Every February around Valentine's Day, our church hosts a wedding vow renewal ceremony. I remember the first year my husband and I participated, we felt a bit awkward standing on the crowded stage with other couples. Facing each other with hands clasped we repeated words we had spoken way back when in a church surrounded by pines in mid-Michigan.

This time the words came with a deeper understanding. Along with the happy times, we had gone through some tough ones too. 'Happily ever after' was a bit more realistic and included miscarriages, financial set-backs, and the occasional sickness . But the steadfast love of my husband made it easy for me to renew my original commitment.

I want to be the right kind of woman for my man.

I'm sure you do too. It's something we can't do in our own strength. It begins with prayer for both ourselves and our husbands. Consider including some of the following prayer points as you talk to the Lord.

Daily prayer points

1. Help me (& my spouse) love You and put You first Lord

. . . Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Matt. 22:37; KJV

2. Help us want Your will more than our own

. . . Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

Luke 22:42; KJV

3. Help us grow in grace and know You more

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ . . .

2 Peter 3:18; KJV

4. Help us be grateful and find contentment in You and not circumstances or things

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Hebrews 13:5; KJV

5. Help us speak the truth in a loving way

Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

1 Corinthians 7:3; KJV

6. Help us stay faithful to each other (physically, emotionally)

Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

1 Corinthians 7:3; KJV

7. Help us surround ourselves with godly friends that challenge us

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Proverbs 27:17; KJV

8. Help us make decisions based on Your Word

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

 James 1:5; KJV

For ladies only

9. Help us find our beauty and sense of worth in Christ

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

Proverbs 31:30; KJV

10. Help us respect our husband and build him up

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

Ephesians 5:22; KJV

As we allow ourselves to be transformed with the truth of God's Word, our marriages can be a beautiful reflection of Christ's relationship with His church.

Even if you're NOT married, the majority of these prayer points still apply to you. Begin incorporating them as you talk to God!