The Power of Prayer

The night that Jeffrey and I got engaged, my mom gave me the book Power of a Praying Wife, by Stormie Omartian. I’ve mentioned this book before, but it’s had such a profound impact on my life in learning how to pray. My first time reading through, the book appeared to be so cheesy and repetitive. Once I was able to look past that, I started to understand the truth that was within each page, and my eyes began to be opened to the power we have through prayer. Over the last 4.5 years of marriage, I’ve probably read through the entire book at-least 5 times.

The way that God designed marriage is for each of us to leave our parents and join together as one. It is designed for us to know each other on the deepest level spiritually, emotionally and physically. As a wife, my prayers for my husband are more powerful than anything else. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, I know that the best way to love my husband is to hit my knees in prayer for him. The book guides you through prayers about your husband's identity, faith, confidence, temptations, integrity, job, health, protection, and so on. Although it will likely take time and patience, being faithful in prayer for your spouse will open up doors and opportunities bigger than you could’ve ever thought up on your own.

Early on in a marriage you quickly begin to recognize the things that make each other tick. Those little habits or quirks that you never noticed before that now drive you crazy. When one of you doesn’t respond the way you should, or when you make a decision the other doesn’t agree with. These little things are capable of driving a wedge between you, and before you know it, you can lose sight of each other and what your relationship once was. One of the main points in the book is rather than praying for God to change your spouse, ask him to begin to change your own heart. Begin to pray that God will bring patience and communication to the areas that are difficult. Before long, God begins to change YOU to become more like Him, and all of the sudden those little things are no longer noticeable.

Marriage is not a 50/50, give and take type of relationship. Marriage is giving 110% from both sides. It’s serving and loving and supporting no matter what. It’s praying for God to mold you and shape you and transform you into the husband or wife that your spouse needs, not changing them to fit the mold you’ve designed for them in your mind.

Praying with and for each other has bound our relationship so tightly. God has protected and grown our relationship over the past few years, despite the distance and time we’ve spent apart. We’ve seen him faithfully guide our path in the direction He desires for us to go.

Recently, Jeffrey and I began going through the book Draw the Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge, by Mark Batterson. Often times, it is so easy to treat God like a magic wand. When things are easy, we keep him in our back pocket just in case. When times begin to get a little dicey, we pull him out and abracadabra, we begin to plead with him to change our situation. “God, please change this. This is getting a little too close to the edge. I’m uncomfortable. This wasn’t part of our plan.” Then, when things begin to even out again, we place him safely into our back pocket until we need him next.

THIS IS NOT HOW GOD WORKS. I’ve found this to be an exhausting type of relationship to try and keep up. It’s hard to sense his peace when I’m only communicating with him when I need a little favor.

When you begin to make a shift and completely surrender your plan to God, in exchange for his perfect will, this is where you find joy and peace and hope for the future. This is a vulnerable place to be. It is like telling God he can take away everything and completely replant you, if it will bring glory to His name. Now, I am not saying that we shouldn’t ask God for things. Psalm 37:4 says “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart”. He cares about our desires, big or small. I firmly believe in declaring things over your life and believing for them in the name of Jesus! There is so much power in that. However, when we hold so tightly to our own plan and refuse to give it up, we set ourselves up for disappointment and a life half lived.

If you’re still reading this, I encourage to re-evaluate the way you are coming before God. Instead of only asking him for what you think you want, try to learn to trust him a little more. “Thank you God for where you have us right now. We pray for your will and your perfect timing. We only desire to be in the center of your plan. Show us what that might be.”

I just want to say... If you are trying to go through this life without bringing everything before God, you are making it so much harder on yourself. I’ve been there. I’m still there sometimes. Life presents us with big decisions. God promises to provide for every need. He has the power to heal every sickness, restore any relationship, and forgive any sin. In Christ, through prayer, we have the power to slam the door in the devil’s face, unraveling any plans he has to kill, steal and destroy. Prayer provides a direct line to God, through which we are able to walk freely in the name of Jesus.

As one of my favorite pastors, Louie Giglio often says, my only goal should be “to know God, and to make him known”. That’s it. Whenever and wherever that might be, that’s all we want to be apart of.

And so, when you face times of uncertainty and times of waiting, there is no fear. When you know that you’ve already been on your knees, for months, praying for God’s will and nothing else, you are able to walk into whatever situation comes with inexplicable peace and joy, because you know you are exactly where he wants you to be. He will open the perfect door, and all you have to do is walk through it. Whatever your platform or situation, bring it to Him. He is faithful. And no matter what, strive to know his name and make him known.

“When you pray to God regularly, irregular things happen on a regular basis. You never know when or where or how God will invade the routine of your life, but you can live in holy anticipation, knowing that God is orchestrating supernatural synchronicities.”

Pick up one of these books if you need a little guidance like I do. But give it a try. Commit to one week, one month, six months of prayer for whatever situation you’re encountering, and tell me that God does not prove faithful. I promise your life will be radically changed.  

The Power of a Praying Wife 

Draw the Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge