Gracious and loving Father, today I lift up our marriages. The imagery of marriage is all through Scripture. Jesus performed the first recorded miracle at a wedding. You are setting up the marriage supper celebration between Jesus and his bride, the church. Marriage is important to you. May we see it as you do, Father. May we cherish our marriages the way you love your church. May we understand that, though we make divorce easy, it is ruthlessly painful. For that reason, you hate divorce. Father, let me thank you right now for loving the divorced. I speak from personal experience to both issues, the searing breakup and the healing of your forgiveness. Lead us to strengthen our marriages, Lord. Show us how to commit ourselves to making the life of our spouse better, not worse, for our presence in it. Remind us to uphold marriage and glorify your name. I ask these things in the name and authority of Jesus, according to your good and perfect will. Amen.

And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” (Revelation 19:9 ESV)