One Verse I Really Didn’t Like

Sharon JaynesMarriage, Prayer 90 Comments

I’m posting over at Proverbs 31 Ministries today. I thought you might enjoy this devotion as well! But you might not! It’s about a verse that made me stop in my tracks.

“With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it.” Judges 16:16 (NIV)

The verse stopped me in my tracks. I didn’t like it. Not one bit. Here’s what happened.

Samson was God’s chosen man during a time when the judges ruled Israel. From birth, he was destined to liberate Israel from the Philistines. While Samson was incredibly strong in body, he was very weak in character. Among his character flaws was a fondness for Philistine women. One was named Delilah.

The Philistines saw Samson’s infatuation with one of their own as a pathway to discovering the secret to his supernatural strength. So each of the Philistine officials offered Delilah 1,100 shekels of silver to uncover his secret. Three times she begged him reveal the source of his strength, and three times he lied to her.

Listen to her words, and imagine the tone. “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength” (Judges 16:15b, NIV).

Then comes the verse that stopped me in my tracks: “With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it” (Judges 16:16). Ouch.

Unfortunately, Samson told Delilah the secret. He just couldn’t take the nagging any longer. As a result, his enemies shaved his head, and his strength seeped out with each swipe of the blade. Samson lost his strength and eventually his sight and his freedom … all because he succumbed to the words of a nagging woman.

I don’t want to be that woman, and I know you don’t either. Praise God there’s another alternative! Prayer. The Bible says, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16b).

After God created Adam, He said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him” (Genesis 2:18, NIV). The original Hebrew word for “helper” is ezer — one who comes along to aid, assist or rescue. God didn’t create the woman simply because the man was lonely. He fashioned women with purpose, and one of our greatest opportunities is to be prayer warriors for our men.

Prayer is not a means to gain control over our husbands, to whip them into shape and make them the men we want them to be. Instead, prayer is a means of relinquishing control and asking God to shape them into the men He wants them to be. Prayer is the conduit which releases God’s power for our marriages.

So let’s put the nagging aside, and take a moment to pray for our husbands. If you’re single, pray over the important men in your life. Here are four areas to start with:

His Mind: Lord, I pray my husband will fix his thoughts on Jesus today. May he make Jesus the centerpiece of everything he believes and thinks. (Hebrews 3:1)

His Eyes: Prompt my husband to pay attention to what he looks at today. Keep him alert to the devil’s tempting tactics to draw his eyes to sin. Empower him to have restraint and show self-control by turning his eyes away from temptation, and thus escape the enemy’s trap. (1 Peter 5:8)

His Shoulders: Help my husband trust that You will supply all his needs according to Your glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Take away his burdens and worries, and replace them with confidence and peace. (Philippians 4:19)

His Feet: May Your Spirit guide my husband to walk in the way You have commanded him so he may live and prosper and prolong his days. Hem him in so he will not veer to the right or the left but will keep his feet on the path You have marked out for him. (Psalm 139:5 and Deuteronomy 5:33)

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

If you prayed for your man today, leave a comment and say, “I’ve got him covered!”

Sometimes it’s hard to know what to pray for your husband, but in my book, Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe, I map out 16 landmarks to help you consistently and effectively cover your husband in prayer. The 30-day prayer guide provides Scripture for each day along with corresponding prayers to target crucial areas of every man’s life.

Looking for some romance ideas for Valentine’s Day? Click over to my free printable of 25 Ways to Romance Your Husband.

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Comments 90

    2. Thanks for the prayers 🙏 for husband I really fine them helpful i
      I’m on a monthly income I wish I could afford the books. Please pray for my husband he left me we have been separated for one year but we have been in contact with each other in hopes of mending the marriage in God’s ways

      Reply

  5. I’ve got him covered. What a powerful read after waking at 4:00am to find my spouse had left. I called before I read this piece and asked where he was and tried to explain why I didn’t like that he’d done that. I also said I trust God to him because he knows everything.

    Reply

  8. I’ve got him covered!
    So thankful for the Holy Spirit laying His words of wisdom on your heart to speak to our hearts…..and that you follow His leading to speak His truth! I so needed to hear these very words…thank you Father for being such a good good Father! I love you Lord!!

    Reply

  21. God is so good. We are going through some rough waters (not in our marriage but church) . So it is wonderful when words fail us we have these now. Thank you, thank you, thank you. May God richly bless you and yours for your ever faithfulness to this misitry. Have a wonderful day.

    Reply

  23. I’VE GOT HIM COVERED

    Thank you for the reminder. I purchased this wonderful book a few years back. I admit that I need to be more disciplined and pull it out and pray thru it again.

    I’m guilty of letting life get so busy that I don’t always finish what I know I should.

    Lord help me to be more disciplined and pray for my husband and others before I start my daily tasks. In Jesus name Amen

    Reply

  27. Good morning….I actually just want to know if I can put/submit a few paragraphs of your devo/story onto my FB site…I only put devo’s on there…& your paragraph
    Starting w/after God created Adam….is so poignant…kindly let me know Sharon..

    Thank you…

    Have a blessed day…guys….

    Kathy W

    Reply

  31. The tenth of this month was my 5 year anniversary of praying for my husband using your book. God has done an amazing job of applying those scriptures to his life. I feel like I am married to a different man. And my husband is so grateful for my commitment to prayer for him.

    Reply

  39. I’ve got him covered from the top of his head to the soles of his feet he is bathed in the prayer and the righteousness of God!

    Reply

  52. I’ve got a copy of your book, “Praying For Your Husband From Head To Toe”, but I must confess I have never read it. Need to do that right away! I did pray the prayer you just listed for him today, so God has him covered!! Even though that stepped on my toes real good (the part about nagging!) I am trying to be the woman my husband needs!

    Reply

  60. I’ve got him covered. I don’t pray for my husband often enough so this devotion really opened my eyes and my heart. Thank you.

    Reply

  63. this devotion truly spoke to me today – I have been that nagging wife and it’s time I ask God to take care of him and as you say, be the man God wants him to be !

    thank you so much for your words…..I will try to heed them going forward – God bless you.

    Reply

  64. I’ve got him covered ❤️❤️ I have your book and have picked it up again on 2-1. I needed this as my husband and I are going through a rough patch right now. I know I must stay steadfast in Gods word and promise. Amen!

    Reply

  68. I’ve got him covered. I’ve been using your prayers since the book came out. And have purchased one for not only my sister’s buy every young lady that got married in our ministry. I may be you biggest fan.

    Reply

  77. Absolutely love this book and use it to cover my husband! I’ve lost count on how many I have purchased for others. It makes a great wedding gift!

    Reply

  85. I’ve Got Him Covered, I also asked God to do the same prayer in my life that he does in my husband’s life because we are one. I also need a closer relationship with the Lord. Thank God for you and your ministry to Women.

    Reply

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