This week’s Marriage Monday is about this topic of praying together. I know it is sometimes difficult to find the time to do this, but it has great benefits. One man in our church was discussing this with me recently speaking of how God had brought incredible harmony and lack of conflict between he and his wife and the reason for it was praying together. In other words, praying together helped their relationship be stronger.
It makes sense, we know that women are wired for relational intimacy. What better way for your wife to know your heart, husband, than to spend time with her in prayer. It has also been well known that most women long for a man to take the lead in a spiritual way. Men, what bettter way to encourage your wife with loving leadership than to pray with her. I don’t think it is a stretch to say that praying together is a great way to not only build into your relationship with one another, but also to focus on the One who brought you together for His glory. Remember marriage is what God has brought together. Draw near to Him together, then, and see if He isn’t pleased.
This does require some discipline. Recently, God has been stirring my heart about family worship. You see, I was at a place in my life where, after a long day, I wanted to sit in front of the TV and watch Sportscenter updates or whatever else was wrong. I decided to best serve my family, there would have to be some severing of my pleasures. Usually from around 8-9:30ish, we try to have some family worship time with Andrew. Then, after he is in bed, we take some time to build our relationshp spiritually. We have tried to do this by reading D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones book The Sermon on the Mount. Every week, we are studying (at this point) a Beatitude and looking to deepen our understanding and application of it. Then we turn around in prayer together and ask God to work this in our lives. God has been so faithful. Praying together really has brought spiritual fellowship between us.
In conclusion, then, pray together and watch God draw near to you.