The Greatest Gift a Husband Can Give His Wife

{ the greatest gift a husband can give his wife }

Over the weekend, I shared with my husband my desire to be a Proverbs 31 woman but struggled with understanding exactly what that meant.  Reading the passage over a few times, I didn't get what being this "wife of noble character" fully encompassed.  Or maybe the truth was I didn't feel I could ever live up to the woman depicted in the passage.

So my husband shared this short devotional book with me:  How to Pray for Your Wife.

He read it last year and told me about it then.  But I didn't fully appreciate what this meant or how this helped shape his specific prayers for me and us as a family. 

This morning while I was at the library with my toddler and father-in-law, I consumed the book, finished it in 30 minutes (it's a short and quick read), became overwhelmed with emotion but fought off tears (didn't want librarians to think I was having a meltdown), and thanked God for my husband and his gift of prayer to and for me.  In the guide, I saw James' notes and markings and felt a sense of deep love poured over me.   How blessed I am to have a man who loves me in such a way he intercedes on my behalf daily, encourages me, and points me to Christ!

And then I realized the greatest gift a man can give his wife is not flowers, jewelry, chocolate, or a fancy dinner out but rather the gift of daily interceding on her behalf through prayer.  This gift lasts for eternity, the value is even greater with time, it can't be stolen, and it is overflowing with love and tender care.

Husbands and wives, this is a book I highly recommend.  You can read it separately and then together.  I know its intention is meant for husbands, but this book gives great insight into Proverbs 31 verse by verse (starting with verse 10).  It's set up to be a 31-day devotional:  each day is spent examing a verse from the chapter, discussing the character/quality of the wife, how it applies to her and what it implies for the husband as well, and how to specifically pray for her, the family, and the husband himself.  It's recommended for singles as well, to help shape prayers for their future spouse. 

If you need further convincing that this devotional is well worth the investment, here's an excerpt. It was Day 1's suggested prayer that had me nearly in tears (skip to page 23 of the excerpt to read Day 1 devotional) :

1. Lord, set my wife free as a redeemed daughter, and restore in her your image so that she might become a strong and mighty woman.
2. Enable my wife to trust in you that you might deliver her from fears and insecurities that haunt her.
3. Enable me to be a husband who provides security to my family just as you provide security for your people. Help me to point my family to you through my words and actions.

Here are how the days are broken up:

Day 1:  Security 
"An excellent wife..." (Proverbs 31:10A)

Day 2:  Treasure
"...who can find?  Her value is far above jewels." (Proverbs 31:10B)

Day 3:  Trust
 "Her husband trusts in her fully...." (Proverbs 31:11A)

Day 4:  Provision
"...And he is never lacking in spoil." (Proverbs 31:11B)

Day 5:  Rewards
"She shows him good, not evil, all the days of her life." (Proverbs 31:12)

Day 6:  Creativity
"She seeks wool and linen and works in delight with her hands." (Proverbs 31:13)

Day 7:  Service
"She is like trade ships; she brings her food from a great distance." (Proverbs 31:14)

Day 8:  Devotion
"And she gets up while it is still dark, and she gives food to her family and portions to her servant girls." (Proverbs 31:15)

Day 9:  Bargain-hunter
"She considers a field and buys it." (Proverbs 31:16A)

Day 10:  Entrepreneur
"From the fruit of her own hands, she plants a vineyard." (Proverbs 31:16B)

Day 11:  Strength
"She dresses herself in strength, and she makes her arms strong." (Proverbs 31:17)

Day 12: Artistry
"She sees that her merchandis is good..." (Proverbs 31:18A)

Day 13:  Excitement
"...She does not extinguish her lamp at night." (Proverbs 31:18B)

Day 14:  Multitasking
"In her hand she holds the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle." (Proverbs 31:19)

Day 15:  Hospitality
"She spreads out her hands to the poor..." (Proverbs 31:20A)

Day 16:  Mercy 
"And [she] reaches out to the needy." (Proverbs 31:20B)

Day 17:  Covering
"She is not afraid of snow for her household, because all of them are doubly clothed." (Proverbs 31:21)

Day 18:  Balance
"She makes for herself coverings of tapestry; and linen and purple are her clothing." (Proverbs 31:22)

Day 19:  Significance
"Her husband is known at the city gates where he takes his seat with the elders of the land" (Proverbs 31:23)

Day 20:  Light
"She makes linen garments, which she sells, and gives belts to the merchants." (Proverbs 31:24)

Day 21:  Majesty
"Strength and majesty are her clothing" (Proverbs 31:25A)

Day 22:  Laughter
"And she laughs at the days to come" (Proverbs 31:25B)

Day 23:  Wisdom
"She opens her mouth with wisdom." (Proverbs 31:26A)

Day 24:  Grace
"And the law of grace is on her tongue." (Proverbs 31:26B)

Day 25:  Watchwoman
"She watches over the way of her household."  (Proverbs 31:27A)

Day 26:  Active

"...And [she] does not eat the bread of slothfulness."  (Proverbs 31:27B)

Day 27:  Cherished
"Her children stand up and call her blessed; and her husband praises her."  (Proverbs 31:28)

Day 28:  Appreciation

"Many women do noble things, but you go beyond them all."  (Proverbs 31:29)

Day 29:  Idol-smasher

"Elegance is a lie; beauty is vanity." (Proverbs 31:30A)

Day 30:  God-fearer

"A woman who fears the Lord - she shall be praised." (Proverbs 31:30B)

Day 31:  Praise

"Give to her the fruit of the hands, and let her works praise her at the city gates." (Proverbs 31:31)

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Husbands and wives, make an investment in this book.  Your marriage will greatly benefit from it and be blessed by it.

And to my husband, I praise God for you, your noble character, and your amazing gift to me and our children.