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How could this Cat prayer be changed to focus on God's glory?
"Lord, our marriage really isn't what I dreamed of... my husband doesn't seem to love me like he used to, I don't trust him, he's still drinking, his language is foul and he doesn't respect me. Is this what you had in mind for me? I just want to be happy again - maybe find someone new. I know I've been taught that divorce is wrong, but I don't know how much more of this I can take."
Here's what we think:
Dog Prayer: Lord, our marriage isn't what you purposed when you designed it. In our present condition we certainly aren't showing the world anything good about your relationship with the church. I'm afraid that we are disrespecting you - and passing a false idea in the minds of others about you. Please help me to love my husband the way Christ loved the world, even when the world considered Him an enemy. Please help my husband to remember You and may the Holy Spirit bring conviction on him to desire holiness for your name's sake... and remind me when it's needed that I'm not the Holy Spirit - it's not my responsibility to convict or nag. God, do whatever's necessary to make our home one that "honors the Lord" that others may see you through us.
Our Analysis
The first prayer is primarily concerned about the wife's own well-being. Her desire is motivated by her husbands short-comings and her own lack of happiness. The second prayer is motivated by a concern for God's use and purposes of marriage - to show Himself to the world. The second prayer shows her allowing herself to be used by God even when her husband isn't perfect - she can use this to relate to Christ's own experiences. Finally, the second prayer shows the wife's focus is on God and His reputation and asks God to use the Holy Spirit for what He promised it would do.
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