Prayer

During my Strengthening Marriage and Family class last year I came across a study that involved married couples praying for each other. Researchers found that couples who pray for each other on a daily basis had significantly less addictions to pornography, alcohol, and little or no infidelity or divorce.

I also came across this wonderful story that I would like to share with you. I am quoting from a BYU Devotional given by Bruce R. Chadwick:

"Many years ago a couple asked if I would provide them marraige counseling. I resist such requests since I am not a trained counselor-and, besides, I really don't enjoy doing it, But occasionally circumstances conspire against me and I am forced do to so. This was one of these cases. I had worked with the couple for several weeks, and they had not made any real progress in reducing the anger and conflict. one evening as I waited for them to come to our home, I had a few minutes and opened the scriptures. I decided to read the New Testament to get me in a spiritual mood. One of my favorite sections of the New Testament is the Sermon on the Mount. When I read Matthew 5:43-44, I was struck with a powerful insight.

Ye have herd that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, love your enemies bless them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.

When the couple arrived, I had the husband wait in the living room while I met with the wife in the family room. Then I aked her if we could kneel and pray for her husband; she looked at me like I was crazy. When I explained that I did not want her to pray that he would get run over by a large truck, develop a disfiguring disease, or obey her every wish but rather I wanted her to sincerely pray for the Father to bless her husband with those things that would bring him true happiness, she simply replied, "I can't do it." I had anticipated this response. It is not easy to love your enemy or do good to him. I asked if we could kneel and pray tht she be given the compassion, mercy, and love necessary to do so. We both took turns voicing a prayer, and after she shed a few tears she informed me she was ready to pray for him. A remarkable change in her demeanor toward her husband was immediately obvious. This was real progress.

I ushered her into the living room and invited the husband into the family room. We repeated the same sequence of events. His initial reaction to my request was one of shocked dismay. But later, after offering a sincere prayer for his wife, his attitude and his feelings toward her changed, and some of the earlier love reappeared.  I could see it in his countenance and he could feel it in his heart.
This was our last counseling session. I think the story had a happy ending for the couple. I haven't seen them for several years, but the last time we had contact they were still happily married."

This story is an amazing example of how prayer softens your heart and brings kind, loving feelings back where it seemed they smothered out by dislike and disdain.

Although Aaron and I are happily married, we have still made it a habit to keep each other in our personal prayers. Sometimes when I feel offended or upset, I go into my room and offer a prayer to my Heavenly Father, asking for blessings for my husband and thanking Him for all the wonderful traits that he has. I can't tell you how immediate the change is within myself. It really strengthens my testimony of the importance of making Heavenly Father an active member of our marriage.

Tweet

Pin It Now!