An upcoming marriage can be an overwhelmingly important chapter for many who are lucky enough to experience love and stability. It’s not a negative milestone, but it brings new responsibilities to the table. There are rules that need to be modified and new ones to be added when you share a home and a future with someone you love. There may be a lot of things running in your head: how will I keep our marriage strong, how will I make it last? How will we slowly merge our lives into one? What about expenses, children, family, major purchases, life goals, and careers? There’s a lot to take in, and it’s understandable to feel nervous about everything at the same time, excited and thrilled to finally be with your significant other.
One of the best and most effective ways to soothe your nerves and enjoy the pre-wedding experience with a calm and peaceful mind is to pray to God for guidance as you and your partner open this wonderful new chapter of your lives.
Prayer for upcoming marriage
Our gracious and loving Heavenly Father,
You are the God of the Bible and the God of my ancestors. You have inspired billions of men and women in the past and continue to do so in the present, ever-continuing Your legacy and history of goodness and glory. I lift my hands to You in praise and awe as I witness time and time again Your love for me, as evident in blessings both big and small. You are great, powerful, and caring, and I praise You for Your benevolence and care for us, the sheep of Your pasture.
I bow to You in honor and repentance and humbly lay out all my sins at Your feet. My thoughts, intentions, and actions towards others have not always been purely out of goodness. I am stained with countless sins, yet You still welcome me into Your presence and bless me despite my impurity. Lord, I know that I can never achieve perfection. I can never be fully free of sin and evil, but I choose to learn and exert effort to become a better servant and Christian. I may not be sinless and unstained, but I hope that You will continue to right my wrongs and use my story to inspire others to be better too. In Your eyes, there is potential in everyone, and I hope You see the potential in me and use me to redirect the paths of sinners to You. My sins are great, but Your mercy is greater.
I praise You for providing all my needs and for protecting me from danger. Thank You for love: the love of my parents, the love of my siblings and other family members, the love of my friends and acquaintances, and even the love and concern of strangers. But most of all, I am grateful for the love of a lifetime wherein I got to meet my soulmate, the one You have carefully and lovingly prepared for me. Thank You for this person whom I hold closest to my heart, second only to You. Thank You for letting me meet a wonderful person who has made me feel happy and has stuck with me through the good days and the bad ones.
Lord, I pray that You will be at the center of our marriage, being our anchor when storms threaten to rock our marriage and tear it apart. I pray that we will be a good team through life’s challenges. Grant us the wisdom to make choices that are right for us and the courage to make these choices without fear or doubt. Fill our marriage with loyalty, and make our respect and love for each other last a lifetime. Bless us with lifelong faith not only in our marriage but also in You. Whatever troubles may come our way, strengthen our union so that the story of our love will last, knowing that it is rooted in You.
Long may You reign in glory, righteousness, and love.
These I lovingly ask in Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Short prayer for marriage
Lord God,
As I will soon be faced with a new chapter in my life, that of a marriage with the person I love, I kneel before You, asking for guidance, strength, and courage so that I will enter this marriage without doubt or fear. Thank You for preparing a wonderful person for me to love and cherish. May You bless us with fruitfulness and loyalty, and may our marriage withstand the trials of life as we put You at the center of our union.
These I humbly request in Your Most Precious Name,
Amen.
The Word of God
Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8 NRSVUE
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NRSVUE
Intercessory prayer to Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph, you are the patron of married people and have aided them in their lifelong commitment. As I face an upcoming union with the person I hold closest to my heart, I ask for your guidance in navigating marriage and in praying to the Lord for a fruitful, healthy marriage. Pray for my partner and me as we will soon join not only our hands but also our hearts in love. May we create many beautiful memories to cherish in the years to come. In times of trouble, may you help us put our faith and trust in God so that He will deliver us from evil. I hope that our upcoming marriage will be blessed beyond measure.
Saint Joseph, pray for us. Amen.
Further reflection
The thought of soon being married to someone you love and being committed to each other for the rest of your lives can make you feel nervous and, at the same time, excited. Marriage comes with a new set of responsibilities and this time, you will be not only taking care of yourself but also your future spouse and children. On top of these, there are also plenty of matters that need to be settled: property, savings, time management, careers, long-term goals, major purchases, family planning and child care, and many more.
Even if you’re excited to finally be legally and spiritually bound in heart and soul to the person you love, thoughts of these new responsibilities and how your life will soon change can make you feel anxious, nervous, and even afraid. Remember to pray to the Lord for His blessing for Your upcoming marriage so that the transition will be smooth and that the marriage will be happy and long-lasting.
