As you might already know, I’m beginning a new series on how we can “Persevere in the Lord” in our messy marriages and lives. Last week I shared how challenging our faulty thinking is one powerful way to persevere. You can read that post by clicking here.

This week (and every week in this series) I want to offer another practical and spiritual step we can take to “persevere in the Lord”—especially when life and marriage hammers us or simply gets under our skin. 

When you and I get married, we blend our lives with another person who is facing these hard and unfair challenges too. In other words, we double the harsh impact of life with a spouse in the picture, and this only grows exponentially with every child we decide to bring into our “marital nest.”

Btw, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t marry or have children, but you should be aware and accepting of the harsh realities of life and marriage (see 1 Cor. 7:32-35).

One very powerful way to persevere in the Lord is to . . .

Make praying for your marriage a priority!
I’m talking praying sincere, consistent and Scripture-based prayers day in and day out for the rest of your life. It may feel awkward and scary at first, but as you pray daily and continuously for your marriage, it will become like the air you breathe. You won’t want to go without it!

Consider the promise that Scripture gives us regarding this “priority” . . .

“ . . . The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” ~James 5:16b

You might feel like, well, that excludes me because I’m not righteous!

But if you have received Christ’s salvation and forgiveness, you have His righteousness (check out my Know God page for more clarity).

Just remember that your position in Christ never changes, no matter how far you stray! Even though the closeness of your relationship with Christ can be negatively impacted by the sins you commit, your position and relationship to Him are never severed (Rom. 8:38-39)!

So, yes! . . .

[bctt tweet=”Based on James 5:16, you can be that righteous person God hears and answers every time you call out to Him about your marriage. #marriageprayer #prayerchangesthings” username=”BethSteffaniak”]

About three years ago a friend of mine, Becky Boerner, came to me and asked if we could start a marriage prayer group together. That was the best idea ever! 🙂 Thanks so much, Becky!

I’ve not only seen my marriage blessed by prayer, but so many other wives touched, inspired and encouraged in their marriages through our perseverance in praying for one another in life and marriage.

4 ways that prayer has been “effective” in improving my life and marriage . . .

1. God has used it to help me see my husband through His loving eyes.
2. God has softened my heart regarding longstanding relationship conflicts I have with my hubby.
3. God has given me a greater desire to love my hubby like He loves us.
4. Prayer has drawn me closer to Christ and helped me to love God and experience His love more deeply—which filled (and fills) up what my hubby can never completely fill because he is human and imperfect.

I could go on and on, because there are so MANY blessings and encouragements I’ve experienced through praying for my spouse and marriage, but I’ll keep it brief for today. 😉

However, I am hoping it will stir a conversation here that you might add to in the comments! Also I hope you’ll join me next week for another practical and spiritual way to persevere and find hope in your marriage!

What are some blessings you’ve experienced through praying for your spouse and marriage?

What is one way I can pray for you and your marriage? Let me know and I will!

[bctt tweet=”Discover what is the most powerful way to inject hope into your life and marriage. #secrettolove #messymarriage” username=”BethSteffaniak”]

Linking up with these fine blogs –  Weekend Whispers, Making Your Home Sing, Moments of Hope, Mondays @ Soul Survival, Faith ‘n Friends, Word of God Speak, Spiritual Sundays, Sitting Among Friends, Grace and Truth, Family, Friendship and Faith, and DanceWithJesusFriday