Week 32:Power Couple & Prayer
Power Couple: In today’s society, the term “Power Couple” is a common phrase. This term usually refers to two people from prestigious backgrounds that have gotten married. For example, two well-known celebrities, or two rich people from prominent families combining their power and wealth. The problem with this type of power couple is that they tend to get married for all the wrong reasons. You also know such marriages rarely last. How often do we see the popular couple of the week getting a divorce, stay single for less than a year, then remarry the next popular actor for a few years, and then repeat this same pattern many more times? Lesson number one: marry the right person for all the right reasons, not for money, fame, power, or family pressures. Marry only for love. If you choose to get married because you cannot stand to live even one second apart from your dearest, then you are already on the right track.
However, as wonderful as being madly in love with your spouse is, you can always take your marriage to an even higher level and make it even better. You can truly become part of a marriage that is full of love, peace, joy, respect, romance, and that lasts forever. You and your mate can be a literal power couple.
The best way to become a power couple is not to rely on your own strength as individuals or as a couple, but to call upon the Power of God with prayer, praise, and Bible study.
O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God! Psalm 68:35
Do not be fooled into thinking that God only listens to people when they pray in large groups such as at a church service. Your prayers as a couple are just as powerful.
“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20
This means that God listens just as intently to what you have to say when it is just as the two of you and is right there with you.
I would like to stay on the subject and say a few more things about praying. God does not just answer any prayer. The Bible clearly states that God listens best to those who are righteous and abide in Him and obey His commands. In other words, if you are cheating on your mate, yet are begging God to give you a job you want, do not expect miraculous results. I am not saying that God only answers the prayers of the righteous, but you are more likely to get positive results when living a pure life.
And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. "If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever. John 14:13-16
Prayer also requires faith. If you and/or your mate are lacking faith, please still pray together and talk about the reasons for your lack of faith. Oftentimes your spouse can encourage you and help build your faith, thus increasing the power in your prayer life. God is gracious and only requires faith the size of a mustard seed. That’s great news not only for me, but for you as well.
"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches." Matthew 13:31-32
Another way to be a Power Couple and call upon the Power of God is through praise. If you are shy like I am, singing in front of your mate may seem awkward the first few times, but just remember that you are not singing to your mate, you are singing to God, and He does not care about the quality of your voice. Be sincere and be ready to listen in case God has something to say back to you. You will see in the below scripture that Paul and Silas had results while “praying and singing.”
At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed. Acts 16:25-26
And yet another way to enhance your prayer life and increase your strength as a power couple is through fasting. Notice in the verse below that again, the mention of having faith the size of a mustard seed.
And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” Matthew 17:18-21
Another great way to be a power couple is to pray for each other. Pray for specific needs as well as encouraging each other in your spiritual walks. Encourage faith and boldness. Encourage the gifts you see in your mate.
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. James 5:16
Being a Christian does not assure an easy road and it is very easy to get discouraged. Pray for your mate even when he/she does not ask you to. Lay hands on one another and pray for peace and security. Mel and I both really appreciate it when one of us sees the other having a down day and we say, “Let me pray for you.”
I remember you in my prayers day and night. II Timothy 1:3
I am sure there are many more topics I can include on enhancing your life as a power couple, but I will just list one more: Bible study. Whether you are new believers or have been practically born in a church, there is always the need for studying your Bible as a couple as well as individually. And don’t just simply read a few chapters together, discuss what you have read and honestly share what you think the verses meant and even how you can apply them to your life.
Prayer: I realize I mentioned prayer in the above section, but because it is so important to the health of your marriage, I would like to write a little more on the subject.
Praying every day as a couple, as well as individually, is vital to the health of your marriage. Praying aloud for each other's needs will strengthen your bond. God is there to hear your petitions, as He is a God full of compassion and truly wants to help you. So approach His holy throne with humbleness and ask Your Heavenly Father to meet your needs and to strengthen your marriage.
Try not to just pray when you need something. Take time to praise Him for your spouse and for all you love about your mate. Thank God for loving you enough to bring you and your honey together.
There is no such thing as upholding your spouse too much with prayer! I Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
Pray for each other every single day, even if it is for the same things repeatedly. No matter how many times you pray the same thing, it never hurts to pray it again. Praying daily for renewal is even encouraged in Romans 12:2, which states, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
Luke 18:1-8, "The Parable of the Persistent Widow" tells us that it is perfectly acceptable to be persistent with prayer "that men always ought to pray and not lose heart." Which means it is perfectly acceptable to pray until you see results. Just make sure you pray to stay within God's will.
And Galatians 6:2 says, "Bear one another’s burdens." So never lose heart and please continue to pray for each other's needs. Pray for strength, hope, peace, joy, security, and for his/her specific needs every day as often as he/she needs it.
And, of course, praying for the needs of others is important to. It encourages love and compassion for others which will always make you stronger as a couple.
Marriage-Enhancing Ideas for the Week:
Power Couple: What can you do together this week that is powerful? If there is a church that matches your beliefs in your area that offers Bible studies, consider attending. If not, start a private Bible study together and, if you feel God calling you to do so, consider teaching or hosting a Bible study in your home.
Prayer: If not already doing so, start a new habit of praying with each other when you first get up, right before bed, or both.
Art Project Option: Write (either individually or together) a prayer for your marriage. Print it out on computer paper and glue it onto a piece of scrapbook paper. If you have it, include a picture of the two of you praying, or take a new picture, and include the photo on the scrapbook page. As with all the art projects, later this week I will post our prayers and show you how I turned them into an art project.
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