Last week, I heard from marriage bloggers who had their site hacked and taken down, received suggestive emails from a creepy follower, got personally attacked for word choice, sifted through loads of spam, and more.
Yep, it’s a typical week.
I love what I do here, and the marriage bloggers I know are also passionate about reaching out and ministering to couples in any way they can. But yeah, there are moments when it feels like we’re at an archery range with apples on our heads, and I ask myself, What did I sign up for?!!
So today I want to suggest ways you can pray for marriage bloggers.
Pray for their message. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
We need prayers to correctly handle the word of truth. It does no good to have a marriage blog that shoots out terrible advice like poorly-aimed buckshot. Maybe one shot hits a target, but we can do a lot of damage if we mess up the message.
The best marriage bloggers are constantly studying the Word of God, sifting through information and wisdom from others, considering what they say and how they say it, and clarifying if misunderstanding occurs. We want to be faithful in speaking God’s truth. Pray that we do it well.
Pray for their courage. “…enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.” Acts 4:29
Being advocates for godly marriage oftentimes puts you at odds with people in the world. “Wait for sex until marriage,” “Don’t use porn,” “Submit to your husband,” — these and other messages are not ways to get invited to sit at the Cool Table of Life.
It takes a certain amount of boldness to speak up for what the Word of God says about relationships and marriage, because there are plenty of people who want to say you’re stupid, narrow-minded, misguided, or whatever. (In all fairness, I think that about plenty of secular sex bloggers, although I avoid personal attacks.)
But please pray for godly marriage bloggers to continue to speak with boldness about God’s heart for marriage. The Cool Table is overrated, and we’d rather be in the Book of Life.
Pray for their technology. “They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, ‘Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.’ But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.” Nehemiah 6:9
Of course there isn’t a Bible verse about using the Internet for ministry. However, the story of Nehemiah and his fellow Jews rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem seems appropriate. You see, those against the rebuilding of the wall did everything they could think of to frustrate Nehemiah and the workers. Sometimes, naysayers of marriage ministry can frustrate our efforts to get the message out by messing with the tools we use.
Recently, Sheila Wray Gregoire had a hacker repeatedly take down her website because he didn’t like what she said about porn. (He was identified and reported to the police.) I easily delete 10 or more spam messages every day, many of them giving links to porn sites (and yes, male enhancement *eye roll*). Other bloggers cull through phony email messages to find the couples really needing their help.
To continue with our message — and for me currently, my anonymity — marriage bloggers may pay for websites, security services, file retrieval, and tech support. Additionally, we spend time dealing with miscellaneous technology issues. A prayer that these tools will hold would be much welcome.
Pray for their readers. “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.” Colossians 4:3
Sometimes a reader ends up on my blog and says something like, “This is just what I needed to hear!” I’ve had that same experience with posts from other bloggers. I vividly remember opening an Unveiled Wife Prayer of the Day one time and thinking, “Oh my, was Jennifer in my house watching us?” It was just the prayer I needed at just the right time.
Please pray that God opens the right doors and sends the readers that need to hear our message, and that their hearts will be open to receive whatever sliver of wisdom or hope we can offer in God’s name.
Pray for their marriages. “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Mark 10:9
Reading this blog, you all think I have the Best. Sex. Life. Ever. Right?
Hey, I’d rate my marital intimacy very high, but it’s not perfect. (For one thing, I’ve yet to master that one sexual position where I have to twist . . . Just kidding.)
Like all other marriages, marriage bloggers must cultivate a quality relationship with communication, time together, patience and understanding, focused priorities, and sexual intimacy. It’s easy, in fact, for people in ministry to neglect their own marriage — to take their own relationships for granted and to focus their efforts on working for some larger cause. Bad idea.
Please pray for the marriages of those involved in marriage ministry. We need to feel like it’s okay to ignore our emails for a few days, pass up an offer to speak, or skip a blog post if we need that time instead to be with our spouse and our family. “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” (Matthew 16:26a). Likewise, what benefit is there to helping other marriages if it costs us our own?
Just pray that we continue in strengthening our own marriages so that we can continue to speak boldly for godly marriage.
Thanks so much for your encouragement and prayers. Can you think of other ways to pray for marriage bloggers or ministers?
Wow, Amen! That’s all I can say.
Thanks, Jay Dee.
Thanks so much for this! It’s a battle, and it never stops.
BTW, it’s also a great blessing for a blogger to hear from those who like what they do, and especially those who have benefited. When you have those “why do I subject myself to this” days it is those comments and emails that help you keep going.
[J – you know I love what you do, right?]
I agree. It’s like Mark Twain said that he could live for two months off one good compliment. Hearing how you positively impact someone’s marriage keeps us going.
And Paul–backatcha! You are an inspiration with what you do.
Praying that God would protect, refresh, and encourage you and every marriage blogger (Julie, Elizabeth, Sheila, Bonny, Jay, etc.) standing for Christ–don’t give up or back away from the message of truth and grace! God can (and I believe will) use everyone whose heart remains set on pleasing Him. I greatly appreciate the weekly reminders and challenges of not only what biblical sexuality/intimacy entails, but why it’s important–something to pray and hope for one day.
I pray too for restoration for all those marriages where intimacy no longer exists, or perhaps has never existed. I can’t imagine the level of heartache and pain there. 🙁
My greatest prayer though is that God would give great discernment and boldness to pastors/ministers to broach the topic of biblical sexuality from the pulpit. Blogs are great, but not speaking the truth in that capacity sends the message that God has nothing to say about intimacy and sexuality; that they are irrelevant and have no domino effect on our homes and nation. Nothing could be further from the truth. Repentance, truth, and encouragement in this area are desperately needed in the church.
Thank you so, so much, Greg. And I agree that churches must be willing to address this topic. I totally understand not bringing it up with teeny ones in our worship time, but many churches have children’s church of some kind. And if elementary kids are still there, guess what? They’ve already been exposed to secular sex messages. We aren’t protecting them to ignore reality. We’ve got to send the right message of God’s design for sexual intimacy.
I’ve started following Christian marriage blogs a few months ago and can testify it really blessed my marriage. I have learned a lot, not only from this specific blog, but also from quite a few others. I had never given a thought about praying for you, but will now make it a point of doing so. All I can say now is just, “thank you”. You may be blessing more couples than you may imagine. By the way, I’m writing this from quite far away, especifically from the interior of Northeast Brazil. (Did you know you had a reader from here??)
I did not know you were following in Brazil. Thank you, Joao. (I wish I knew how to make that special character for the a. Sorry.) I would love to visit your country! But I figure all of the fabulous people I don’t get to meet here, I’ll see in Heaven anyway. 🙂
Thanks so much for your kind words. Blessings to you and your marriage!
These are such awesome ways to pray for marriage bloggers J. I read of Sheila’s issue and I’d just gone through something similar (site hack. Marriage blogging has so many facets. It really does take God for the ministry to stand and accomplish it’s purpose.
I’m sorry for your site hack. What a pain! Keep going. I’ve been to your lovely blog. So nice to know you’re out there speaking truth for godly marriage!
Thanks J! I definitely needed this, and this helps me to know what to pray for other marriage bloggers like myself.
You’re welcome! I’m sure you appreciate when others pray for you and your ministry.
Thank you for sharing and encouraging us to pray for you marriage bloggers. I read yours and another blog regularly and am constantly blessed and envouraged in my marriage and family life. May God richly bless and protect all of you, your marriages and families (and your blogs!)
Thanks so much, Sue!
J, this post is obviously inspired from God. It not only appeals to our readers to pray for us, but it appeals to God to give us the strength to continue. I love the analogy of Nehemiah and staying with the plan, regardless of how much wall we see broken. God is the faithful One, not us marriage bloggers. We are simply sounding the call to righteous living, not to earn God’s favor, but because we have it! May this thought fuel every post and every comment. God is at work doing a great thing, and the fact that we play a small part is humbling and amazing.
Thank you. Your post has stirred the embers of my flickering flame. It’s not about me or my marriage, but about God whom we purpose to glorify.
Love. Love. Love.
Debi
I just love your blog, Debi! Keep ministering to marriages.
Thank you so, so much. Throughout this journey, there have been so many times that I’ve for any number of reasons felt like it wasn’t worth it and that I should just throw in the towel. The encouragement and prayers of others have helped keep me doing what God has called me to do. I’m so glad you were inspired to write this.
No towel throwing allowed! 😉 Blessings and best wishes.
Thanks for sharing. We’ve been out of regular blogging recently due to many different circumstances but know that you (and many others) are regularly lifted up in prayer. What you all do, day in and day out, is making a difference. Keep moving forward, take a break to re-charge sometimes and most importantly, let the Spirit lead you into more truth.
Blessings!
Megan
Thanks so much, Megan.
Thank you for the reminder. Although my marriage is pretty good (married for 28+ years now and still happy with each other), I regularly invest time in reading marriage blogs. I figure the more time spent gleaning the good information, encouragement, and tips, the stronger my marriage will get. It will keep my mind on the good things to work on and invest in, rather than negative messages from media.
Thank you for all you do! I often find a brilliant nugget to tuck away into my files, or a meaty meal to chew on for a while. Your investment has many more repercussions than you may ever know, I’m sure!
Hooray for 28 years!!! I think you’re right that even when things are good, you should continue to invest. That’s how a marriage remains strong and protected.
Thanks for the compliment, Debbie. Blessing to you and your marriage!
I absolutely loVE LOVE, LovE, this! Praying in the Name of Jesus that GOD will increase your ministry territory & open new doors. Thank you for empowering and encouraging so many bloggers. I am always honored when you stop by to share at Intentionally Yours. My friend, you absolutely ROCK
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I love this post, so open and honest. My husband (of 36 years) and I believe God is calling us into some kind of marriage ministry (we don’t know what yet) and it was good to get a different perspective of the “pitfalls”! God bless you and all marriage bloggers, may He strengthen your marriages, protect your technology, and focus your message.
There are pitfalls, but I’ve seen so much good come from this too. Sometimes I simply can’t believe God is using me in this way — little ol’ me. May God guide you into the right ministry for you and your husband. Thank you for your well wishes!