Marriage Monday - Prayer In Marriage

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Marriage Monday is a monthly opportunity to share about specific topics dealing with marriage.  Today's topic is "Prayer In Marriage" and this is a subject about which I am passionate!  Not because I am an expert, but because I stand in awe that the Lord could take a heart like mine and teach me great truths about the power of a praying wife.

I consider it to be one of the greatest blessings of my life that my husband and I became Christians on the same night!  This joined our hearts and lives in our beginning and established us with unity to follow the Lord and to build our marriage on the Rock of our Salvation.  As we grew in our walk with the Lord and our marriage we began praying together as a couple.  Although it was a bit awkward at first, we continued on through the years and have been blessed beyond measure by instituting this in our marriage.  We began by taking turns praying at bedtime and then extended this as the children grew to a family prayer time before bed. Marital prayer opens a beautiful intimacy between couples as each one prays what is in and on their heart.  Praying aloud reveals our desires, perhaps our struggles, what it is we deeply care about and what we are thankful for.  It may take some courage to open ourselves up to our spouse in prayer, but the heart connections that are formed are lifelong bonds of deeper and greater love between each other.   

My personal prayer time FOR my husband tended to be on the weak side.  Each day I would pray "Lord, bless his day..." and that would be about it!  A few years ago, we went through a time of job lay offs,  decisions about a new job and some major health issues.  My prayer life perked up some as we surely needed the guidance of the Lord through these times. 

But a realization of how powerful a wife's prayer can be came when he was facing significant challenges at his job.  He was learning a new position, had an intense supervisor and a multitude of stress filled tasks.  As I watched him go to work each day, a sense of helplessness would fill my heart as I wanted to help him through this difficult time, but simply could not make it better for him.  This was something he must do on his own.  My prayers for him took on a new intensity and power. I began to think of his greatest needs and pray verses out of God's Word for him.

• He needed strength - Isaiah 40:31
• peace - Philippians 4:6,7 
• wisdom and guidance - Proverbs 3:5,6  
• integrity - Psalms 26:11,  Proverbs 20:7
• clear direction: - Psalms 25,4,5 

This opened up to me that through God's Word, I could pray for him with the power that can only come for the Lord.  Although on my own, I can offer limited support, through the power of prayer, God's limitless ability to meet any and every need is opened and abundant. My prayers were transformed and have continued on this way now that I realize the value that a praying wife is to her husband.  A wise wife may stand behind the scenes in prayer, but her prayers are a source of strength, encouragement and love that propel and uplift her husband in all that he does.

Prayers in marriage are a vital source to strengthen, nurture and grow in the marriage relationship. Praying with him and for him will bless him and you!  I would strongly encourage beginning and/or growing in this area.  No step is too small to take to begin and there is  no need is too big when we bring it before the Lord. 

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19