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Feb 28

Written by: Julie Arduini
2/28/2010 11:25 PM 

 

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A Few Writing Suggestions

It's no secret that many couples have difficulty praying together.

Men, especially, can be uncomfortable expressing their intimate spiritual thoughts. What have you learned to that helps you both to break through those barriers?

Consider sharing your experience in one or more of these areas...

• When do you pray as a couple

• Frequency of prayer

• Why you don't pray

• Answers to your prayers

• Prayer partners for your marriage

• Praying for your children

• Rewards of praying together

• Prayer for your husband's salvation ...and so on. Maybe you would simply prefer to post a prayer instead.

This is a tough subject.  I believe prayer moves mountains, transforms people, and directs marriages.  Yet it's such a sensitive topic and I struggle to find the balance after 13 years of marriage.

When we started dating he was a brand new Christian of two weeks.  Yes, 14 days.  I had a couple more years on him but was disillusioned, wounded, and backsliding.

His faith changing experience came from a Pentecostal background.  Mine was Weslyean.  We were never on the same page.  I was either intimidated by the rich experiences he literally had coming out of the baptismal waters, or he was taken aback by my "experience."  Praying those early years were so crucial but we let intimidation get in the way.

Then I surrendered fear and learned more about the Holy Spirit, no longer afraid because I understood more.  My faith deepened and it revoultioned my prayer life.  So much so I became a legend in my own mind.  I became prideful and would initiate family prayers because he wasn't.  Who could blame him with me taking over?  This went on for years.  He'd enter our prayer circle but I was the dictator.  Not a way to pray together.

We're still navigating through the prayer waters.  I know nagging, judging, and dictating isn't the way to go about it yet he is the worshipper and I'm the intercessor.  It's hard for him to initiate prayer.  There are times it's just not the "folder" in front of him, so praying escapes him until later.  Yet he's a master at praying before meals and when we travel.  I'm learning to wait on him and trust God.  He might not pray every time I think we should, and I'm done nagging or rolling my eyes.  Instead I pray for him, for us, and our children.  I rejoice when we pray as a family or together.

I know usually I try to think of encouraging things to say about how I've been there and done that.  Today I feel led to share I'm there, still doing that.  I don't have the answers, and I get frustrated.  But I know prayer works and I know my husband needs to step up in this without being forced or manipulated.

I'm thankful He is a praying man and I pray I be the wife he knows he can trust to pray with.

When God tells him he's ready.

 By the way, I'll be reviewing Mother-Daughter Duet and Dancing with my Father later today.  Please come back and hey, I'd love for you to sign the guestbook and/or grab the new button my husband created.  So thankful for him!