The Bible says ““The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him”” (Genesis 2:18). God created and instituted marriage, declaring that two are better than one. Despite our sin and brokenness as people, God can still redeem, heal and restore marriages.
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Why Pray for a Struggling Marriage?
Prayer invites God into our relationships and difficulties. It is a cry for help and an act of humility, asking God to work powerfully when we feel powerless to fix things ourselves. We can be confident that “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).
Here is 10 Powerful Prayers for a Broken Marriage
1. A Prayer for Forgiveness and Healing of Unresolved Issues
Heavenly Father,
I come before You today, lifting up my marriage to You. We confess our sins, failures, unforgiveness and times we have neglected one another. Please show us Your incredible grace, mercy and healing power. Bring deep healing to past hurts, cleanse us from pride and selfishness, and restore our relationship anew. Teach us how to truly honor, cherish, forgive and love one another with patience and gentleness. Make us one heart and mind again, as You intend marriage to be.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
2. A Prayer to Renew Love and Unity
Lord,
We ask You to fill our hearts afresh with love for one another. Where there are differences and conflicts, give us the wisdom to work through them patiently and the humility to put one another first. Rekindle within us passion, playfulness and adventure. As we walk in Your Spirit, create in us a desire to selflessly meet one another’s needs. Knit our hearts together so closely that we begin to think, feel and move as one by the power of Your great love.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
3. A Prayer for a Troubled Marriage to Find Hope
Heavenly Father,
I lift my troubled marriage up to You today, asking You to bring healing and hope. Teach me how I can love my spouse well and unconditionally during this stormy season. Open our eyes to see where we need to offer or ask for forgiveness, and change our hearts to pursue reconciliation and renewal. Please protect our relationship from further harm. Give us strength to weather this trial and emerge stronger than ever. Thank You for being our rock and salvation.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
4. A Prayer for God to Soften a Spouse’s Heart
Lord,
I pray for (name of spouse) today and ask that You would soften his/her heart and open his/her eyes to see me through Your compassionate eyes. Where there are hurts, give healing and forgiveness. Where there is hardness of heart, create softness and love. Help (name) remember the vows we made, the joy we have shared and Your intent for our marriage. If there is someone or something influencing my spouse away from our relationship, I pray You would remove those barriers. Teach us how to walk in grace and truth with one another again.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
5. A Prayer for Communication Breakdown and Change
Heavenly Father,
I come before You today brokenhearted over the communication breakdown in my marriage. I feel unable to connect with or understand my spouse, and he/she seems unwilling to talk lovingly with me. Please help open conversations between us again, free of blame and harshness. Soften our hearts, give us wisdom in how we speak the truth, and create safety for tender words. Heal past wounds that create triggers or resentment. Teach us how to actively listen, understand, honor and support one another so that we can become one heart and mind again.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
6. A Prayer for Your Marriage When You Feel Like Giving Up
Lord,
As my marriage crumbles around me, discouragement and hopelessness sometimes overtake me. Remind me that with You, nothing is impossible. Restore my faith in Your power to heal and redeem. Show me where I need to take responsibility and pursue change, giving me courage to do so. Guide me in loving my spouse unconditionally and sincerely as You love people. Let him/her see You clearly in me. In my weakness, You are strong. Though my heart is broken, I put my trust in You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
7. A Prayer for Strength and Guidance
Heavenly Father,
My spouse and I desperately need You right now. We have let sin, conflict and busyness distance us from one another and from You, Lord. We need Your strength and guidance to make things right again – we cannot do this alone. Show us what is driving this wedge between us and give us the courage to eliminate harmful influences and patterns. Heal wounds that are creating bitterness or resentment. Teach us to be partners that cherish and honor one another, forgiving completely as You forgive us. Restore our brokenness and make us new.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
8. A Prayer for God to Rekindle Love
Heavenly Father,
Rekindle fading love between my spouse and me. Where hearts have grown hard or distant, soften them with Your Spirit. Where passion has diminished, fan those embers back to flame again. Teach us to love unconditionally, expecting nothing in return. Heal wounds of the past to free us to fully give and receive love today. Refresh fond memories to draw our hearts affectionately together again. Turn our eyes from temptation or distraction and fix them on one another, reminding us of the promises we have made.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
9. A Prayer for Unity and Teamwork in Your Marriage
Heavenly Father,
I ask that You would bless my marriage with greater unity, teamwork and mutual understanding. Help us to see that we are partners, not adversaries. When conflict arises, grant us patience, wisdom and a willingness to humbly hear each other out. Keep far from us contempt, blame or resentment. Give us a zeal for compromise and sacrifice that uplifts one another, considering the other better than ourselves. Empower us to work together with our unique strengths to accomplish more as a couple than we ever could alone. Then our relationship will flourish and be a light to others.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
10. A Prayer for Broken Trust and Intimacy
Lord,
I confess to You places where trust and intimacy have been broken in my marriage relationship. Bring us together to honestly address issues that create distance or injury. Give us discernment to identify influences that undermine our love and wisdom to eliminate them. Heal the past, and help us move forward in grace. Restore trust by increasing communication, empathy, understanding and sacrifice for one another. Fan the embers of romance and love into flame again. Guard our intimacy and connection by keeping far from us temptation, pornography, neglect or willful ignorance of one another’s needs.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
Summary: Prayers for Marriage Restoration
The 10 prayers listed above are meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times in your marriage. As you read through them, may you be reminded of the many promises that you have made, and may you feel hope rise in your heart that God hears you. He knows exactly what you and your spouse need, and He desires deeply to redeem and heal your broken places.
Cry out to Him with the pain in your heart, follow His guidance, let His Spirit transform you from the inside out. Though we cannot control our spouse, we can all take responsibility for becoming the best marriage partner possible with God’s help.
Confess and repent of sin that has wounded your marriage, then move forward in faith. Two are always better than one, so believe that as you and your spouse draw close to God, He will draw you close together as well. Sign up below to get more encouraging resources about restoring broken relationships!