Strength and Power through Husbands and Wives Praying Together / The Art of Staying in Love

Strength and Power through Husbands and Wives Praying Together

by Lois Breneman - 2003 - Revised 2007

 

        Are there any issues in your family that need prayer?  Do you have family or friends who need prayer to invite the Lord into their lives?  Do your pastors, missionaries, president, vice president and your country need prayer?  Do you know anyone who has a spiritual or physical need?  I'm certain that we can all answer, "Yes," to each of those questions. 

        If you are not already praying daily with your husband, why not ask him if the two of you could please pray together for each of your children and your relationship sometime each day.  Just begin there, if this is new to you, but take the first step.  Find a time that works for both of you, even if it is just before you go to bed. 

        Writing the requests on a large unlined index card works well for this.  Your list will probably grow, as you become more aware of prayer needs around you.  When that happens, you may want to divide it into several lists.  We alternate several different lists now, but always pray for certain things each evening, such as our children, church and country, as well as other important requests.  On the back of the card we write the initial of the person who prayed, along with the date (J - 7/7 ~ L - 7/8), as we alternate praying each evening.  You will be amazed at how the Lord answers many prayers and brings you closer together as a couple.

        Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.  Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. ~ Matthew 18: 18-20 (KJV)

The Art of Staying in Love
from Daily Encounter by Dick Innes ~ From the article, "The Art of Staying in Love." ~ For more on this subject, go to http://www.actsweb.org and do a search for "Art of Staying in Love."  Used by permission

 

        "My marriage would be a whole lot better if only he or she would change!"  I guess we've all heard this line before. However, blaming the other person for a less-than-ideal marriage doesn't change anything. The only person I can ever change is myself. And as I change, those around me are almost forced to change--sometimes for the better, but not always, as some people don't want us to change. They feel quite safe when we stay as we are.

        Love includes our emotions, but it is much more than these. Love is a commitment of one imperfect person to another imperfect person. When we have this attitude, a new sense of realism enters the marriage and makes growth possible.

        Someone once said, "Doing things for other helps you to fall in love. But doing things with and for others helps you to stay in love."