Every pious Christian knows that prayer is an integral aspect of Christianity. Most of us are taught early on that prayer, in its simplest form, is just talking to God. As absolutely true as this is, I want to avoid approaching prayer too lightly. Prayer is a threshold. It is a conference table that we can initiate on-demand. And, our Father is instantaneously there in our midst.
“The family that prays together stays together” is an adage that most of have grown up with. Trite sayings abound on the issue, but I hope to unveil what happens in that secret place. Many of us entered into marriage with an understanding that it is a sacred covenant with God and each other.
What happens when couples pray together is that you, as a couple, are combining your will to align with His will. You invite Him into the day-to-day of your lives and seek His counsel—and fellowship. Together.
What unfolds in this holy conference is beautiful:
1. God’s will becomes clearer. On many occasions, my wife and I approach the Throne of grace together, but confused. Unsure of what to make of the situation, we go to Him and ask Him to intervene or show us what steps to take. In those moments where we do not know whether to turn left or right, the answer, sometimes even extremely practical, becomes abundantly clear to one or both of us and we come away with the peace that transcends understanding. (Philippians 4:7)
2. We begin to see things from God’s perspective. As the two of us submit our wills to His, our aim is that our will conforms to His will. Romans 12:2 talks about this process of conforming our will to His: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” When we come to Him with hungry hearts and humble submission, we see from His perspective! The goal is to be conformed into Christ’s image. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
3. We’re unified in marriage. Praying as a couple joins us together. Nothing is more attractive to me than to see my wife on her knees, crying out to the Lord to intervene, to bless, to guide, or be present. When we see one another pray, we take one another’s heart cries as our own and contend for them together.
4. We prioritize correctly. When we enter into the secret place as a couple, we catch a glimpse of the fullness of Who He is. Everything comes into proper alignment when a husband and wife engage with the King of the universe. We are able to order our lives in agreement with God’s grandness and our reliance on His power.
5. We are bonded together with a purer bond. As we press more deeply into Him, we together witness the remarkable, unfolding saga of God’s faithfulness to our family in every season. Journal His workings as your family’s stories for generations to read! Also, simply hearing your spouse cry out to the Lord is one of the most beautiful insights into your spouse’s heart and needs.
6. We access Heaven’s resources. Jesus told us that we could ask anything in His name. (John 14:14) When a couple is devoted to Christ, there are no limits to what God avails to two burning hearts, united in love for Christ and one another. The power of agreement (Matthew 18:19) is an unstoppable weapon!
Heaven is eager to act on your behalf. Amazing things await you when you pray together!
