One Key to Keeping Your Marriage Strong During Hard Seasons - Crosswalk PLUS Marriage Devotional
One Key to Keeping Your Marriage Strong During Hard Seasons
By: Michelle Lazurek
"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles." Psalm 34:17
One day, as I was getting a massage, my massage therapist commented that she felt something on my back—a hard lump in the small of my back. She told me she thought it was nothing to worry about, but having a doctor check it out might be best. Worried, I made the appointment and told my husband when he came home that evening.
"Are you scared?" He asked me.
"Yes, of course. Anything that might even resemble cancer can be scary."
As we traveled bleary-eyed to the hospital early in the morning to get testing done, I stared out the windshield silently. My husband clasped my hand in his. "Father, we pray that this would be nothing to worry about. But even if it is, we pray that you would heal her completely in Jesus' name. Amen." Although it was nothing of great concern, it was still nice to know that my spouse was there during that hard time.
When life gets tough, prayer is the best—and sometimes only—weapon to combat the devil's schemes. The saying, "A couple that prays together stays together," rings true. I feel closest to my husband when we share each other's burdens. Prayer's purpose is to bring us closer not only to each other but also to God. When we bear each other's burdens to God, we unleash any secrets we may be keeping from each other.
This is because we must be open and honest with ourselves and God. There is nothing that we can hide from God. God knows all our thoughts before we even think about them. He knew us before he even formed us in the womb. Because of this, it does not help a marriage or our spiritual lives if we hide our true selves, masking them per requests disguised as superficial communication. Only when we pour our hearts out to him can we connect intimately with God and each other.
The night before Jesus was to be crucified, he went to the garden and prayed. He prayed so hard that he sweated drops of blood. He poured out his heart to God, and even though God's response was no, he still wanted to keep the intimate connection with his father. Throughout Jesus's ministry, Scripture says he went to lonely places and prayed. If Jesus believed that the best way to start his morning and to stay intimately connected with God was to pray, then so should we.
In the same way Jesus's ministry was hemmed in prayer, prayer should also be woven throughout our marriages. Although easier said than done, prayer can easily fit into even the most overpacked schedule. Get up earlier in the morning and pray together as a couple. Dedicate your morning to the Lord, even if it's 10 or 15 minutes each morning. Call each other on your lunch breaks and pray together over the phone. Shut off the television in the evening and spend 1/2 hour talking and praying together.
Do it long enough to make a habit. It takes 21 days to create a habit. For the next 21 days, commit to praying each day together. You'll be amazed that after the 21 days are up, prayer becomes a habit you want to continue in the coming months and years. It brings you closer together as a couple because you need to share more intimate details about your lives, and it also gives the spouse insight into the partner. It gives me a glimpse into what they're thinking and feeling.
The significant burdens they carry throughout the day should not be theirs alone. Both partners need to take those burdens together. That is the beauty of the Christian life. Both partners bring their burdens to the Lord and will have a weight released off their shoulders.
Is your marriage prosperous because it is hemmed in prayer? A marriage does not become so quickly unraveled when it is strengthened with the bonds of the Lord.
Father, help us to be a couple that prays together. Convict our hearts to do whatever it takes to incorporate more prayer into our day. Whether it means getting up early in the morning, praying at lunch, or praying in the evening, help us find the time to pray to you consistently. May our lives and marriages be strengthened as a result. Amen.
Application Steps:
Brainstorm together times throughout the day that may be best for you to pray together. Find a time that works together for both of you. Be consistent and stick to that time. Commit to doing so for the next 30 days.
Don't let anything hinder you from completing this task. How did your marriage improve due to this new incorporation of prayer?
We hope you and your spouse are challenged and encouraged by today's devotional! For more of this premium marriage devotional, visit here.
