How to Encourage the Man in Your Life- Chapter 9: The Power of a Praying Woman

Most of us though have never really availed ourselves of a means of power that can change lives- our own and others.  There is tremendous power in prayer.

As we end our time in this book, I think it is appropriate to tie it all together by remembering that prayer is the most powerful tool we have in encouraging our husbands.  The most important thing we can do for our man is pray for him.  God answers prayer.

If you have missed it, Kristi has been doing her book club on the book The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian.  Each week she has gone through and given specific things that we should pray for and over our husbands, and a love dare to put into practice.  I would encourage you to go over to her blog and read her club posts to get some ideas on how to pray for your husband. 

Praying for a man is not a means of gaining control over him.  Prayer is a means of transforming people, the one who is praying and the one who is the object of the prayers.  When we pray for our husbands, we need to remember the purpose of prayer- reaching out to God for help, wisdom and strength.  When we pray for our husbands, we will not only find that God will work in his life, but in ours as well.  Usually the one doing the praying can't figure out who did the most changing- the one they were praying for or themselves.

I love the following guidelines for praying for our husbands. 

If you are are married, what are some ways you could pray for your husband?
A. Colossians 1:9-11

• That he would be filled with the knowledge of God's will.
• That he would have spiritual wisdom and understanding.
• That he would live a life worthy of God.
• That he would please God in every way.
• That he would be strengthened with God's power for patience and endurance.
• That he would have a thankful spirit.

B. That he would develop a friendship with a committed Christian who would challenge him.
C. That God would give him a hunger and thirst for Himself and His Word.

Write down the date when you begin praying for your husband and the dates when God answers them.  I have been praying for some specific things for Brian, and I have seen God answer them.  As these things are answered, I pull out my list and show him the item on my list.  It is exciting and even faith-building for our husbands to see their wives praying for them and to see God working on their behalf.
Praying God's Word over our husbands is also a powerful way to use God's Word in their lives.  I learned how to do this from my mother.  She would take a passage of scripture and insert her name, Dad's name, or our name into it and personalize the verse as she prayed.  What better way to speak to the Lord than by using His Words!  The Word of God will not return void, so why not use it when praying over our husbands.

The fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.  We need to make sure that before we pray for our husbands, that we are standing in right relationship with the Lord.  How can we pray about the specks in our husbands' eyes when we have planks in our own?  We need to be sure that we are not coming to God as the Pharisee did in the temple.  He saw the Publican (tax collector) praying before the Lord, beating his chest, and keeping his gaze lowered.  Out of humility and personal shame, he refused to look up and referred to himself as a sinner.  The Pharisee on the other hand, looked up to heaven and thanked God the he was not like the Publican.  However, it would have been better for him if he had been more like the Publican because God heard his prayer.   May we not view ourselves with pride.  God honors humility.

The next book I will be reading is Mama Made the Difference by T.D. Jakes.  I am looking forward to this book since it was one that my mother had read and really enjoyed.  At the end of each chapter, there is a Homework for the Heart section where there are questions that are asked about what you learned from your own mother (the questions are all related to the topic of the chapter).  It is a great way to write down for your own children the influence your mother had on your life, and a mirror to look into your own life to see how your own children will be able to answer the question for themselves one day.