Power in Prayer

There are few things that can change a marriage the way prayer can. While I was an associate pastor, a couple came to my office for marriage counseling. After we pinpointed several areas of concern in their marriage that needed their attention, I asked the husband to commit the couple’s desires to the Lord. As the man finished praying, I looked up to discover that his wife was crying. She explained through her tears that this was the first time in ten years of marriage that they had prayed together as a couple!

Too often we find ourselves in a situation where things in our marriage are festering inside of us and instead of taking those things to God, we hurl them at our spouse or gossip about them to our friends and family. If we want things to change then why would we do this?

The Bible instructs us to make our requests known to God. In fact, we are instructed in Philippians 4:6 to make our requests known to God though prayer and supplication. Most of us know that prayer is the general term for conversing with the Father, but do you know what supplication means? It means to pray with a sense of need. What greater need might we have than to save our marriage if there is trouble on the horizon?

The Bible gives us many examples of others who have done this very thing:

• Isaac prayed for his wife Rebekah to conceive (Genesis 25:21).
• Hannah prayed for a son (1 Samuel 1:11).
• Zacharias prayed for a child (Luke 1:13).
• Paul prayed for the salvation of his countrymen, for the Philippians, and for Timothy.
• Jesus prayed about His death (Matthew 26:36-46).

Our Savior and these heroes of faith prayed for specific needs, desires, and requests. You and I are to do the same. Be faithful to lift up the personal needs in your life and those of your loved ones to God through specific supplications and petitions. Then watch to see how God will answer. If you really want to see some change, take your spouse’s hand and unite together in prayer. Mountains will move. Try it.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to strengthen your marriage. Make it a point—and a practice—to come before the Lord in prayer together as a couple. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, or formal, or take more than a few minutes. Make it as simple and easy and natural as you can for both of you.

I guarantee you will both be blessed, and it will also do wonders for your marriage. After all, what is the old saying? “The couple who prays together stays together.” Prayer together is a shared spiritual experience. It is a strong tie that binds two hearts and souls together. And imagine the mutual joy you’ll experience as you witness God’s answers to your prayers…together!

RESPOND:

Dear Lord, thank You for Your promises to us. Thank You for the privilege of coming to You in prayer. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

15 Verses to Pray for Your Husband  will help you make it a habit to pray for God’s guidance in partner’s life.

REFLECT:

How can you set aside time to pray as a couple? What issues are you worrying about that you can take to the Lord in prayer?

REMEMBER:

Make it a point—and a practice—to come before the Lord in prayer together as a couple.