Month: June 2023

Here is your 5-step guide to staying married forever:

1. Don’t get married. Just don’t do it. Unless…

Before you know it, you’ll be married and eating pizza and wings on your couch with your beloved, staring at the next seven to eight decades of your life. It’s going to happen.

But why? It seems that most humans gravitate towards marriage or at least domestic partnership, so we’re talking about a deep, human tradition that doesn’t have to require a license and rings. But most people spring for the legal side of it, changing last names and throwing a big party with cake and a DJ (or, if they’re really good, a house band).

But marriage, while practiced by almost every adult, shouldn’t be. This is evident in the divorce rates for first and second-time spouses, which show us that more than 40% of us just aren’t good at staying married and faithful (if you’re the kind of person who wants a faithful spouse). And 90% of us won’t take on that second marriage until its mortal end.

What we’re good at is getting married because, well, why not? Contrary to statistics, it makes sense to become domesticated and want to be with that someone forever.

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Your 5-Step Guide To Staying Married Forever (Yes — Forever!) Marriage is going to be tough, but worth it. By The Good Men Project — Last updated on May 21, 2023

Photo: Sitophotostock/ Shutterstock

By Jeremy McKeen

Some of you should not be married.

You know who you are, possibly. It’s hard to tell unless you get married and then realize, at some point, that it isn’t for you — that it was at one point, and is no longer (possibly when you were young and your brain wasn’t fully formed), especially when it’s supposed to be forever.

The funny thing about that is that “forever” is a time-sensitive concept for mortals who usually die before their 100s, but the sentiment is nice. If marriage really meant you’d be married forever, even after death, possibly while populating planets for all of eternity, then it might change the conversation. But that’s not marriage, that’s a sci-fi concept most people fear.

The idea for couples is supposed to be “until death do you part,” but it seems that, like most young people who don’t know yet that they aren’t invincible, death is a far-off concept, and not at all considered by the very ones who should be considering it.

So death, then. Or, you know, until something better or less boring comes along. Or until the kids are a little older. Or until that final fight to end all fights, and you need someone new.

It’s hard not to be cynical about marriage in an age where our heroes and culture constantly celebrate and — at the same time — dismiss the very real and personal choice to enter into wedded bliss. Most marriages end the same way “best friends forever” relationships end: they were, for a time, relevant. Then something happened, and then the couple realized that their time was up sooner than death or forever.

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EVENING PRAYER – GUARDING GATES

Father, You give Your angels charge over me to keep me in all my ways. Your angels bear me up in their hands lest I dash my foot against a stone. Father thank you for sending your most aggressive angelic hosts of heaven to guard the gates of my body, mind, will, and emotions. (Daniel 9:23)(Daniel 10:12-14)(Psalm 103:19-1)
I also call forth Your warring and ministering angels to overtake the gates of my spirit, childhood foundation, ancestry, DNA and my blood to the glory of God for the Kingdom of God in Jesus’ name.
Next, I call forth the maximum number available of Your warring and ministering angels to overtake the gates of my relationships, youthfulness, devices, mind, body, emotions, ministry, property and funds, house and family, neighborhood, city, state, and country in Jesus’ name.
Thank you Father that I call forth your warring and ministering angels to take dominion over the gates of my body systems, including reproductive, endocrine, exocrine, respiratory, circulatory, immune, muscular, nervous, digestive, renal-urinary, skeletal, integumentary, and lymphatic.
Most High God, I invite every available angel of the Living God to overtake the gates of my God-ordained destiny, spiritual gifts, glory and biblical revelations to advance the Kingdom of God. I call forth all of God’s warring and ministering angels into my dreams and visions as I sleep to guard, guide, protect, and defend me, to prevent my harm, to show me the way, to assist me in breakthroughs, to lead me to needed information, to highlight what I need to see, and to heal, restore, and minister comfort to me.
King of Glory, please send every available angelic host of heaven to hunt down and destroy every evil spirit and the strongman or power behind these evil agents. I trust and I rely on you my God to accomplish your blessings you have prepared for me in Jesus Name. Amen.

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MORNING PRAYER – I AM YOURS

Heavenly Father who created and formed me, I do not fear for you are redeeming me. You have called me by my name; I am yours. When I pass through the waters, You are with me. When I pass through the rivers, they do not overflow me. When I walk through the fire, it does not burn me, neither does the flame kindle upon me. For You are the Lord my God, the Holy One of Israel, my Savior. I do not fear because You God are with me. You bring my seed from the east, and gather me from the west. You say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my son from far, and my daughter from the ends of the earth who is called by My Name. For You have created me for Your glory. You have formed me. I am Your witness, and Your servant whom you have called unto Yourself, that I may know and believe that before You there was no God formed, neither shall there be after You. Beside You there is no savior. You make a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters. I forget the former things, and do not consider the things of old. You continually do a new thing and it is always springing forth as I pursue Your righteousness. You give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to me, Your child. You have formed me for Yourself to give You praise. (Isaiah 43)

I call upon You and I repent and turn from my iniquities and sins. I offer living sacrifices of praise and adoration to you Heavenly Father, Merciful God, I thank you. Amen.

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PRAYER TO HAVE REVELATION OF BIBLICAL MYSTERIES

Father, I thank you that you are revealing to me great mysteries that I do not know. (Jer 33:3) Lord, I thank you that you are granting me clear spiritual vision and hearing in the hour of the night, and you let me see and hear what is going on in the realm of the spirit (Numbers 12:6). Father I take hold of every divine revelation of biblical mysteries that belongs to me to manifest in my life and in the lives of my children forever, that we may do all the words of your covenant. (Deut 29:29) Hallelujah and Amen!

Jeremiah 33:3
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Numbers 12:6
And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
Deuteronomy 29:29 
The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

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PRAYER FOR MERCY AND FAVOR FROM THE LORD

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:16

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him!
Isaiah 30:18

Everlasting God, Great I AM, Merciful Father, I come to your throne of grace and ask that you would have mercy on me today, as your mercies are new every morning. (Lamentations 3:23) Abba Father, Your word says that You bless the righteous and you long to be gracious to me. (Isaiah 30:18) With favor You surround me as with a shield. (Psalm 5:12) You Lord are my sun and shield. You give me grace and glory. No good thing will You withhold from me if I walk uprightly according to your principles and commands. (Psalm 84:11) If my ways please You Lord, You make even my enemies to be at peace with me! (Proverbs 16:7). In Jesus’ name I have prayed. Hallelujah and Amen!

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DECLARING THE RESTORATION OF GOD’S REMNANT

Jeremiah 30 17-19

Father You are restoring me to health.
You are healing me of my wounds.
You said in Your Word,
‘Because they have called me an outcast, saying:
“It is the remnant; the deserted, no one cares for her.”’
Thus Abba, You promised to Your people, Your remnant
That You would restore the fortunes of the tents of Your people
And have compassion on our dwelling places.
You said that the strongholds of Your people would be rebuilt on top of our past ruin,
And Father that I, Your temple, might stand on my rightful place if I follow You.
And therefore, from my lips proceed always thanksgiving to YOU.
I join my voice with those who celebrate,
As You are multiplying me and I will not be diminished!
You are also honoring me and I will never again be seen as insignificant!
In Jesus’ name I pray Amen!

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DEAR GOD, THIS IS HOW I WILL PRAY TO YOU

Dear Father, I come to you in prayer to receive what You have promised me so that my joy may be full (John 16:24). I’m in my secret place making humble prayers and I know you reward me openly (Matthew 6:6). I am coming to pray without ceasing to take hold of what You have promised me in your written and Rhema word (Luke 11:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:17). In between these spoken prayers, I pray in the Spirit so the Holy Spirit can intercede for me with groanings too deep for words (Romans 8:26). I pray throughout my days on all occasions. And I strive to steadfastly pray with all kinds of prayers and requests, always alert, never losing heart. I ask that you guide and protect all the Lord’s people, helping us to confess our sins to one another, and praying for healing. It is helpful to know that the prayers of a righteous believer are the most powerful and how I live affects my prayers (Ephesians 6:18)(Luke 18:1)(James 5:16).

I am not here praying to you today because I’m worried. I’m coming to make my requests known to you. (Philippians 4:6)(Colossians 4:2). You say I have not because I have not asked, so I’m asking. Because I’m fruitful for the kingdom of God, and I keep my fruit producing ongoing, I know You hear and answer my prayers (John 15:16). I daily fill myself with the word of God and I strive to do what it says to do in order to have my requests granted (John 15:7). I come to you Father believing that I receive what I pray for (Mark 11:24). I pray that only the will of God be done in my life, which gives me confidence in You. And since You hear me, I can know that whatever I have asked, I already have the petitions that I requested (1 John 5:14-15).

Father, thank you for showing me in your word how to pray. If it wasn’t for my High Priest Jesus Christ, I would have no access to You to pray this prayer! I wouldn’t be able to approach You on my own (1 Tim 2:5). Jesus Christ is my mediator to You, the one who is holy and undefiled, and gives me the ability to pray to my Father in heaven (Hebrews 7:26). I pray my prayers to You Father and it is You who answers prayers. I never pray to Jesus Christ, I do not ask Jesus anything. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ (John 14:14) but Jesus is not the one who answers prayers (John 16:23). Jesus represents me Father by making atonement for my sins before You (Heb 2:17).

An example of a right prayer is “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:9-13)(Luke 11:2-4). But at the same time, I don’t repeat this prayer vainly, or heap up empty phrases to try to impress You or others (Matthew 6:7).

Thank you for releasing Your angels to carry out Your word of truth as I speak your Word back to you as truth (Psalm 103:20). I call forth all of your promises that you have written out for me. You have given me all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. And so I take hold of them all to manifest in my life right now in Jesus’ name.

Thank you Father for making it clear in the scriptures how You want me to pray. In Jesus Christ’s name I receive your answers and I call them forth to manifest in my life now in Jesus’ name. I make my requests with urgency and with thanksgiving, knowing that You are listening. In Jesus’ name I have prayed. Amen.

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PRAYER FOR SALVATION OF OTHERS

Heavenly Father, I thank You that it is Your will for “all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4). I also thank You that You are “longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9). I bind and tie up Satan and all evil spirits in ____ in the name of Jesus (Mt 16:19; Mt 12:29). I loose and untie Satan’s blinders which have “blinded the minds of them which do not believe” and I command the light of the glorious gospel of Christ to shine into them to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor 4:4,6; Isa 45:11). I thank You as I am praying with strong desire out of urgent need that You send forth laborers into Your harvest (Mt 9:38) to preach the gospel (Ro 10:13-15). I thank You that the entrance of Your Word gives light bringing understanding to those hearing the gospel (Ps 119:130). I thank You that the Holy Spirit is convicting ____ of the sin of not believing on Jesus as Lord and Savior (Jn 16:9). I thank You for sending angels to continually minister to ____ and bring laborers across his/her path continually until they receive Jesus as Lord and be born again (Mt 26:53; Heb 1:14). I thank You for the salvation of the multitudes and the great harvest of souls that are being born again in these last days, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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PRAYER TO RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT

Heavenly Father, as a believer in Jesus Christ, I come to You to receive the Holy Spirit. Your Word says, “how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him” (Lk 11:13). I now make spiritual legal demand of what is due me according to Your Word for you to give me the Holy Spirit. I thank You as I believe that I receive (Mk 11:24) the Holy Spirit into me now. I thank You that the Holy Spirit has come to dwell in my spirit now, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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