“Husbands…Honor your wives as those who share God’s life-giving kindness so that nothing will interfere with your prayers….I want men to offer prayers everywhere. They should raise their hands in prayer after putting aside their anger and any quarrels they have with anyone” (1Pet 3:7; 1Tim 2:8; GWT)

OUR HANDS

A Christian marriage is a marriage of prayer. Do not even think about marrying someone who hates prayer. That marriage will not last. There is a wonderful saying: ‘They that pray together- stay together!’ This is the truth. Nothing else will ‘melt your heart’ towards a man, even if he is a stranger, like the feeling you have when you pray together. The presence of the Holy Spirit with you, as you bow your heads in prayer, will seal that friendship. You are drawn towards each other in a holy way. You have this feeling that you pray to the same God, that you are family. If this is how you feel with people in general and your brethren in particular, so much more that chemistry will work in your home and establish your marriage.

Simply said, prayer works! I have tried this method many times. This is my testimony over the years…When there is crisis in the marriage, when there is the shadow of misunderstanding, when words hurt and tears fall…the moment we make the slighted move towards each other, hold hands (even a little touch) and pray…O, something good always happens…the Holy Spirit moves… our love blooms again, our friendship revives and the devil runs outside the window. Every marriage should be soaked in prayer. Hold hands when you pray. Be sensitive to any hindrances to the flow of prayer. Be careful to note if the prayer life in your marriage is suffering. It is not enough to pray well separately. The marriage is designed to need both of your prayers, together, as a husband and as a wife. Pray in the parlor, when the children and the visitors come! Pray at the table and bless the food on the plate! Pray in the bedroom when no one but God listens! Long before you even think of a doctor, pray for one another when you are sick! When there is anxiety about money, pray! When you worry about the children, pray! When you feel like talking but you don’t know what to say, pray! Pray in English, pray in tongues! Like the tracking number on a gift sent to you, quietly and faithfully, monitor the answers to your prayers as they come closer to the earth. Rejoice together when they come!

There is no competition here; no pride. There should be no one who says things like this: ‘I am a better prayer warrior than my spouse. If it was not for my prayers, I don’t know what will happen to our marriage…’ (I have heard such words in my office many times). Maarige is like a marathon. It lasts a life time. Sometimes one is stronger than the other. No need to take the glory for prayer. If you can pray more often and you are more able to intercede for the marriage, do so without complaining. Let not your pride quench the desire to pray together, as a couple! Pray together, love together, go to church together and you shall stay together. This is God’s mathematics!

It never fails. When dating, take pleasure in ending all your discussions and plans for the future with prayer. This is not just a routine religious prayer, so that the other may think of you as spiritual. No! Prayer is a privilege, a priority and a joy! By praying together, you are training to be successful as a couple! You are inviting God into your marriage! He is the Holy Unbreakable Sealer!  You have to learn to trust God for your future as a couple. The success of your life and marriage lies in His hands.

My husband and I live in ‘a prayer atmosphere’. This is not just because we are pastors, parents or grandparents. This is because we have developed a holy habit of coming together to pray often, for all things, even little things. Sometimes the pressure of life is increases; the devil attacks with anxiety or sickness. Old age is a factor too, we are not deceived…But when one forgets the good gift of prayer and he seems lost in space, when depression tries to steal the joy of living…the other will come close and gently touch the lonely hand…that touch speaks…it means ‘let’s pray’… Our hands have become sensitive to the buttons of prayer and true love. When we got married long ago, as worldly people, the touch of the hands meant sexual message. But by the grace of God, now it is different. Our hands have grown in grace too. They have learned the new message of true love, support, encouragement and peace. They are witnesses of the blessing of prayer. Our hands have wrinkles now, but their beauty shines forth. Our hands can freely be lifted now, as holy instruments of worship. Our hands can be laid on other people and the Holy Spirit imparts the power of life in them. Our hands have been soaked with tears of repentance together…and now they are a witness that the bridge of marriage can never be broken. ‘If your hand leads you into sin, cut it off’- said the Lord. But if your hands have learned to pray and worship, then good has come at last.

Yes, ‘the three-fold cord of marriage cannot be easily broken’ (Ecc 4:12). Let your hope rise! May this be your marriage story! May your testimony together touch the hearts of men! To the glory of our God!

In Christ I declare:

My hands are holy!

My marriage is holy!

My marriage is soaked in prayer!

My marriage shall last forever!

In Jesus name

Amen!