Partners in Prayer

     The question "At the Well" today (click here) is, "Do you pray with your spouse?"  The short answer is, "Yes."  We have always prayed together--for which I am very, very grateful.  The daily times of prayer we have are: with our now-grown children during our family's morning devotional time before my husband goes to work, and before all meals.  My husband hasn't always led us in family devotions, but felt convicted to do so (after receiving exhortation from a wonderful Godly brother in the Lord), when our children were about 13 and 10 years old.  It has been a quiet revolution in our family.  My engineer husband, once he commits to doing something, will be absolutely, completely and indefatigably consistent in doing so ever after.  Which in most cases, but especially this one, is a very good thing, since I tend to be a little more a "lover of sleep" and would have proclaimed more "holidays."  We spend 15 minutes studying the Bible and end our time with prayer, going around and praying for whatever is on our hearts.  Sometimes it is dry as toast, and other times peaches and cream.  As is life!  But it gives great stability to a marriage (and a family) to pray together.
     Prayer is powerful, bonding, and intimate when engaged in between a couple alone together.  This last is why I don't recommend that unmarried, dating or courting, couples spend too much time alone in prayer together.  However, I believe that God had married couples and families in mind when He said through the gospel writer in Matthew 18:19-20, "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. (20) For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
     There are two specific times of prayer that came instantly to my mind when I read this question and thought about prayer with my spouse.  When we were engaged to be married, and my husband-to-be asked me for forgiveness for something (the offense has long been forgotten), and a sweet, tearful time of prayer followed.  (Of course I forgave him.)  When we had just found out that I was diagnosed with cancer, and we prayed together.  There is nothing that can bind two hearts together like prayer in the trials that must accompany any marriage.
     Prayer is a powerful and wonderful privilege because we have our Beloved Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit involved with us and working in and through our prayers, and answering them.  It is a mystery, but so wonderful.  I know I, for one, sometimes take it for granted, but should never do so, for what a glorious and beautiful thing for two people who are one to come together in prayer to the One Who made them, brought them together, and lives in them, and Who makes it possible for them to be eternally together. Praise the Lord!