4 Ways Prayer Will Strengthen Your Marriage

God’s perfect design for marriage is to imitate the loving, personal, and beautiful relationship Jesus wants with us. Since Satan is desperately determined to destroy, demolish, and bring devastation to anything that reflects that beautiful relationship, he is ready to strike as soon as a thriving marriage comes along.

Wives, how can we fight against Satan’s schemes – the hurdles, hardships, and hindrances our marriages will encounter?

We can join our husband in prayer. 

Praying together is a mighty weapon you have at your disposal. When you devote time and effort to praying with your husband, you demonstrate to God that you have a desire to submit your marriage to Him. You also show the devil he has no business interfering in your marriage. 

Here are four ways praying with your husband will strengthen your marriage:

1. Your relationship with Jesus will be reinforced. When you join with your husband in prayer and relinquish your dilemmas, doubts, and dreams to the Lord’s control, He faithfully works in your hearts. Romans 8:28 reminds us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (NIV) While God helps you become more like Jesus, both of you will have the gift of a front-row seat as you watch a powerful transformation take place in each other. 
2. Your relationship with your husband will be rejuvenated. Praying together helps couples develop a unity reserved for marriage. (“That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24 NIV) For example, when you pray together, you may discover a burden you did not realize your husband was carrying. It could be for the stress, the situation, or finances of someone you didn’t even know was on his radar. When you hear him pray about his requests, your heart softens toward your husband, and you have the privilege of bringing those specific needs to God during your individual prayer time. 
3. Your response toward the Holy Spirit will be revived. When praying with your husband is a priority, it avails you to be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s voice. Prayer often primarily consists of laying burdens at His feet, but it also includes listening to Him speak. When you are attentive to His wise instruction and mutually choose to obey, you experience a deeper reliance on the Holy Spirit.
4. Your response toward blessings will be revitalized. Praying together as a couple is a wonderful time to count blessings and cultivate a grateful attitude. It is an ideal opportunity to thank God for marriage and your husband. Wives, imagine how it would encourage your husband to hear you building him up, talking him up, and lifting him up to your Heavenly Father!

There are various ways to initiate a new custom of joint prayer in your marriage. For example, take turns praying each day, or alternate who begins and who ends, or go back-and-forth between who gives thanks and who names requests. Regardless of which technique works best, you will soon look forward to sharing your new routine. When there are days you are unable to pray together, you will find yourselves missing it.

When couples pray together, they face challenges head-on and hand-in-hand, with Jesus right smack-dab in the center. 

James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Wives, fight for your marriage and force the devil to flee by praying with your husband. Let’s send Satan packing!

Wife Step: Talk with your husband about your desire to pray together, and take the initiative to pray together, starting today!

Gwen Thielges is an author, blogger, church worship leader, and para-professional. She is married to Darren, her high school sweetheart, (maybe elementary sweetheart would be more accurate?) They are above-and-beyond grateful for their three sons, one daughter, two daughters-in-law, and two grandsons. 

Gwen is a blogging contributor for devotableapp.com and her devotional for college athletes, All In For Him, can be found on Amazon. She has recorded two CDs of original Christian songs, and her writing and music projects can be followed at facebook.com/gwenthielgeswritingandmusic.

Her heartfelt desire is to encourage readers to strive toward a deeper faith and a wider witness. She credits the immeasurable love of Jesus, the love of her amazing family, and strong coffee for her writing inspiration.