His Wife

Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

Proverbs 24:3, 4

Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season
we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Galatians 6:9

This is a great chapter to start with. It is very eye opening, and a good kick-in-the-butt, which I know I definitely need from time to time! Not to mention when reading a book like this, perhaps my motives aren't all that pure in the beginning- such as- I can't wait to pray some change into him!!!

We cannot have very successful prayers without first taking the plank out of our own eye! To begin work in our husbands, God first begins work in us. It may seem we are not nearly in as much need for change as he might be, but God sees things differently. The harboring of my sins of anger, unforgiveness, and self-pity are just as loathsom to God as my husband's unkindness, lack of respect, and irresponsibilty. I am reminded submission is a willing, loving act, and I do not feel particularly loving when I begin praying for my husband. I must be forgiven of my hard heart before I can focus on praying for him successfully. I must go to God with a soft, willing heart of submission. And if I can't do that, I can be honest with God, telling Him I don't feel like praying goodness upon my husband! God will begin to soften my feelings and attitudes.

The first thing I need to start doing at home is to stop my quiet anger. Stormie talks about not nagging him or arguing with him, but instead of nagging or arguing, I harbor. I let resentment for his faults fester for months. Instead of becoming angry, I need to give it to God and just pray.

The second thing to do is remember my role, which is mainly two fold- the home and the kids. I need to keep house, and this happens to be my number one weakness! I stay home, so I have absolutely no excuse, but my housekeeping skills are terrible, and this is something I need to totally give to God. My family needs to be comfortable in their home, and this is my job. (Whew- that was difficult to get out.)

Lord, Help me to be a good wife. I don't have what it takes to be one without Your help...Give me a new heart...Show me where there is sin in my heart...Help me to forgive him...Make me my husband's helpmate...Help me to create a peaceful, restful, safe place for him to come home to...Teach me how to pray for my husband...create new love between us...Give my husband a new wife, and let it be me.

The Power

The introduction to The Power of a Praying Wife begins by warning me to not enter into this journey of praying for my husband thinking I will get him to change or do what I want. First, God will begin to change me. He will need to soften my heart towards my husband, because as it stands, I don't particularly want to be praying for him!

I happen to be pretty frustrated with him right now, angry, and hurt! He is not by any means abusive, however he can easily be distracted by life's excitement and be neglectful to me. Which is just what hurts me the most- when he doesn't spend time with or pay attention to me.

I can't expect him to start returning the gesture, either. He very well may never pray for me regularly, and I need to be OK with that.

I realize many women are in far worse situations than I am, and I am grateful on most levels for the man God has given me. I can only write what I know, and I know that my marriage is not as strong as it should be, and that this could be a foothold for further failures between us. Now is the time to reign in the relationship, and make sure God is in control of every aspect!

Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23,24)

Introduction

I am reading through the eye-opening book, The Power of a Praying Wife, by Stormie Omartian, and will be blogging my journey. This book has changed lives, and I am excited to learn and grow in my marriage.

I have been married to a God-fearing man for nine years, and we have 4 small children whom we homeschool. He is an entreprenuer, and I stay at home. I am living out my dream life, one that I've fantasized about since I was small, and, lo and behold, I suck at it. I am hoping that during this journey of prayer for myself, my husband, and my marriage, the woman I am sure God had envisioned me to be will begin to emerge. I struggle with depression, laziness, and chronic fatigue (not to be confused with CFS - I'm just tired!) And my husband shares a lot of the same struggles that I do.

I hope that by journaling my experiences I will inspire another wife, or husband, to pray for their spouse as well, and find healing in their marriage.

All quotes are in italics and are from Stormie Omartian's book The Power of the Praying Wife unless otherwise noted.