Mat 7:12 (NIV) So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Jesus, I have pain, difficulties, struggles, and issues with marriage, it draws my attention inward toward myself. Prior to the problem, there were times when I was a real outgoing person who spent a lot of time helping others. But, when things got bad enough in my life, my attention became focused on that thing that is hurting me.

Jesus, help me see that as much as is possible, Your objective is to bring my attention away from myself and onto the needs of others. Right now, that doesn’t seem like a possibility; I am hurting so much with my problem that I can’t even consider reaching out to someone else. That would seem like I would be doubling my suffering. But, help me trust You and let You work with me, show me a way that brings peace to me. Give me so much rest and faith that I will start to consider caring for someone else.

Jesus, teach me that there are foundational Scriptures that most of the other Scriptures in the Bible are built on. These foundational Scriptures give me major principles for You to guide my life by. When I am facing some intense issue, these high level Scriptures are the ones I can look to for bringing healing, miracles, and solutions to my life. Teach me that one of the most important foundational Scriptures is: So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Show me that when I am looking at a single verse of Scripture that sums up the Law and the Prophets, I am looking at a big one.

Mark 12:31 (NIV) The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Jesus, just as soon as some big difficulty comes my way, the big question that immediately comes to mind is something like, “how am I going to get this taken care of?” If it is bad, painful, stressing, difficult, or damaging to me, then my number one question is typically, “how can I get rid of this?” I want it out of my life as fast as possible. So, since I am suffering because of marriage issues in my life, what does: “Do to others what you would have them do to you.” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” have to do with it?

Mat 11:28 (NIV) Come to Me (Jesus), all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Jesus, make it clear to me that as long as I am CONCENTRATING on my problem, I am very much aware of how bad it is. But, I typically assume that if I don’t think about it, nothing is going to get done to solve it. Teach me that, that would be true if You weren’t inviting me to come and get help from You. Show me that if I am my only hope, if I am the only one who cares, and if I am the only one who is willing to help, then my approach to solving my issues with marriage is the one and only solution. But, if none of those statements are true, then help me get my eyes off of me and on You.

Luke 6:38 (NIV) Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Jesus, when I am hurting, struggling, suffering, and filled with anxiety, the last thing I want to do is go help somebody. And, if I don’t need Your help, then I DO need to focus in on my problems and issues. But, since I DO want Your to help, then giving is what You want me to start doing. I ask You to empower me to start getting my eyes off of my big problem and on the needs of others.

Mat 11:28 (NIV) Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Jesus, help me stop concentrating on how I am going to solve my problem with marriage; help me come to You. Help me come to You because You promised to give me rest. But show me what this rest is from. Show me that it is rest from this thing that is bothering me the most. But, maybe I don’t want rest. Maybe I want an effective, all inclusive, and final solution to my problem. But, help me see that if I am going to get Your help, I must get it Your way. Teach me that You will give me rest by taking over the responsibility of care for my issue with marriage.

Mat 11:29 (NIV) Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Jesus, teach me that a yoke is a wooden load or work harness that is hooked to animals that are used to do labor. Help me understand that You want me to give You my problem so You can give me a work harness and put a different burden on my back. Help me remember being around someone who had the same problem as mine. Help me remember that even though theirs was the same as mine, it didn’t cause me as much pain as mine did. Their problem was their problem. They will have to suffer and deal with it. I have my own problem that I am suffering with.

Mat 11:30 (NIV) For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. Jesus, teach me that if I want You to help me with my problem, then FIRST You want me to enter into Your rest concerning my problem. You want me to relax and know that You have my problem taken care of. And, since You are taking care of my problem, that frees me up to help someone else. Since I truly believe You are taking care of my problem with marriage, let me relax and have rest in my heart. Then as I start helping someone else with their problem, show me that I will find their problem doesn’t worry me as much, cause me so much pain, and doesn’t stress me out like I was when I was carrying my own load. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.