The Power of a Praying Wife, Part 1

I heard so much about this book by Stormie Omartian in the days leading up to our wedding, and then in the days surrounding all the other weddings/bridal parties I attended this year. Each time I would make a mental note to pick this book up, since all the telling sources only raved about how this book saved their marriage, etc., however I only recently purchased and began reading it. Two chapters in, it has transformed my self-serving mind and heart to one that is soft and receptive to my loving husband's.

It's amazing how much I thought only of myself when it came time to pray for our new life together.

Dear God,

Please change Ben to what I want.... Please make him see/do what I want him to see/do.... Please convict him the way I feel he should be convicted....

And do all these things in my time,

Amen!

Maybe that example isn't a true-to-life example of my prior prayer life, but I bet it sounds extremely familiar to God. I was very self-centered, I only wanted God to change Ben, never once thinking it was me who needed the changing. (Chapter One.... first thing to hit home... and it was not easy!) I have learned how my unspoken words will move Ben further than any of my spoken (nagging) words ever will. I have learned that my unattainable expectations for him will be the first thing to bring us down, all because I have a fantasy idea of marriage that we will never be able to live up to. I was reminded that the Bible commands the man to love his wife, and the wife to respect her husband... and oh, how easy it is to lose her respect for her husband when all she dwells on are his negative characteristics. With loss of respect quickly follows loss of love; without that there is no more marriage.

I still struggle, of course, with my selfish prayers, thoughts, hopes, and wishes... however, so far I have learned to check myself more quickly when doing so. I have also gotten into the habit of just shutting up when my mind is screaming degrading responses, nagging comments, digging remarks. I have also grown just a little closer to my Lord, because I am becoming fully dependent on Him to fulfill our marriage, to answer my prayers, and to listen to my complaints. All the above I once looked to Ben to succeed at beforehand, thus causing angry temper tantrums and hurtful word-battles. Now I'm going to the creator, and it's way more beautiful an outcome.

More to come with future daily readings and insights....