AMEN

PRAYING TOGETHER

[Jesus said,] “For where two or three gather together as my followers, l am there among them.”

MATTHEW 18:20

MANY COUPLES find it difficult to pray together. Why? One reason may be that they are not treating each other With love and respect, and that stands as a barrier between them. The answer to this problem is confession and repentance. First John 1:9 says, ”If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins:’ It is a sin to fail to love your spouse, or to fail to treat him or her with kindness and respect. Such sin needs to be confessed and forgiven; then you will be able to pray together.

A second reason couples are unable to pray together may be that one or both of them have never learned to pray with another person. To many people, prayer is private. While you should pray in private for your spouse, you should also pray with your spouse. After all, Jesus told his disciples that if even two or three of them were gathered together, he would be present among them. That’s a powerful statement and a great testimony to praying together as a couple.

An easy way to get started is with silent prayer. It works like this: You hold hands, close your eyes, then pray silently. When you have finished praying, you say, “Amen,” and then wait until your spouse says, “Amen’ Praying silently while holding hands is one way of praying together, and it will enhance your marriage.

 

Father, I m grateful for your promise to be present with us when we pray together. Sometimes that feels awkward or difficult, but please help us to commit to praying together as a couple. I know it’s important for us spiritually and emotionally, in Jesus name, Amen.

SETTING A STRONG EXAMPLE OF FAITH

"I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth".

3 JOHN 1:4

FOR THE CHRISTIAN COUPLE, the greatest joy is to see our children walking in truth. This sentiment is echoed by the apostle John in his last epistle. He considered the believers his “children” since he had been a father figure to them as their faith grew, and their faithfulness to Christ brought him much joy. Conversely, the greatest sorrow is seeing our children turn away from God.

The greatest influence we have on our children’s religious beliefs happens in the first eighteen years of their lives. Children listen to what we say, and they observe our actions. The closer our practice is to our preaching, the more our children respect our faith. However, the greater the distance between what we proclaim and what we practice, the less likely they are to follow our religious beliefs.

What if our children are already grown, and we failed to do this when they were young? It is never too late to say, “I realize that when you were growing up, my lifestyle did not demonstrate very well what I claimed to believe. I wish I could go back and live parts of my life again. Of course, that’s impossible, but I want you to know that I regret the way I failed you.” This, coupled with a changed life, opens the door for further influence on your adult child. None of us are perfect. Dealing with past failures is the first step to renewed relationships.

Heavenly Father you know how deeply I yearn to see my children walking in faithfulness to you. I ask your forgiveness for the times when I was not a good role model.

Please help my spouse and me to be honest about our failures, and may they not stand in the way of our children’s belief. In Jesus name, Amen.

What If My Spouse Does Not Want to Improve?

 

By Dr. Gary Chapman

If you really try to improve your marriage and your spouse refuses to respond, where does that leave you?

It leaves you with your hand in God's hand. That is not a bad position.

You will be free from the guilt of past failures, because you have confessed your wrong to God and to your spouse. You will have the satisfaction of having sought reconciliation. Your relationship with God will be vital and growing.

God will not hold you responsible for the decisions of your spouse. You are only responsible for your own attitudes and behavior.

If your spouse will not reconicile, do not think that God's purposes for you are over. God has gifted you and called you to serve in His family. He wants to use your life for positive purposes, and He wants to meet all of your needs (Phil.4:19).

God will lead you through the valley of despair to the mountain of joy. The highest goal in life is to follow God's leadership daily.

Keep open to reconciliation, and never underestimate the power of a godly life.