3 First Steps To Starting Prayer With Your Wife
By John Yates
One of the most important yet daunting things we can do for our wives is to pray with them.
For a few men this is easy; yet for most it is difficult. Some would sooner do almost anything than approach their wives about praying together.
Perhaps you feel inadequate. Maybe you find it embarrassing to pray out loud with another person. Whatever your reason, it is well worth trying to overcome your hesitancy.
Let me make some simple suggestions:
1st. START SMALL AND KEEP IT SIMPLE.
You might say something like: "I've been thinking it might help our home life if we could sometimes pray together. I know it might be awkward at first, and I'm certainly not any kind of spiritual giant. But what if, say, at the end of breakfast we take a few minutes and have a simple prayer together to start our day?"
Or you might suggest, "I'm thinking that just before we go to sleep, it might be a good thing for us to turn to God in prayer together and ask His help with the things that we're facing. I'd like to try that if it's all right with you."
2nd. STICK TO THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES.
Be brief.
Use natural words. Don't try to be religious or super-spiritual. Take the lead, and show that you are taking prayer seriously.
Be practical - pray about everyday matters that are of concern to your family.
3rd. BE WILLING TO TALK TO GOD - WITH YOUR WIFE PRESENT - ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
Thank God for His gifts, blessings, and answers to your prayer. Confess your sins - don't hesitate to ask God to forgive you when you need to. Ask for His help.
Content taken directly from How a Man Prays for His Family by John Yates. Published by Family Life Publishing.