While scrolling through my Facebook page yesterday, this beautiful picture brought back an extremely special memory. Two years ago, my wife and I celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary at Whitestone Inn, Kingston, TN (Whitestoneinn). While strolling along through the property, we walked into this beautiful, pristine chapel. After surveying the building, I took Denise by the hand and we knelt at the altar. I will never forget the tears, the joy, the offering of thanks, the reminiscing, the closeness to each other and our God, and the uninterrupted time at the Throne of Grace.
Men, why do we need to pray with our wives?
1. Leadership
We need to take the lead in prayer. Most wives are waiting for you to do so. Even if she has been born again longer than you, she wants you to take the lead. She loves to hear you pray. She loves to hear you call out her name in prayer. The issue is not you “getting all the prayer words right.” The issue is Jesus Christ, Who makes our feeble prayers powerful and perfect before the Throne because He is our Righteous Advocate (1 John 2:1-2).
Men always ought to pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1)
2. Intimacy
The greatest intimacy you will know is when you are bowing before the Throne of Grace acknowledging your need personally and for your marriage. Men, we must not be afraid to get honest with God in the presence of our wives. They will respect you more for your transparency and dependence upon Almighty God as you seek His face for guidance, answers, and wisdom.
Bow down Your ear, O Lord, hear me; for I am poor and needy. (Psalm 86:1)
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)
3. Understanding
Praying with your wife enables you to dwell with them in an understanding way, and it honors your wife, your sister in Christ. When you start praying with your wife and listening to her pray, then will cease the sad statement heard by men the world over, “I will never understand my wife!”
Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. (1 Peter 3:7)
Men, you don’t have to find a chapel altar, although it would certainly be special. If your wife is seated, you kneel at the chair, take her by the hands, and pray for and with her. When you go to bed, take her by the hand and lead in prayer before you drift off to sleep. When the call for prayer is heard from the pulpit, take her by the hand and go to the altar and pray with her. If you are on a date, stop by a creek on that hike and have prayer together or in the coffee shop or in the car. That prayer altar can be anywhere . . . because God is there. Marriage matters at the altar.
From A Pastor's Heart 