Praying for Relationships in the UK

Post-Christmas Divorce
'The "double whammy" of Christmas and the credit crunch will make this week one of the busiest ever for divorce lawyers' reported The Belfast Telegraph on Monday.
The article goes on 'One in four people say their relationship is under strain because of money problems, according to a new survey.'

But by far the most horrific statement is:
'Ironically, 11% of those polled say they are being forced to stay in a failing relationship because the financial crisis means they cannot afford to leave.'
Which thrown on its head means that this 11% would probably divorce their partners if they were more financially stable.

Some things we could pray concerning this:

First thank Christ for Marriage, He gave it to humans back in Eden, and has offered us something that if we follow His plan & instructions (eg Song of Solomon) both Glorifies God and brings us great delight.

Pray that we (Christians) would seek to follow Christ, using a credit crunch for the spiritual good of our relationships as we realize that ultimately God is where we find our Joy & Satisfaction, check out Matthew 6:25-34.

Pray for this 11% who otherwise would walk away from their relationships, that the restrictions imposed by failing finances would afford them opportunity to work hard at their relationship in creative romance & in seeking the others pleasure.

Pray that 1 Corinthians 7:3-5 would be an active part of our relationships as husbands fulfill their wife's need for romance etc & wives fulfill their husband's sexual desires.

Following the last point, Pray that we might know & speak each others love languages so that love is known strongly within the marriage bond.

Pray for those who are finding their relationship in tension due to finances, that Christ would lead them to Himself that they may realize & find that He alone is Saviour & much better than the functional saviour they have made of wealth.

That we would all realise & be aware that Jesus, the one who came at Christmas to restore the relationship between God & man, is also the only one who can fully restore oneness to our relationships & give depth & meaning to them.

That Christ would give us, His people, opportunity to speak into lives & marriages that are in this situation to give Spirit filled, Christ centered, God glorifying & Biblically wise counsel.