I don’t write about love, relationships, and romance often, but I think that praying for your future spouse is one of the most important things you could do. It is something that I have started doing, particularly now that I am getting older. Plus, let’s be honest, my future husband is going to need all the help he can get. Here are some of the things I pray for my future husband.

1. Let him share my interests.

Personally, I hope that my husband will love the outdoors the way that I do. I hope that he will want to travel when at all possible. I hope that he will be active and love sports, whether it be watching or playing them. God, bless my husband with common interests that we can enjoy together.

2. Let him encourage my faith.

Walking with God is difficult in itself, but when the realities of careers, dreams, bills, and day-to-day exhaustion hit, it can be even tougher to maintain this relationship. God, help my spouse to be my encourager and accountability partner, particularly when I stray in my walk with You.

3. Help him to be a man who complements me.

Complements here is not to be mistaken with the word “compliments.” I don’t mean here that I want a man who constantly calls me beautiful (though that would be pretty sweet, too). My weaknesses are both many and great, so I pray that my spouse would have strength in those areas. God, give my future husband qualities such as the ability to cook, the aptitude for fixing cars, and never-ending patience, all of which are skills and attributes that I often lack.

4. Give him a strong sense of humor.

There is nothing I love more than laughter and pure joy. Sweet Jesus, please give my spouse a sense of humor because forever is a long time to deal with me without one. I want my marriage to be one with many years filled with a lot of laughter.

5. Help us to have equal expectations in our marriage.

The Bible specifically says that a husband and wife should be “equally yoked.” Now, this is directed in terms of faith, that a married couple should follow the same faith and have the same yearning for God. However, I think that this can count for other areas too. God, let my husband share my beliefs in career, family, and other life choices we will make in our life together.

6. Give him a heart that loves others.

I want the love of my life to be someone who looks upon others through a lens of love. God, it would be really sweet if he would love all children, not just his. If he could be that man who gives the shirt off his back for others, no matter the circumstance. If he could be a person who is selfless, not just in our marriage, but in all aspects of his life.

7. Give my husband strength, even in the midst of strife.

There will be times of struggle, heartache, darkness and tribulation in our marriage and future. God, give my husband a heart that is strong, fearless, and ultimately a source of strength when I have none left.

8. Bless his priorities.

Careers and hobbies are important, and I want a husband who has a God-given drive and passions in his life. However, I don’t want to raise a family alone because my husband was too busy at the office. I don’t want to be the lone mother at baseball games, school events, and birthday parties. God, bless my husband's priorities and direct his heart in a way that would please you.

9. Give him a whole lot of understanding.

I am hard-headed, strong-willed, and at times, selfish. My career as a teacher will require giving my heart to numerous students and will, more than likely, leave me feeling drained and burdened at times. Give me someone who understands that, God. Instill in him the grace to forgive me when my job, and life itself, burns me out and leaves me with little to give.

10. Mold him into a man who loves You more than he could ever love me.

I am a strong believer that when a couple clings to God, He will not let them sink. If my husband pursues and truly loves God, he will love me more completely than he ever could dream of doing without the Lord’s help. My final prayer, God, is that my husband will pursue You with abandon and love You like crazy, making You first in all aspects of his life.