The prayer of Daniel.

"So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land. “Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you. “Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him. “Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us. “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.” -Daniel 9:3-19

Sometimes our situations in interceding for unsaved loved ones and wayward spouses may call for fasting. God is faithful when we ask if we should fast and how so. God truly is great beyond measure as Daniel proclaimed and is faithful to keep His covenant and His promises. Confessing any lies we have believed about ourselves and others is a great way to start. We want to be cleansed and turn from sin so we can walk in all God has called us to and especially the opportunities He gives us to love and be with others. He wants us to bring all our problems and fears to Him. He wants us to talk to Him about the circumstances in front of us that can seem impossible or difficult to overcome. However, the truth is the very things He brings us to that seem impossible, they are without Him...but with Him, we can have victory because of the cross of Jesus Christ that has gifted of eternal life. With God it is absolutely possible!

At one point when we were separated in 2017, we barely talked, we lived separate, divorce papers were filed and it looked like the ultimate death of our union was near. But God used all this to set us up for a new start of restoration in our own hearts. Because of His mercy, grace, favor and forgiveness He gave us a new beginning.