover of my soul, and You are my constant companion. You have decreed that man should not live alone, and You have given me a spouse. Now I pray that You will give my spouse faith in You. May we both experience the peace, love, and joy that only comes from You. Amen.
7. So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. - Ephesians 5:33 NLT
Lord, help me to fulfill Your command to love and respect my spouse. Sacrificial love and godly respect are not in my nature. Still, by the power of the Holy Spirit, I know I can love and respect my spouse so that the world may know Your greatness. May my marriage be a picture of the love of Jesus for His Bride, the Church. Amen.
8. "I tell you the truth, those who listen to My message and believe in God who sent Me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life." - John 5:24 NLT
God of love, make my spouse altogether lovely in my sight. May I have the joy of seeing them come to You. May You spare my beloved from the mouth of the one roaming like a lion seeking to destroy my spouse. Save my spouse and give them faith that we may share in the abundant life that Jesus died for. Amen.
