Key Takeaways
1. Prayer is the ultimate act of love and support for your husband
Prayer gives rise to love, love begets more prayer, which in turn gives rise to more love.
Prayer transforms relationships. By praying for your husband, you invite God's presence into your marriage, fostering a deeper connection and understanding between you. This spiritual practice not only benefits your husband but also changes your own heart, helping you see him through God's eyes.
Prayer addresses root issues. Instead of trying to change your husband through nagging or criticism, prayer allows God to work in both of your lives. It can reveal areas where you need to grow, soften your heart towards your spouse, and provide wisdom for handling conflicts.
Consistent prayer yields results. Even when you don't see immediate changes, persistent prayer can lead to gradual transformation in your husband and your marriage. Trust in God's timing and continue to lift up your spouse in prayer, knowing that your efforts are not in vain.
2. Prioritize your husband's sexual needs to strengthen your marriage
Sex between a husband and wife is God's idea.
Sexual intimacy is crucial. For many men, sexual fulfillment is a primary need that, when met, allows them to be more attentive and responsive in other areas of the relationship. Neglecting this aspect of marriage can lead to vulnerability to temptation and breakdown in communication.
Overcome obstacles to intimacy. Address common barriers such as:
- Exhaustion from work or childcare
- Lack of privacy or time
- Negative body image
- Unresolved conflicts
Prioritize your sexual relationship by:
- Scheduling regular intimate time
- Communicating openly about desires and needs
- Seeking professional help if necessary
View sex as a ministry to your husband. Approach sexual intimacy as an act of love and service, not just a physical act. This perspective can help overcome personal reluctance and foster a deeper connection in your marriage.
3. Cultivate affection and emotional intimacy in your relationship
Affection isn't at the top of a man's priority list because men often see sex and affection as being the same.
Recognize the importance of non-sexual affection. While men may not prioritize affection as highly as women, it plays a crucial role in maintaining emotional intimacy and strengthening the marital bond. Regular displays of affection can help your husband feel valued and loved beyond the sexual relationship.
Incorporate daily acts of affection. Simple gestures can make a significant impact:
- Hugs and kisses
- Hand-holding
- Compliments and words of affirmation
- Small acts of service
Address affection deficits. If your husband struggles with showing affection, consider:
- Communicating your needs clearly and lovingly
- Praying for God to soften his heart
- Modeling affectionate behavior
- Seeking counseling if the issue persists
4. Pray for your husband's protection from temptation and negative influences
Temptation is everywhere today and we're fools if we think we or our husbands can't be lured by it in some form or another.
Identify potential areas of vulnerability. Common temptations for men include:
- Sexual temptations (pornography, infidelity)
- Addictions (alcohol, drugs, gambling)
- Work-related pressures (dishonesty, workaholism)
- Materialism and greed
Pray proactively. Ask God to:
- Strengthen your husband's resolve
- Provide escape routes from temptation
- Surround him with positive influences
- Give him wisdom to make godly choices
Support your husband's accountability. Encourage him to:
- Develop relationships with other godly men
- Join a men's accountability group
- Be open with you about his struggles
- Install protective software or apps if necessary
5. Support your husband's career and purpose through prayer
Everyone has a purpose. It's the reason we exist. It's our life's mission, objective, or plan.
Pray for clarity of purpose. Ask God to reveal His unique calling for your husband's life and career. This can help him find fulfillment and direction in his work.
Support his God-given talents. Pray for opportunities that allow your husband to use his gifts and abilities to their fullest potential. Encourage him to pursue growth and development in his field.
Balance work and family life. Pray for wisdom in managing career demands and family responsibilities. Ask God to help your husband prioritize what's truly important and find satisfaction in both areas of life.
Navigate career challenges. Lift up specific work-related issues in prayer:
- Difficult colleagues or bosses
- Job security concerns
- Ethical dilemmas
- Career transitions or job searches
6. Address financial concerns and priorities through spiritual guidance
Much of who your husband is and what he experiences in life is wrapped up in how he relates to his finances.
Pray for financial wisdom. Ask God to guide your husband in making sound financial decisions, including:
- Budgeting and saving
- Investing wisely
- Avoiding debt
- Giving generously
Align financial priorities with spiritual values. Pray that your husband will:
- See money as a tool for God's purposes
- Find contentment regardless of financial circumstances
- Trust God's provision
- Resist materialism and greed
Foster unity in financial matters. Pray for:
- Open communication about money
- Shared financial goals
- Agreement on spending and saving habits
- Resolution of financial conflicts
7. Nurture your husband's emotional and mental well-being with prayer
I decided to try my own experiment and "stand against the wiles of the devil" on his behalf.
Pray for emotional healing. Ask God to address any past hurts, traumas, or negative patterns that affect your husband's emotional health.
Combat negative thought patterns. Pray for:
- Protection against lies and self-doubt
- A renewed mind focused on God's truth
- Freedom from anxiety and fear
- Emotional resilience in the face of challenges
Encourage professional help when needed. While prayer is powerful, sometimes additional support is necessary. Pray for your husband to be open to counseling or therapy if struggles persist.
Foster a supportive home environment. Ask God to help you create an atmosphere of:
- Acceptance and unconditional love
- Open communication
- Emotional safety
- Encouragement and affirmation
8. Encourage your husband's spiritual growth and obedience to God
The best way for a man to be a good father is to get to know his heavenly Father and learn to imitate Him.
Pray for spiritual hunger. Ask God to instill in your husband a desire to grow in his faith and knowledge of God's Word.
Support spiritual disciplines. Pray for your husband to develop consistent habits of:
- Bible study
- Prayer
- Church attendance
- Fellowship with other believers
Lead by example. Rather than nagging, demonstrate the benefits of a vibrant spiritual life through your own relationship with God.
Pray for opportunities to grow together. Ask God to provide ways for you to:
- Pray together as a couple
- Attend Bible studies or retreats
- Serve in ministry as a team
- Discuss spiritual matters openly
9. Pray for healing from past hurts and for a positive future
The past should not be a place where we live, but something from which we learn.
Identify areas needing healing. Common issues from the past that may affect your husband include:
- Childhood trauma or neglect
- Past relationship pain
- Career setbacks or failures
- Addictions or destructive patterns
Pray for God's restoration. Ask for:
- Emotional and spiritual healing
- Freedom from guilt and shame
- Renewed hope for the future
- Ability to forgive those who have caused harm
Support the healing process. Pray for:
- Patience and understanding as your husband works through past issues
- Wisdom to know when to seek professional help
- Strength to break generational cycles of hurt or dysfunction
10. Foster open communication and mutual respect in your marriage
Prayer gives rise to love, love begets more prayer, which in turn gives rise to more love.
Pray for effective communication. Ask God to help you and your husband:
- Listen actively and empathetically
- Express thoughts and feelings clearly
- Resolve conflicts constructively
- Avoid harmful communication patterns (criticism, defensiveness, contempt, stonewalling)
Cultivate mutual respect. Pray for:
- Appreciation of each other's strengths and differences
- Honoring of each other's opinions and feelings
- Willingness to compromise and work as a team
- Commitment to building each other up rather than tearing down
Create a safe emotional environment. Ask God to help you both:
- Be vulnerable and authentic with each other
- Respond with grace and understanding
- Forgive quickly and completely
- Prioritize the relationship over being right
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FAQ
What's "The Power of a Praying Wife" about?
- Focus on Prayer: "The Power of a Praying Wife" by Stormie Omartian emphasizes the transformative power of prayer in a marriage, particularly from a wife's perspective.
- Spiritual Growth: The book guides wives on how to pray for their husbands in various aspects of life, aiming to foster spiritual growth and strengthen marital bonds.
- Comprehensive Coverage: It covers 30 different areas of a husband's life, from his work and finances to his sexuality and emotions, providing specific prayers for each.
- Personal Experience: Omartian shares personal stories and experiences, illustrating the impact of prayer on her own marriage and encouraging readers to apply these principles.
Why should I read "The Power of a Praying Wife"?
- Strengthen Your Marriage: The book offers practical advice and prayers to help strengthen and improve your marriage through spiritual means.
- Empowerment Through Prayer: It empowers wives to take an active role in their husbands' lives by praying for their well-being and success.
- Insightful Guidance: Omartian provides insightful guidance on how to approach prayer with the right heart and attitude, ensuring that prayers are effective.
- Personal Growth: Reading the book can lead to personal spiritual growth as it encourages self-reflection and a deeper relationship with God.
What are the key takeaways of "The Power of a Praying Wife"?
- Prayer is Transformative: Prayer can bring about significant changes in a husband's life and marriage, but it requires a pure heart and the right intentions.
- Focus on Self-Change: Before praying for a husband, a wife should focus on her own spiritual growth and attitude, asking God to change her first.
- Comprehensive Prayer Areas: The book covers a wide range of areas to pray for, including a husband's work, health, integrity, and relationships.
- God's Role in Marriage: Trusting God to work in a marriage is crucial, and prayer invites His presence and power into the relationship.
How does Stormie Omartian suggest wives pray for their husbands?
- Specific Areas: Omartian suggests praying for specific areas of a husband's life, such as his work, finances, sexuality, and emotions.
- Scripture-Based Prayers: She encourages using scripture as a foundation for prayers, believing that God's Word is powerful and effective.
- Consistent Prayer: Regular and consistent prayer is emphasized as a way to see long-term changes and improvements in a marriage.
- Heart Attitude: Wives are encouraged to pray with a heart of love, forgiveness, and humility, focusing on God's will rather than personal desires.
What are the best quotes from "The Power of a Praying Wife" and what do they mean?
- "Prayer is the ultimate love language." This quote highlights the idea that prayer is a profound way to express love and care for a husband.
- "The power of a praying wife is not a means of gaining control over your husband." It emphasizes that prayer is about surrendering control to God, not manipulating a spouse.
- "A wife’s prayers for her husband have a far greater effect on him than anyone else’s." This suggests that a wife's prayers are uniquely powerful and impactful in her husband's life.
- "God can resurrect the deadest of marriages." It offers hope that no matter how troubled a marriage may be, prayer can bring restoration and healing.
How does "The Power of a Praying Wife" address a husband's work and finances?
- Work-Life Balance: Omartian advises praying for a husband to find a balance between work and personal life, avoiding extremes like laziness or workaholism.
- Financial Wisdom: She suggests praying for wisdom in financial matters, asking God to guide a husband in making sound financial decisions.
- God's Provision: The book emphasizes trusting God as the ultimate provider and praying for His blessings on a husband's work and finances.
- Contentment and Generosity: Wives are encouraged to pray for their husbands to be content with what they have and to be generous in giving.
What advice does Stormie Omartian give about a husband's sexuality in "The Power of a Praying Wife"?
- Priority in Marriage: Omartian stresses the importance of making the sexual relationship a priority in marriage, meeting each other's needs regularly.
- Prayer for Purity: She advises praying for sexual purity and protection from temptations that could harm the marriage.
- Communication and Affection: The book encourages open communication about sexual needs and maintaining affection outside of the sexual relationship.
- Healing from the Past: Prayers for healing from past sexual experiences and mistakes are recommended to ensure a healthy marital relationship.
How does "The Power of a Praying Wife" suggest handling a husband's temptations?
- Preemptive Prayer: Omartian advises praying against temptations before they arise, asking God to strengthen a husband’s resolve.
- Accountability: Encouraging a husband to have godly prayer partners for accountability is suggested as a way to resist temptation.
- Spiritual Warfare: The book emphasizes the importance of spiritual warfare, using prayer to combat the enemy's plans for a husband's downfall.
- Trust in God's Deliverance: Wives are encouraged to trust that God will provide a way out of temptation and to pray for their husbands to recognize and take it.
What role does forgiveness play in "The Power of a Praying Wife"?
- Essential for Prayer: Forgiveness is essential for effective prayer, as harboring unforgiveness can hinder a wife's prayers for her husband.
- Healing and Restoration: Forgiveness is portrayed as a path to healing and restoring a marriage, allowing both partners to move forward.
- Letting Go of Resentment: Wives are encouraged to let go of resentment and bitterness, trusting God to work in their husbands' hearts.
- Modeling God's Love: Forgiving a husband is seen as modeling God's unconditional love and grace, which can transform a marriage.
How does Stormie Omartian address a husband's integrity in "The Power of a Praying Wife"?
- Prayer for Integrity: Omartian emphasizes praying for a husband to be a man of integrity, honest and truthful in all his dealings.
- Moral Standards: The book encourages wives to pray for their husbands to uphold high moral standards, even when no one is watching.
- God's Guidance: Prayers for God to guide a husband in making ethical decisions and to protect him from compromising situations are recommended.
- Impact on Family: A husband's integrity is seen as having a positive impact on the entire family, setting a strong example for children.
What does "The Power of a Praying Wife" say about a husband's emotional well-being?
- Prayer for Peace: Omartian advises praying for a husband to have peace and emotional stability, free from anger, depression, or anxiety.
- Supportive Role: Wives are encouraged to support their husbands emotionally through prayer, understanding, and encouragement.
- God's Comfort: The book suggests praying for God to comfort a husband in times of emotional distress and to fill him with joy and hope.
- Healthy Expression: Prayers for a husband to express his emotions healthily and to find appropriate outlets for stress are recommended.
How does "The Power of a Praying Wife" guide wives in praying for their husband's future?
- Vision and Purpose: Omartian emphasizes praying for a husband to have a clear vision and sense of purpose for his future.
- Trust in God's Plan: Wives are encouraged to pray for their husbands to trust in God's plan and timing for their lives.
- Hope and Confidence: The book suggests praying for a husband to have hope and confidence in the future, even in uncertain times.
- Eternal Perspective: Prayers for a husband to have an eternal perspective, focusing on God's promises and the bigger picture, are recommended.
Review Summary
The Power of a Praying Wife receives mixed reviews. Many readers find it helpful for strengthening their prayer life and marriage, praising its specific prayer topics and scriptural focus. However, critics argue it promotes outdated gender roles, places too much responsibility on wives, and overemphasizes the power of prayer rather than God's sovereignty. Some find the author's personal anecdotes concerning, while others appreciate her transparency. The book's theology and interpretation of scripture are also debated. Overall, readers recommend approaching the book with discernment and focusing on its core message of praying for one's spouse.
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