“Why doesn’t my husband pray with me? Why isn’t he being introduced and leading in this area? Why do I feel like it’s always up to me? Why is he afraid to pray with me except at the table?’
These are questions I often hear from women I meet. They long to pray with them and for their husband to initiate it as it affects them in a way that makes them feel protected, cared for and valued. These are good, legitimate desires. Absolutely!
However, I am here to tell you very bluntly that Satan aims to take out your husband first and foremost. If she can weaken your husband, the head of the house, in this area of spiritual intimacy, she has a better chance of taking out the rest of the family. Based on that thought alone, why wouldn’t we as husbands jump in and do what we could to prevent it?
Let’s start where it all began! From the beginning God intended man to lead and love their wives. However, since the fall, God’s plan has been reversed by man’s sin. Satan knows that if a husband and wife pray together, there is less chance that they will separate and divide God’s plan for a marriage. Satan doesn’t want that, so he will do everything he can to subvert God’s ultimate purpose.
But guess what? Satan does not want you to know this. He wants to keep you blind, ignorant and ignorant of this vital foundation in your marriage.
Here’s the reality and where it starts from you! There is no faith without prayer. Prayer ultimately shows our need and dependence on the Lord. Let me ask you, “Do you really know your heart before the Lord? Do you come to Him exactly where you are or where you pretend to be? Do you know the depth of your need for forgiveness and help from Him?” Begin by becoming more aware of where you are spiritually and ask God to make you even more aware of your own sin, your demands, your hurts and your deepest desires. God is waiting for you!
Not knowing where each of your spouses are spiritually, let me approach this first from a general perspective. We can go many places from here! First of all, let me give you full permission to ask your husband to pray with you. Yes! That’s totally fine! God has given us the responsibility and privilege to be helpers to our husbands. Most husbands have great fears and other problems that prevent them from praying, especially out loud, with their wives. Ok lets be real……it is what it is. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that you should “wait for your husband to pray with you.” Let’s reverse the curse ladies! You cannot underestimate the power of asking your husband to pray with you or for you. It is planting a seed that the Lord can use in a powerful way. Remember, it starts with coming before the Lord yourself. It will give you the strength to have the confidence to approach your man. We can be like Paul, who prayed great prayers because he believed really great things. Let us follow his example. In Colossians 4:2, he said he prayed and then “watched therein with thanksgiving.” Paul was humble, bold and compassionate. It could be you, I promise!
Knowing the importance of prayer and how it has the power to stop Satan in his tracks, there are a few ways to learn how praying for your husband can move mountains and let him know that you are with him and for him. Begin to pray and ask the Lord to show you how to love your husband well. This means that you must sit quietly before the Lord and discipline yourself to listen to Him. To be honest, I didn’t like this at first. I had “too much” to do to sit and be quiet and listen. It takes focus to really listen to the Lord and what the Holy Spirit wants to do in you. Trust me! If I can learn to listen, so can you!
Here’s the next loving, privileged thing to do. As your husband walks out the door, casually ask him if there is anything you can pray about specifically for him. You just might be surprised by his answer. Be sure to set a timer on your phone to remind you to ask him. Then when he gets home, you specifically ask him about it. This sounds simple, but for most women I’ve talked to, it can be scary. This is understandable. All I can say for now is “do it scared”. God knows your heart and will smile upon you when you obey and love your husband well, no matter how he may respond. I’m with you too!
Memorize Galatians 6:9 “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap a harvest if we do not give up.” This will help you persevere. We have witnessed countless marriages turned upside down by the courage of a wife who has not grown weary but has decided to take on the responsibility and privilege of praying with and with her husband, no matter where his walk with the Lord is. It was her seeking the Lord with all her heart, soul and mind and her refusal to wait to be led that actually paved the way for a deeper understanding and movement into the power center of a marriage. PRAYER! I believe you can and I pray great things happen!
Jill Guidon
mjministry.com
