Hindered Prayers
Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, sine they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
I Peter 3:7, ESV
All sorts of things can hinder a prayer life. For sure, the guilt and shame of failures lead one to be hesitant in prayer, especially, when thinking about a prayer life with another person. I can’t help but think that this is certainly true when it comes to a husband and wife praying together.
Apart from God, who knows you like your spouse? Your spouse knows your tells. Your spouse understands your tendencies. Your spouse can hear in the tone of your voice when something isn’t quite right. Moreover, your spouse most always sees through the facades you knowing and unknowingly erect to protect yourself. So when a couple isn’t dwelling together “in an understanding way,” things aren’t going to be the same, especially, when it comes to prayer. Shame causes us to be reluctant to enter into the house of prayer with one we love!
Father…Help us to not let the failure of unmet standards inhibit our prayer lives!
douglasryoung.net
Doug, this thought solidifies my belief that only Christians truly can love each other in the purest form God intended for a man and a women living in matrimony. Clearly marriage and all of God’s laws pertaining are for EVERYONE. Paul writes that we must love our spouse “as” Christ loved the church. How can non-Christians know how Christ loved the church? In turn, how can someone who has not accepted the gospel, love their spouse in a like manner? Next to praying with my local church , praying with my wife is a time I most look forward to in the day.
Good thoughts Doug. In my 12 years with Cody, we sometimes go through these phases where we don’t pray together as regularly as we should. More often than not, it is my fault when this happens. For the longest time, I could not figure out why sometimes I was just apprehensive about doing it….like I wasn’t comfortable with it. Yancey in his book on prayer brought it to my attention, and it is what you just suggested in this post here. No one knows me like my wife. She knows unlike anyone else when I am not genuine, sincere, etc. And me knowing that was causing me to subconsciously create a block with Cody. I wasn’t praying with her because of my own guilt. I felt hypocritical to pray with her about things that she knew I wasnt sincere about. Since this realization, our prayer life together hasn’t suffered. But if and when we hit a rut again, I can assure you the 1st thing I will examine is whether or not I am being honest and genuine. Funny how that works.
Thank you Josh and Jason for your comments!
So true. When my wife and I have squabbles (fewer as time goes on), everything is out of sorts. Our souls can’t rest until we join minds and hearts again. I think part of our responsibility as men is to be proactive in pursuing peace in our homes. When things get out of sorts we need to swallow our pride and take Paul’s teaching to heart in Ph.2. Consider the other more important than self, hear them, and heal the pain. Then our “being” with God will be more robust, unchained from the shackles of unrepaired relationship. We need to hear Jesus when he says, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive other …” It matters less who’s right and more who’s real–real enough to put the silliness that often causes conflict in perspective and just get over it.
Great post Bro! Very true indeed! God bless you and your family!!
Trent