How to Pray for a Good Husband

Marriage—it’s a covenant that was ordained by God during creation. After God created man in His own image, which was the climax of all His creation, He said that it was not good that man should be alone (Genesis 2:18).

To remedy the man’s solitude, God took a rib from the man and formed that rib into a woman (Genesis 2:21-22). When that first man, Adam, saw that first woman, Eve, he proclaimed that she was flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone, and that a man should leave his parents, cleave to his wife, and that they would be one flesh (Genesis 2:23-24).

Just as God didn’t want Adam to spend his life without a spouse, He doesn’t want you to be alone either. Therefore, if you desire a good husband, you can rest assured that God already has one picked out for you.

What does God say about praying for a husband?

Before we go any further, because it can be misunderstood, let’s look at what the Apostle Paul wrote about marriage in his letters to the churches at Corinth and Ephesus. In these letters, he encouraged those who were not married to remain single (1 Corinthians 7:8). It’s important to realize that he didn’t take this position to condemn those who wished to be married; rather, he reasoned that being single allows you to serve God without distraction (1 Corinthians 7:35).

In these letters, the Apostle Paul wasn’t speaking against the covenant of marriage, he was simply reminding the unmarried women believers that:

• The responsibilities of being a wife and mother will compete for the time and focus that you are able to dedicate to the Lord when you remain single (1 Corinthians 7:34).
• When you’re married, you become subject to your spouse, both physically and emotionally (1 Corinthians 7:3-4).
• As a wife, you’re in a covenant relationship with your husband and are accountable to him, even as the Church is accountable to Christ (Ephesians 5:23).

Regardless of how the Apostle Paul personally felt about the benefits of remaining single, he knew that God had designed man and woman so that they would desire to be united for the purpose of being fruitful and multiplying (Genesis 1:27-28). Because of this attraction to one another that God ordained for the purpose of reproduction, the Apostle Paul conceded that to avoid fornication, it is good for believers to be married (1 Corinthians 7:2).

Understanding that there is nothing wrong with your desire to be married, you can hold onto the promise of Jesus that whatsoever you ask of the Father in His name, the Father will give to you (John 16:23). Why? Because as a believer in Christ, God the Father loves you as His child (John 16:27) and desires for you, His beloved daughter, to come boldly before His throne of grace to make your requests known to Him (Hebrews 4:16).

You don’t need to be afraid to ask God for a husband. As your loving Father, He wants to give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). As your loving Father, He wants you to experience all of His blessings and to have the fullness of joy in this life (John 16:24).

Keeping all of these things in mind, make your prayer a true, heartfelt conversation with God as your Father. He already knows what you want, but He wants you to build your relationship with Him first, and the best way to do this is by spending time with Him in conversation (Matthew 6:7-8).

A huge caveat in asking God for a husband is that you must never idolize the idea of being married, allowing it to consume your thoughts. You must continue to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, for it is only then that He has promised that all these things will be added unto you (Matthew 6:33).

Another caveat when praying comes in the writings of James, where he reveals two reasons that you might not have what you want: the first is that you haven’t asked; the second is that you’re asking for the wrong reasons (James 4:2-3).

Your reason for a request is just as important to God as what you are requesting. Therefore, when praying for anything, whether it be a husband or anything else that you desire, you need to check your motives. If you have impure motives, you might be able to fool others, or even yourself, but you can’t fool God (Proverbs 21:2). In light of this, it’s wise to willingly offer your heart to Him to examine your motives (Psalm 26:2). Ask the Lord to create in you a clean heart and to renew a right spirit within you (Psalm 51:10) so that the words of your mouth and the meditation of your heart would be acceptable in His sight as you pray for a husband (Psalm 19:14). When you allow God to purify your heart, then you can be sure that your reason for desiring a husband is not rooted in pride or lust (1 John 2:16).

It’s also a good idea to seek out a trusted, spiritually mature woman to be your prayer partner and who will agree with you in prayer that God would send you a husband.  There are two reasons for this:

• Jesus promised that when two believers agree in prayer, that which they ask for will be provided by the Father (Matthew 18:19).
• Your prayer partner will keep you accountable in your motives and methods (Proverbs 27:17).

Can I pray for a specific man to be my husband?

As a woman, you know the type of man that you are interested in. In fact, you might even have a certain man picked out that you want to ask God to give you for a husband. However, many times what we want isn’t what is best for us because it’s the desire of our flesh (Romans 7:18).

God already knows who would make the best husband for you, even better than you can know yourself. Therefore, if you ask God for a specific man to be your husband, don’t be surprised if He brings you someone else—someone who will make a better husband than the one you asked for! Why? Because your heavenly Father will not give you a stone if you ask for bread or a serpent if you ask for a fish; He will only give His very best to you, His daughter. He knows not only the secrets of your heart but also those of the man you want to marry (Psalm 44:21).

Keeping this in mind when praying for a husband, always submit your will to the Father’s perfect will. Even Jesus submitted His will to the will of the Father (Luke 22:42). So, follow the example of Jesus the next time you pray, and rather than repeatedly asking for a specific man to be your husband, try asking, “If it is Your will…” (James 4:15). For when you submit your will to God’s will, then when you ask, you will receive; when you seek, you will find; and when you knock, it will be opened for you (Matthew 7:7).

Using the above scriptures, your prayer might sound something like the one below. However, remember that more important than the words you use is the relationship you’re building with Your Heavenly Father, so keep it personal and keep it heartfelt.

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me and making me Your daughter through Christ Jesus (John 16:27). Even though You already know all my wants and needs (Matthew 6:8), it’s awesome that You invite me, Your beloved daughter, to come before You, the Creator of the universe, to make my needs known to You (Hebrews 4:16) and to tell you the desires of my heart (Psalm 37:4).

Before I ask anything from You, Lord, I ask that You would examine my heart (Psalm 26:2). Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10), that the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart would be acceptable in Your sight (Psalm 19:14).    

As my Heavenly Father and Creator, You know all about me. You know the secrets of my heart (Psalm 44:21) and that I don’t like being alone (Genesis 2:18). Therefore, Father, I ask that You would do for me as you did for Adam and Eve, and bring me a husband with whom I can be united in the covenant of marriage (Genesis 2:23-24). And Lord, don’t send me a husband just to keep me from being alone, as that would be selfish on my part (James 4:3); rather, let my marriage be one that would bring You glory, as my husband and I minister together in whatever calling You would have for us as a couple.

Father, I humbly submit my choice of a husband unto Your perfect will (James 4:15). You know who would be the best husband for me and You won’t provide anything less than Your best (Matthew 7:11) because You want me to live a life filled with joy (John 16:24).

Thank You, Father, for answering my prayer for a husband, which I ask for in the name of Jesus (John 16:23). Amen.