August 4 marks my fifth wedding anniversary to my boo thang, Greg Splond.

Anyone who has been married for longer than five minutes knows that marriage is hard work, even on a good day. Just like all couples, we’ve had our share of ups and downs, but we are committed to making things work, no matter what.

In honor of our special day, today, please join me in saying a prayer for marriages.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for this day. Thank you for your many blessings. Thank you for the opportunity to once again come before your throne of grace. I come to you this day, Lord, asking your blessings upon marriages. Lord, I know marriage is a ministry, and it is not for the faint of heart. I know that there are times that even though I wanted to be married that I don’t feel like being bothered. I’m asking you this day to change me. Help me this day to give my all to this relationship and to the person with whom you have blessed me to share my life. Help us to be the best of friends and the best of lovers. Bless our communication, our thoughts and our actions to bring you glory. Help me to let go of past baggage, anger and bitterness and to act in a way that is pleasing to you. Help us to address unresolved issues. Teach us how to speak the truth in love and to accept the truth in love. Help us to not be afraid to be vulnerable and to not fear judgment or rejection. Help us not to judge or reject each other.

Lord, I lay all my expectations before you. Help me not to look to my spouse to fulfill me in ways that only you can. Help me each day to want to be better and to do better for my spouse and more importantly for you. Lord, I thank you for second changes and for new mercies. I thank you that even though my marriage might not be where I want it to be right now, that all things are possible through you. I come claiming the marriage of my dreams with the spouse of my dreams. I thank you for giving me the will and the desire for my dream marriage to come true and for blessing the changes that need to happen to begin with me.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.