
When I got engaged, I picked up the book*
The Power of a Praying Wife
Even as a starry eyed fiancee I had found myself inwardly complaining, “I wish he would be like this.” or “why doesn’t he do that more?”
The book was very convicting and challenging for me, because it exposed a lie I was believing:
“ my husband is a Christian therefore I am marrying a perfect person.”
When the Lord showed me that the source of my frustrations came from my own arrogant idea that my future husband should “have it all together,” my heart was heavy and humbled.
Let me be clear…my husband is so incredible. He is patient with me, kind and gentle. He consistently sacrifices time and resources to make my life better. He is a hard worker and very intelligent. He is a faithful man of God and an excellent leader of our family. But he needs prayer! (like all of us)
There is no one in this world whose prayers for him are as powerful as mine, because we have covenanted our lives together and are one flesh (Genesis 2:24)
Also as a follower of Jesus, saved by his blood and cleansed of all unrighteousness I can claim the promise of this verse (and so can you if you have submitted your life to Jesus!)
The prayer of a righteous WIFE is powerful and effective. James 5:16
1. Favor in his job, with co-workers, clients and his boss. Wisdom and strength as he works. That he would have joy in his labor. For many years I thought that as a follower of Jesus it was selfish to ask for favor. Then I read this verse:
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Luke 2:52
I realized when I or my husband grows in favor with God and man we are able to expand the Kingdom of God! Favor doesn’t mean that everyone will like us or agree with us. But it does mean that we will have opportunities to be decision makers and people of influence who make decisions with the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16) and who share with others about Jesus.
Favor at his job, also means financial provision for our family. When our finances are healthy and in order not only can we provide for our own needs but also give to missions and help those around us.
2. Wisdom as He leads our family. Ok, calling all the strong Jesus lovin’ ladies out there. Yesterday, I saw a quiz online called “are you a strong willed wife?” I laughed because I don’t even need to take the quiz to know the answer is probably absolutely YES! If the phrase “Biblical submission” causes you heartburn and a clenched jaw than you know what I mean. I can’t say I have this one perfectly figured out.
Here is what I know. Biblical submission does not equal passivity and door mattedness (yes I just made that up). Read the Bible stories of some strong willed ladies (Deborah, Esther, Mary) to see that God’s view of femininity is far from weak.
I also know when I push my opinions, manipulate, think its my way or no way- and act like the leader of our our family….

Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. (1 Peter 3:1)
Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.(Ephesians 5:24)
Couldn’t He have just left that everything part out???…
but deliver us from the evil one.
Christ came to give us power over sin, death and sickness. I can’t say that every sick person I have prayed for I have seen healed, but I can say I have seen God heal people miraculously in big ways and small ways.
I will never forget the night a group of believers gathered around me and prayed for a mysterious pain I had been having for weeks in my stomach and abdominal area. Not having insurance at the time, I was hoping to not have to pay for a doctor’s visit and treatment out of pocket. As my friends prayed I felt a warm sensation in my abdominal area. The heat continued through the night and I never experienced that strange pain again. Jesus is a healer and I ask for His protection over our physical bodies and our spirits daily.
But He was pierced for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on Him,
and by His wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5
5. For a pure heart, mind and body.
That He would be protected from any image that would tempt him with impurity. Ladies, let’s be honest it’s a sex saturated, visual landmine that our visually wired husbands are navigating daily. God made them visual, and its not a bad thing. But it can be easy to panic about your man’s thought life when you see every magazine cover at the check out line covered with half naked women. Not to mention the pop up ads that assail computer screens.
That He would be protected from any person that would tempt him with impurity
That’s right, I am praying that any women who would even consider flirting with or seducing my husband, be stopped – that some supernatural superglue would stick those stilettos to the ground so she can’t move, in the direction of my man… also that some angelic duct tape would be strapped across her lips so she can’t speak…Because I understand it would be hard to resist the handsome hunk that is my husband – and even though I am 100% certain that my husband would say NO to any flirtation from any woman, except ME!…why would I want him in this situation when God can protect him from it?!?
I don’t believe lust is a sin that only men struggle with. I pray the same prayer for protection against any image, person or media that would lead myself into lust as well.
How have you seen prayer impact your marriage, other relationships, and your own attitude? Do you identify with me as a strong willed wife, wrestling with the meaning of Biblical submission in marriage?
I need your help! If you haven’t already will you take 5 minutes and give me some feedback about your experience with my blog by clicking here or on the picture below. Thank you!
*(Note: Clarity with Charity is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. These are my amazon affiliate links, if you should decide to buy them, I receive a tiny percentage.)
Thank you so much for posting this today. I have been praying for my husband this morning that he would make a good decision with something, and the reminder that a wife’s prayer is powerful was perfectly timed!
Also, I laughed out loud at the strong-willed wife part. I don’t need to take that quiz either 🙂 I definitely want my husband to be the leader of our house… but only if he makes all the decisions I would make… lol.
This is so encouraging for me today. Thank you for this beautiful reminder! You are such a joy and treasure!
Thanks Jess!
Ha ha! I can relate =)
Charity! Thank you for posting! I am working really hard on being intentional with my prayers this year, especially praying for my husband… a sort of new year’s resolution if you will. I love this!
Thanks Bonnie! That is an awesome New Year’s Resolution.
Charity,
Thank you so much for this honest post — especially that you are struggling with submission and that you know God doesn’t want to delete your strong will, but to use it to bless your husband. God is not against strength. He created it! He uses it. I just love the heart behind this post and the beautiful photos. I’m going to be starting a link-up by early Feb called “Marriage Matters Mondays” at my blog. You are welcome to join in. Here is a post I wrote about submission that may bless you … http://heartshomeward.blogspot.com/2013/09/as-you-wish.html
Thanks so much for your kind words. God is teaching me so much through marriage, it is refining and wonderful all at the same time! Thanks so much for the link up. I will definitely do that the next time I post about marriage.