Kingdom Couples: A Game of Chance?
- Rita Larson
- Jan 9, 2024
- 3 min read
Marriage is a sacred union between two people who vow to love, honor, and cherish each other for the rest of their lives. It is a beautiful journey filled with love, laughter, and memories. However, it is also a journey that requires effort, commitment, and, most importantly, prayer. In today's society, where divorce rates are on the rise, and the constitution of marriage is being challenged, it is crucial to understand the power of prayer in your relationship.
Whatever you don't pray about in your life, you leave up to chance. If you don't pray for your spouse and you don't pray for your marriage, you are leaving these up to chance. The problem with a chance marriage is, chances are, there will be some very difficult times. Chance leads to misunderstandings and hurt feelings. Chances are, without Christ in the center of your marriage, there will be selfishness and unforgiveness.
When we incorporate prayer into our marriage, we invite God into the center of our relationship. We build our marriage on a solid foundation, with Christ as our cornerstone. In Matthew 19:4-6, Jesus says, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate." Marriage is a sacred covenant created by God, and it is His will for us to have a strong, lasting marriage.
When we focus on our relationship with Christ and bring Him into our marriage, we remove all doubt and fear. We trust in His plan for our lives and have faith that He is working all things out for the good of our marriage. Prayer gives us a vision of hope and allows us to see God's power in redemption, restoration, and forgiveness. We can trust that God is taking care of our marriage when we come to Him. As it says in Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
One of the most impactful ways to pray for our spouse is by thanking God for them. We should thank God for their love, their support, and their presence in our lives. We should also thank Him for the strengths and the very qualities that make them unique and special to us. As it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." By thanking God for our spouse, we are not only showing appreciation for them but also acknowledging that they are a gift from God.
In addition to thanking God for our spouse, pray for their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. We should pray for their health, their strength, and their growth in their relationship with God. As it says in James 5:16, "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." Never underestimate the impact prayer can have on our marriage.
Equally, it is just as important to learn to pray for our own hearts and attitudes towards our marriage and our spouse. As humans, we are flawed and may sometimes struggle. In these moments, pray for God to soften our hearts and help us to see our spouse through His eyes. Pray for patience, understanding, and forgiveness towards our spouse. As it says in Colossians 3:13, "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." By praying for our own hearts and attitudes, we are allowing God to work within us and strengthen our marriage.
If we want our marriage to be enriched and full of love, we don't want to leave it up to a game of chance. We need to incorporate prayer into our relationship. Our spouse is a precious and valuable gift from God, and it is our privilege to be married to them. Continue to pray for our spouse, for our marriage, and for God to guide us and bless us in our journey together. As it says in Philippians 4:6, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Don't leave it up to chance; put your marriage at the feet of Jesus and watch what our Heavenly Father can do! ©Rita Larson 1/9/2024
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