Oct 19 - Day 292. Husbands Nourished & Cherished Your Wife. Ephesians 5.28-29

“So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourished and cherishes it, even as the Lord the church.” (Ephesians 5:28-29)

Welcome to another daily prayer. Pray without ceasing and remember the beautiful connection between self-love and the love that is extended to our spouses.

Men should love their wives with the same care and dedication that they have for their own bodies. When a man cherishes his wife, he is, in essence, loving himself. After all, no individual truly despises their own flesh; instead, they tend to nurture and support it, just as the Lord cares for the church. This deep connection emphasizes the importance of mutual respect and affection within the relationship, highlighting that the well-being of one is intrinsically linked to the well-being of the other.

Transcript

Good morning, everyone! Welcome to another inspiring episode of EBC’s Prayer Podcast. Today is October 19th, the 292nd day of the year, and I’m grateful for another moment to pray together with you.

Remember, I’m Dr. Victoria Haddad, the First Lady and Prayer Leader at Elyon Bible Church Apostolic in Salem, NJ. It’s a joy to connect with each of you and delve deeper into our spiritual journey.

Our scripture today will focus on Ephesians 5:28-29. And it’s read: “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourished and cherishes it, even as the Lord the church.” 

Today, join us in prayer. We are going to ask the Lord for the strength to genuinely love, support, and cherish our spouses. So, we can cultivate an environment where love will thrive and foster deeper connections with mutual respect.

Let’s pray, let’s bow our heads,  let’s open our hearts in prayer, and let’s invite the Lord in.

Dear Heavenly Father. Our Lord, God, and Savior. 

Father, we come before you today, with deep gratitude for the incredible gift of salvation. You are reminding us that “men ought to love their wives as their own bodies. For he that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as you, Lord, cherishes the church.” 

Lord, help husbands to love their wives with the same devotion they extend to their own bodies. Help them to showcase love in their hearts, actions, words, attitudes, and thoughts. Teach them how to love their wives, to honor them as the precious gift they are, and to cherish their wives as you, Lord, cherish the Church. Help them to remember that loving their wives is not just an emotional expression, but a sacred calling. It is an act of worship and a daily reflection of your steadfast love.

Father, help husbands to nurture and protect their wives, recognizing the richness of their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. 

Lord, give husbands wisdom to cherish their wives, honoring their unique qualities and individuality. To create a safe and loving environment where their wives can thrive, feel valued, and fully embrace their own spiritual journeys. 

Lord, teach them to see their wives through your eyes. To remember the day they first met, the joy of their early moments, the beauty of their connection, the sound of each other's laughter, and the depth of their togetherness. Help husbands never to forget our communion with each other. To be tender toward their wives, quick to listen, slow to speak, and patient in understanding. 

Father, strengthen husbands to nourish their wives with kindness, with encouragement, with spiritual covering, and with a steadfast commitment that makes their wives feel safe and loved. 

Lord, just as husbands care for their own bodies, help them to care for their wives' emotional needs, spiritual needs, dreams, and weaknesses. Help husbands to support and uplift their wives in every season of life, reminding wives that they are not alone.

Jesus, you are our example. help all husbands to remember that when they love their wives, they are honoring you. 

Lord, you gave yourself completely for the Church, holding nothing back. You did not love in word only, but in sacrifice, service, and unconditional devotion. Let husbands' love for their wives be marked by that same humility and strength. When pride rises, let husbands choose humility. When frustration comes, let husbands choose patience. When selfishness whispers, let husbands choose generosity.

Lord, you know husbands' shortcomings. You see the moments when their love falls short. When distracted, self-control and impatience creep in. 

Holy Spirit, help husbands to cherish their wives, to actively treasure their presence, to protect the bond they share, and to guard their marriage from anything that can weaken it. Remind them to speak words that will build their relationship with their wives, to show affection that will reassure her, and to create moments of joy that will remind her that she is deeply loved.

Father, bless all wives, bless all husbands, bless their mind, their health, their work, their relationships, and their dreams. Help them to go through this day with peace, confidence, and joy. And let husbands' love be one of the ways you are reminding them of how valuable they are in your sight.

Lord, help wives also to respect and love their husbands, mirroring the gift of love we find in you. Let wives be kind, encouraging, and compassionate to their husbands. May this atmosphere of love promote growth in their relationships and cultivate a bond that reflects your love. 

Lord, when trials arrive and when life’s pressures weigh heavily on our marriage, let our unity in you be our strength. Let us not pull apart but draw nearer to you and find comfort and courage in our faith with you. Bind us together in such a way that no force can divide us, and let our love be a testimony to your goodness.

Lord, thank you for reminding us that marriage is not just for our happiness, but for your glory. Let marriage reflect your love in a way that will bring security, value, and treasure, every day, for all our days.

In Jesus Christ’s name, we pray… Amen.

Thank each and every one of you for listening to this prayer podcast. Please have a wonderful day. By God's grace, we will pray again tomorrow.