Love Corner: Love agrees in prayer

Praying together can work wonders for a marriage. The unity that grows between a man and woman who regularly pray together forms an intense and powerful bond.

Love Corner reminds you this week that prayer is a key ingredient in marital longevity and can lead to a heightened sense of sexual intimacy.

When you got married, God gave you a wedding gift - a permanent prayer partner for life, especially during trying times. When you are struggling with your own fears and insecurities, your prayer partner can hold your hand and intercede on your behalf. Or when you need wisdom on a certain decision, you and your prayer partner can seek God together for the answer.

When you and your spouse are going through rough times and find it extremely difficult to resolve the problem, just call time out, drop what you are doing, and go with your partner into emergency prayer. It should become your automatic reflex action when you don't know what else to do.

Making that change

If someone told you that by changing one thing about your marriage, you could guarantee near 100 per cent assurance that your life together would significantly improve, you would at least want to know what it was. And for many 'godly couples', that one thing is the daily practise of praying together.

It is hard to get irritable during a disagreement and even harder to stay angry for prolonged period with someone you are praying with. In prayer, two people will remember that God has made them one. And in the grip of His uniting presence, disharmony turns into beauty.

Praying for your spouse

Praying for your spouse leads your heart to care more deeply about them. But, more important, God is pleased when He sees you both humbling yourselves and seeking His face together. His blessing falls on you when you agree in prayer.

When there is an intervention of prayer in the home, even at high points of disagreement, it quiets the loud voices. It pauses you as you realise whose presence you're in.

But prayer is for a lot more than breaking up fights. Prayer is a privilege to be enjoyed on a consistent, daily basis. When you know that prayer time awaits when you wake in the morning, or before going to bed, it will change the way you spend your evening. Even if your prayers together are typically short and to the point, this will become a standing appointment that you can orbit your day around, keeping God in the middle of everything.

It's true that beginning a habit like this can initially feel awkward and uncomfortable. Anything this powerful will surprise you with its weight and responsibility when you actually try doing it. But bear in mind that God wants you to engage with Him. He will grow you as you take it seriously and push past those times when you don't know what to say.

Ask your spouse if you can begin praying together. Talk about the best time to do this whether in the morning, your lunch hour, or before bed. Use this time to commit your concerns, disagreements, and needs before the Lord.

Don't forget to thank Him for His provisions and blessings.