You have probably heard many people tell you that they are praying for you. Although in some circles that phrase may seem trite, when they actually do pray, things begin happening. In praying for you, they are joining with you in your situation. It is true that they may try to keep some distance, since marriages tainted by affairs are often treated like a contagious condition that may spread. When you face tough challenges it always helps to know that you are not alone in facing it. They can not face it for you, but can provide emotional and spiritual support.
Praying also helps you with your own honesty, assuming that you are not using some formulaic chant. When you open your heart in prayer, you have to be honest with yourself and God about what you are feeling, thinking and facing. Honesty is something that you need right now. Besides honesty, prayer also forces you to focus and still your mind. Stilling your mind, even just a little can help you think clearer and contribute to you getting centered. Being centered in the midst of all the chaos going on around you will help you through the situation.
Praying also helps develop a willingness to ask for help. Many times we miss out on help because we do not ask. Prayer helps change your attitude in this area. Even AA knows the importance of humility, coming to grips with powerlessness and asking for help.
Prayer also allows you to begin spiritual intervening. The relationship with you and your spouse takes place on the physical, emotional and spiritual level/dimensions. Although they may be distant from you in one dimension, you can still intervene on other dimensions. Healing will be needed in each of these dimension to truly heal your relationship.
Prayer can help. It offers hope. It begins honesty. It begins connection.
So the next time someone offers to pray for you, take them up on it. You may even want to say, let’s pray NOW. They will be surprised. Such a response forces them to take action, it also shows that you are serious and holds them accountable to their seriousness as well.
Best Regards,
Jeff Murrah
3 Responses
Good points made in this post…Thank you.
Since I can count on the LORD …years ago I asked Jesus to be my ‘prayer partner’ …You recall where it says that where two or more are gathered together in His name He is in the midst ?
Well ..even if it was just me alone in my closet…[literally ..it was a pretty big one at that time …sort of an ‘office’ within the master bedroom closet! Somewhat ‘decadent ‘ in my view ..but that was the house we had at that time! but it was very private!]
I said, ” Lord ..you know my situation and that I need someone to pray with …would YOU be my prayer partner…..” it was a new thought to me at the time …but the more I thought of it I thought it was a good and reasonable request.
Our Lord is faithful …even when we struggle
Thank you Jeff for your prayers that you send up with your wife for those hurting …I think it must strengthen your relationship too …Hugs
BTW …congratulations on some spiffy book covers…I do not have a kindle…I have a nook ..and still do not know how to operate it …I guess I am online too much! Anyway …I am happy for you to have made this available to those who may not have come across your site…..Amazon will spread the news and there are no doubt many who are looking for this info.
Thanks again Jeff for putting it out there .
Zaza,
Thank you. We have been reorganizing things around here. Fresh covers often do make a difference. The trend is toward the Nooks and Kindles. I saw the writing on the wall and took action.