Benefits Of Praying Together With Your Spouse

Benefits Of Praying Together With Your Spouse

BIBLE TEXT: MATTHEW 18:18-20, ECCLESIASTES 4:9-12 

Matthew 18:18-20

NOTE: Kindly Read My Dream Interpretation Book And Other Inspiring Books...

18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

20 for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

12 And if one prevails against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

INTRODUCTION

Prayer is a means of communicating with God. It is a way of making our worries, fear, intentions and aspirations known to God. 

Prayer is an essential aspect of the Christian faith and an effective method for developing a close relationship with God. Praying together as a couple in the context of marriage can have a tremendous impact on the health and vitality of the relationship. According to the Bible, when we pray together, we invite God’s presence and benefits into our lives.

Matthew 18:20 emphasizes the benefit of agreeing together in prayer as a way of invoking God’s presence and power into our marital relationships.  Ecclesiastes 4:12 says that, “And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” In this verse, God is the third cord that holds the couples together. We see how crucial it is for a couple to pray together and stay steady against life’s obstacles and trials. 

In this article, we shall explore the many benefits that couples can derive from praying together on a regular basis, ranging from spiritual to emotional benefits.

Below are the three main areas of benefit when couples pray together:

SPIRITUAL BENEFITS

There are a lot of spiritual benefits attached to praying together with your spouse. Some of them are:

1. Their faith and belief are strengthened: When you pray together with your spouse, you can both share your spiritual journeys and support each other’s faith growth. This ultimately leads to a more meaningful and deeper relationship with God. As it is written in Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” This means that when one person is feeling down and discouraged, the other spouse can encourage him in faith, thereby lifting him or her up.
2. Increased sense of unity and oneness in the relationship – Praying together builds a deep sense of intimacy, unity  and connection between a couple as they share their hopes, disappointments, fears, successes and desires with each other and with God. According to 1 Corinthians 12:12, “Just as a body, though one has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.” Unity is a force that cannot be defeated. This comes from the place of prayer of agreement. Deuteronomy 32:30 says that one will chase a thousand and two will put ten thousands to flight. This is to say that prayer of agreement multiplies one’s result.
3. Encouragement and support for spiritual growth – Praying together as a couple can create a secure and supportive atmosphere for each spouse to explore their views and seek God’s guidance. Couples can get clarity on issues bothering them individually and as couples in the place of prayer of agreement. This can lead to a better understanding of themselves, others, and God. 
4. Deepened intimacy and trust – Praying together as a couple helps to create trust and enhance an emotional connection between a couple. Your level of trust and intimacy is highly deepened when you pray together regularly. As Psalm 62:8 states, “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”

EMOTIONAL BENEFITS

The benefits of praying together with your spouse are not limited to spiritual alone; there are tons of emotional benefits you get by praying with your spouse. Some of them are highlighted below:

1. Great feeling of calmness and peace: Praying together fosters a sense of unity and closeness in the marital relationship, therefore leading to a great sense of peace and calmness. Anxieties are quickly dislodged in the place of agreement prayer. Colossians 3:15 says, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, because you were called to peace as members of one body.” And be grateful.”
2. Maximum reduction in stress and anxiety levels: Couples that pray together often discover that their stress and anxiety levels are being reduced. This can create a sense of peace and tranquility. The Bible says in Philippians 4:6-7 that you should not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
3. Fosters emotions like gratitude and forgiveness – Praying together can foster a sense of gratitude and thankfulness in a relationship, which can lead to a greater sense of forgiveness and compassion towards each other. Colossians 3:13 says, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” When you pray together as couple, forgiveness becomes an easy thing for you to practice, because you do not want your prayers to get stuck.
4. Improved communication and empathy – Praying together allows a couple to communicate their emotions, ideas and visions with one another, which can lead to better communication and empathy. Apostle James in James 1:19, encourages Christians (and couples inclusive) to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” This is a fail proof method of improving communication between couples.

PHYSICAL BENEFITS

The last sets of benefits you can derive from praying together with your spouse are the physical, practical ones. They are as follows:

1. Alignment in decision making and cooperation: Couples that pray together tend to make aligned decisions, because Amos 3:3 says, two cannot walk together except they agree. Praying together can therefore allow couples to align their goals, visions and values. This in turn leads to greater cooperation in decision making.
2. Increased spiritual and emotional resilience: Praying together can bring a sense of hope and comfort during difficult times, significantly increasing a couple’s resilience and ability to overcome problems. Romans 8:28 establishes that, “and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
3. Enhanced problem-solving abilities: Praying together can allow couples to seek God’s guidance and wisdom, which can lead to better problem-solving skills. “If any of you lacks wisdom,” James 1:5 states, “you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
4.  Increased commitment and dedication to the relationship – As couples express their love and devotion to each other and to God, praying together can foster a sense of commitment and dedication to the partnership. According to Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, “two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor: if either of them falls down, the other can help the other up.” But pity the person who falls and has no one to pull them up.”

CONCLUSION

Finally, there are various spiritual, emotional, and practical benefits to praying with your spouse. Praying together can foster a stronger sense of connection and unity, as well as a better understanding of one other’s views, feelings, and values. It can also help to reduce tension and anxiety, improve communication and empathy, and increase positive feelings such as gratitude and forgiveness. Furthermore, prayer together can bring God’s counsel and wisdom, improve problem-solving skills, and boost devotion and dedication to the partnership. As a result, including prayer into your relationship can have a deep and good impact on your marriage.

CALL TO ACTION

As a call to action for couples, I urge you to begin introducing prayer into your relationship on a regular basis. Make time to pray together, whether in the morning, before bed, or during the day. Make it a priority to match your aims and values with each other and with God, and seek direction and insight via prayer when faced with difficult decisions or obstacles.

If you want to learn more about the advantages of praying together as a couple, there are various materials available that you might find useful. Stormie Omartian’s “The Power of a Praying Couple” and Megan Hill’s “Praying Together: The Priority and Privilege of Prayer in Our Homes, Communities, and Churches” are two great publications on the subject.