Matchmaker Prayer

Gary North

Finding a marriage partner is never an easy matter. Even after you do, it's no easy matter.

In the bad old days, marriages were arranged, either by parents or by a paid matchmaker. Most of the time, this worked. Marriages held together. These days, the partners decide on their own, with little pre-marital consultation. In the United States, the odds are 50-50 that a marriage will not work -- not good odds.

Then there are the single people who never find anyone to marry.

I suggest a prayer. I call it the Matchmaker Prayer. It calls on God as the cosmic matchmaker. It has six sentences. The first five are part of a structure:

1. Sovereignty
2. Service
3. Character
4. Confession
5. Inheritance

Here is the prayer:

This is not about me; it's about You. I don't think I can serve You best by myself. I put character before all other marital characteristics. I will not marry anyone who does not share my commitment to You. I want to have at least three children. So, I request that You bring me a lifetime partner who is right for me.

It's simple. It's straightforward. It gets right to the point.

Is this your point?

Be careful what you pray for. God may grant it. When He brings that not-so-gorgeous, not-so-suave person to you as His answer to your prayer, you may decide to keep shopping. If you do, be sure you have not rejected an answer to your prayer. Do not keep the other person in reserve, "just in case."

How often should you pray this prayer? At least once a day. For how long? Until you decide that you don't want to get married. On persistent prayer, read Luke 18:1-7. Take it seriously.

How serious are you about getting married?