Jackie Henry
Surveys show that Christian couples who pray together have a divorce rate of less than 1%. This proves that building a foundation of prayer within a marriage by praying together will enrich, enhance, and fortify your life together.
Do you feel disconnected from your mate? Do you feel your marriage lacking in intimacy? Is there conflict in your marriage? Are you headed for a divorce? Then pray together. Praying together will disarm any conflicts and will further prevent disagreements. Praying as a couple will restore unity.
There are many benefits to praying together:
1. Praying together demonstrates dependence on God rather than trying to solve issues alone.
2. Praying together builds trust between the two of you.
3. Praying together paves the way for protection, healing and forgiveness where necessary.
4. Praying together keeps Christ at the center of the marriage.
Pointers for prayer together:
Find the right time and place to pray together. We should pray at the best part of our day, not when we are too tired to give it our best effort. Praying together may not always be an easy thing to do. It takes time. You may not feel as if you know HOW to pray together. But with some effort, you can help each other in this shared task of prayer. But talk about your prayer needs and issues that you are facing.
Be patient and know that everyone has a different prayer style. Remember that no one style is better than another. Perhaps your husband likes to pray really loud or fast. That’s ok. Maybe you like to pray soft and slow. That too is ok.
Keep prayer prayer. Don’t send hidden messages to your spouse via prayer. Watch out for prayers that manipulate or control another.
Consider some of the activities that may distract you from prayer: television, laziness, procrastination, tiredness, computer / internet, conflict in marriage, busyness.
It is valid and vital for husbands and wives to pray separately too, yet there is a great satisfaction and strength in their spiritual lives they miss out on if they do not pray together. Couples who pray together are building trust and intimacy in a greater dimension. Praying together provides a greater accountability to God and each other. It is a tender moment for me; and I will always cherish my prayer time with my husband.
In the book of Ecclesiastes we read, “A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” Ecc. 4:12
About Jackie Henry
Writer Jackie Henry is the founder and director of the “Teacup Widow’s Ministry,” a ministry designed to bless, encourage and empower widows. Jackie was a widow for nine years when she met and married Rev. Larry K. Henry, who is an ordained minister in the Church of God. Jackie has served as the director of Women’s Ministries at the Lawrenceville Church of God for 14 years. She has been employed by North Ga. Church of God Executive Office for 17 years. Jackie and Larry have been appointed as pastors of the Dahlonega Church of God At Mercy Hill. Jackie has learned that God’s Word will mix with life’s experiences to create the wisdom that is needed for living. Her love for God has given her a winning combination.