Daily Prayer Thread 1/30/03

Ephesians 4
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

May I add a prayer request to this list? It's hard to see the screen through my tears, so here goes:

My wife has filed for divorce. The final court date is May 9. Background details are numerous, so the "Cliff's Notes" version will have to do. We were married in June 1997, when I had a year in college left. It took me a long time (2 years) to find a permanent, full-time job in my field (radio broadcasting) but had other jobs in the meantime. I had promised my wife I'd provide for her so she could stay at home, but with student loans and my paltry salary, it was one of many promises of mine that fell through. We were blessed with a son in May 2000, but 5 months later I was sudenly fired from my radio job. Climbing up the ladder was set back to square one. I fell into a deep depression and didn't do for months what should've been done the week after the firing: look for a job. My wife, bless her, was suffering due to my stupid, selfish choices. Promises to find a job went unfulfilled with each 'few-and-far-between' job interview. Nov. 2001: she told me she thought separation might be best. I said no way, and one month later got a full time computer tech job, plus marriage counseling. Four months later I was laid off permanently since business was very sparse at my job. Another depression followed, and I spent all my time sitting on my rear playing games and not on finding a job as much as I should have. Oct 2002: I find a temp job. November 2002: my wife writes me a note saying she no longer loves me as a husband, and wants a separation. One week BEFORE this, I break all my computer game disks and delete them from the computer, then say I'll never play them again and will do whatever it takes to sve the marriage. Three weeks later, she says when she goes to a lawyer, it won't be for a separation. Late Dec: she files papers for divorce.

I am a broken man, and devastated. My wife and I are both Christians, although we hadn't been to church regularly for awhile. I have rededicated my life to Jesus and pray daily for my wife. Nearly every day, I've cried. My wife wants this divorce. I have repented of my (many) sins and asked for her forgiveness. Eventually, she says she will. I will do anything, ANYTHING to save this marriage covenant.

Please pray that my wife will forgive me for not being the godly husband I should have been, for robbing her of years of a healthy marriage partnership, and for not being the proper daddy to our son. I only blame myself for my actions. Please pray that this marriage will be healed.

P.S. I've been "clean" from playing games for three months. Plus, I'm working at a temp-to-hire job now. Please pray that I can further provide for my family by finding a higher-paying computer related job (to pay off credit cards).

My job is third shift, so I'll reply later this afternoon/evening.

My utmost prayers for you right now and for your wife