I couldn’t believe what I was seeing! A room full of couples from our church tasked with heading up our marriage ministry had just been asked how many of them prayed together. Out of all the couples there, only one or two couples raised their hands.
I’d naively assumed that most Christian couples—and certainly most Christian leaders—pray with their spouses. But statistics show otherwise.
It’s estimated that only 4% of Christian couples pray together. Pastoral couples are only slightly better at 6%.*
That night when asked why they don’t pray together, the couples offered various answers: no time, differing traditions, awkwardness, and “we usually end up fighting.”
I’m not sure how it started, but my husband Rick and I have prayed together—with few exceptions—every day since we first married 39 years ago. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not because we’re so holy. It’s because we’re desperate for God’s help!
Praying together hasn’t been easy. First we had to learn how to pray as a couple. Then we struggled with all of the obstacles to praying together mentioned above. But we pressed through, and the AMAZING RESULTS have been well worth it.
Read on to see how praying together can benefit you as couple.
4 Benefits of Praying Together
-
Praying Together Draws You Close to God—and to Each Other.
Think of an equilateral triangle. On either side of the base is you and your spouse. At the top is God. The closer you get to God, the closer you get to each other.
Jesus told His disciples, “Where two or three gather as my followers, I am there among them.” (Matthew 18:20, NLT)
When you pray with your spouse, God is right there with you!
When we approach God together, His Presence draws us close to Him and closer to each other.
2. Praying Together Releases God’s Power for Answered Prayers
“If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.” (Matthew 18:19, NLT)
Keep in mind that the enemy of our souls is highly aware of the power available to the two of you when you pray together. Therefore, he’ll do anything to stop you, including: filling up your schedules, making you feel awkward, and fueling conflict between the two of you.
3. Couples Who Pray Together Really DO Stay Together!
You may have heard the dismal statistic that the divorce rate of Christian couples is equal to or higher than that of non-religious couples. But that statistic uses a broad term for “Christian” and does not delineate between couples who worship and pray together vs. those who rarely practice their religion.
According to research, the divorce rate of couples who pray together on a daily basis is less than 1%.*
Another study, a research project at the University of Texas, concluded that couples who “share religious practices at home,” including reading the Bible and praying together, show a high level of marital satisfaction.*
Praying together is a vital part of your connectedness as a couple.
4. Praying Together Draws You Close Spiritually and Emotionally
There’s something about sharing your needs with each other, humbling yourselves before God, and hearing your spouse pray for you that draws you close together as a couple.
Not to mention the joy of seeing our prayers answered!
I admit it. praying together isn’t always easy. But it’s well worth the effort in the fruit it bears for your marriage–not to mention the privilege of approaching the very throne of God together!
Don’t miss this incredible blessing to your marriage! Start praying together today!
Need help? Here are some resources to get you started. HOW TO PRAY WITH YOUR SPOUSE: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE and CAN’T PRAY WITH YOUR SPOUSE? SEVEN BREAKTHROUGH STRATEGIES .
*Source: http://drstoop.com/the-couple-that-prays-together/