When you were single, perhaps you prayed that God would give you a spouse. Do you pray for your husband or wife now with that same fervor and frequency?

We tend to pray more for what we want than what we have, but praying for your spouse consistently is likely the most important and effective One Thing you can do in your marriage.

To begin, schedule a weekly date with your spouse and discuss your needs together so you can pray wisely. Superficial prayer won’t do here. This is where you must gather the information that will enable you to pray prayers of significance and pray specifically.

Be patient and attentive as you seek to uncover your spouse’s hopes, dreams and fears that are not revealed in ordinary, everyday conversations. Ask these questions:

1. What are your spouse’s major priorities? Go beyond the daily to-do list to discover what he or she really wants to get out of life in the next year, five years and ten years down the road.

2. Does he or she have the right balance between work and rest? What can you do to help maintain a healthy sense of balance?

3. Is your spouse confident and secured of your love and fidelity? How can you strengthen the trust level in your marriage?

4. Does your spouse struggle with responsibilities, relationships or issues of character? 

Maintain a prayer journal to help you remember your spouse’s needs so that you can faithfully bring them before the Lord. Soon, your journal will be an encouraging record of God’s faithfulness in answering prayer.

Remember, success in marriage does not come merely through finding the right mate, but through being the right mate. As your spouse’s chief prayer warrior, you will build a stronger marriage that God will bless beyond all your expectations.

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How are you praying for your spouse? We’d love to hear from you. Post your comments below.