The Power of a Praying Wife

Written by Stormie Omartian

When I asked my husband to share with me his deepest fears, one of the things he mentioned was the fear of not being a good father. “I believe it’s something men in general tend to fear,” he said. “We get so caught up in doing what we do in our work that we’re afraid we haven’t done enough with our children. Or we’re afraid we haven’t done it well enough, or we’re missing something.”

Have you ever had someone pray for you when you couldn’t think straight, and after they prayed you had complete clarity and vision? I’ve experienced that countless times. I believe this is what can happen for our husbands when we pray about their parenting. If they are tortured with doubt and burdened by a sense of responsibility, we can minimize these feelings with our prayers. Prayer can help them gain a clear perspective of what it means to be a good father, and open the door for Holy Spirit guidance on how to handle the parenting challenges that arise.

The following is a suggested prayer to guide you in praying for your husband’s role as a father.

Lord, teach (husband’s name) to be a good father. Where it was not modeled to him according to Your ways, heal those areas and help him to forgive his dad. Give him revelation of You and a hunger in his heart to know You as his heavenly Father. Draw him close to spend time in your presence so he can become more like You, and fully understand Your Father’s heart of compassion and love toward him. Grow that same heart for his children.

Help him to balance mercy, judgment and instruction the way you do. Though you require obedience, You are quick to acknowledge a repentant heart. Make him that way, too. Show him when to discipline and how. Help him to see that he who loves his child disciplines him promptly (Proverbs 13:24). May he never provoke his “children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord,” (Ephesians 6:4).

I pray that we will be united in the rules we set for our children and be in full agreement as to how they are raised. I pray that there will be no strife or argument over how to handle them and the issues that surround their lives.

Give him skills of communication with his children. I pray he will not be stern, hard, cruel, cold, abusive, noncommunicative, passive, critical, weak, uninterested, neglectful, undependable or uninvolved. Help him instead to be kind, loving, soft-hearted, warm, interested, affirming, affectionate, involved, strong, consistent, dependable, verbally communicative, understanding and patient. May he require and inspire his children to honor him as their father so that their lives will be long and blessed.

Lord, I know that we pass a spiritual inheritance to our children. Let the heritage he passes on be rich in the fullness of Your Holy Spirit. Enable him to model clearly a walk of submission to Your laws. May he delight in his children and long to grow them up Your way. Being a good father is something he wants very much. I pray that you will give him the desire of his heart.

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29 Responses to “The Power of a Praying Wife”

  • Keitumetse says:

    married women need to read this book, its a must have.women need to pray for their husbands

  • Andrew says:

    Ope,

    It must be extremely frustrating for you. There is nothing for you to be ashamed of as for whatever reason it would appear that the issue is with your so called husband. To be officially be married sex needs to occur otherwise there is no shame in getting the marriage annulled however I would caution to keep this private so he can deal with issue he faces. It might be that God is protecting you from a marriage that is not meant. You were never married as you never became one. I mean to wait a full year at least for me would be a bit much and I would not blame yourself! I would suggest to contact one of the mentors who can encourage you as you don’t have to live this way for the rest of your life. God Bless

  • Ope Yemi says:

    I remember posting on this forum in june about my sexless marriage. Well, this month marks our first wedding anniversary and we’ve still not had sex. I’ve prayed, gone for marriage counselling and tried all sorts;lingerie, patience,etc. I’m a christian and I know there’s nothing impossible for God, but I think I’m done with the marriage. I’m frustrated and there’s a lot of resentment and bitterness. I don’t feel like praying anymore.

  • Arlene says:

    I hope this would also include prayer for husband to overcome stress and difficulty as he is trying to do his responsibility for the family and to help him feel there is God whom he can ask for help and make him realize he can never do things alone, that he needs God more than anything and that he needs to balance work and relationship.

  • Doris says:

    The Power of a Praying Wife is indeed a very powerful book Sharol! I absolutely agree and the best part is that it is really practical as well.

    Charmaine, I apologize that no one really responded to your question that you posed back in August about the guy that you were dating who was having problems opening up on his finances. That is a tough question and is a lot harder for some guys than for others. I know that when my husband and I were dating I had no idea that he was broke! He even had to borrow money to buy my engagement ring!!

    Trust is something that is earned, so hopefully as you have continued in that relationship he has begun to open up more about his finances. Sooner or later he will need to open up if you are considering marriage. We do have personal online mentors that would love to walk alongside of you on your journey. If you would like to correspond to one privately, just fill in the form on this page and someone will email you. http://powertochange.com/discover/talk-to-a-mentor/

  • Sharon says:

    good article, thanks for sharing it

  • Charmaine says:

    I just met a guy I like so much and he want to marry me but it was very difficult for him to open up on his finances and I love him so much, How do I start to help him without hurting his pride or using my money. I jwould like to be there for him but this will take alots from me and will affect my thinking and I am trying not to think otherwise… please help!

  • cfast says:

    I will pray for you too margarita. God is above all that happens and I believe that you found the book in the right time. I also believe that God can and will heal situations and He wants marriages to last. If you want further prayer, we offer that here at Power to Change. Just enter your prayer request and you will be contacted by one of our prayer mentors. Blessings to you today.

  • margarita says:

    This is a great book, sad that i came across with it after my separation from my husband. He is a great man who made a mistake. I handled the situation the wrong way. Now I am by myself for over seventh months. He don’t want to talk to me. He is getting the wrong advise from other people. I am desparate, 17 years of marriage down the drain.I am praying for him and for me to save my marriage. I am waiting for a miracle, I have FAITH is going to happen.I know God is going to put his hands in all this. Like the book say have faith and believe that GOD can change people and situations no matter the circunstances. Amen

  • Sharon says:

    i do pray for my husband, i also pray for other people and the church we attend and the church universal

  • kudzanai musanhi says:

    how can i order the book? i stay in zimbabwe at harare. repl

  • kudzanai musanhi says:

    were can i buy the book the power of a praying wife.

  • Doris says:

    ade, it is a very popular book so perhaps you should check online to see if you can order it there in Nigeria.

  • ade says:

    can i get the book in nigeria

  • Shelley says:

    Well! I like the reading for today.
    I have been without my ex for some time now and enjoy my singleness.
    I still care for the nman in some way, but will still stayu single. Wehn we ere together, I think if we had the Lord in with us, that it woudl have been a better relationship.

  • omojesu says:

    i havnt read the book yet. but im already inspired by the reading the testimonies on this website. it was recommended by a friend of mine. she borowed the boook to me. and i will start reading tomorrow. on this page. the first prayer point what was i needed for my husband. this was not a mistake. im immensely blessed. and i know by the time im done with the book my life will be transformed to that of the virtue woman the book of proverbs talked about.

    GOd bless.

  • Andrew says:

    Ope Yemi I understand the frustrations that you must feel being married to someone who is unable to express his physical love to you. One of the many mistakes that woman make is feeling that the reason they do not wish to be intimate is as a result of how they look when majority of times it is a much deeper issue. Many men are unable to be intimate as the act of intimacy makes them vulnerable which is often why they don’t wish be intimate.

    The issue is most likely of a deep fear of mistrust and when a person is unable to trust they turn inward. The secret to healing your marriage is to pray together and to seek professional counseling as until the reasons behind the behavior are discovered it will be a physical less relationship. Yes I agree to pray but until the poison inside is removed it will be a big hindrance the secret is to kindly and gently without anger discuss with him that both need to go to counseling and that it is not an option. I personally went to counseling although I am not married I did discover the areas in my life I had to change and God has freed me in ways I thought I would never imagined. It is critical that prayer becomes your corner stone in your marriage as when you look to Christ then each others faults do not seem so big. In John 8: 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Ask Christ to give you wisdom and to show you the truth and he will open your mind to his wisdom through the holy spirit in such a manner that your husband will want to be healed as the reason for his behavior is much deeper than just masturbation as that is the cure that he mistakenly believes is helping him when it is killing his soul. God Bless and trust Christ he will show you …

  • tshepiso says:

    I was also seperated with my husband for a year. I always had the book but never used it. During our seperation God reminded me of it. We got reconciled praise be to the living God. God led me to opening a women prayer group called Noblewives that meets every month to pray for our husbands using the book. It has been an awesome journey to meet and pray for our husbands together.

    Thank you Stormie for the book it is indeed a blessing and saving so many marraiges. May God richly bless you.

  • Ope Yemi says:

    I’ve been married for 6 months but we’ve talked about divorce more than twice. He’s been masturbating since he was a teenager and can’t seem to enjoy normal sex like he does masturbation. Now I feel like I made a mistake breaking up with my ex. He was everything to me,I just went stupid. Been praying to God to make me love my husband the right way, despite the lack of sex. It’s hard. I feel encouraged with all I’ve read but I need extra prayers. God bless u

  • cfast says:

    Wow, what a great story of reconciliation Dana. Thank you for sharing!

  • Dana Johnson says:

    My husbnd and I were separated for 2 years, and our divorce was almost final. I started reading his book and praying for him. We reconciled, and 3 years later are still happily married. This book taught me to change the way I see things, pray for my husband, and accept him the way he his. This book helped save my marriage. Thank you Stormie for writing it!

  • Doris says:

    That is awesome news FDE! Praise the Lord! thanks for sharing your ‘God-story’ with us as an encouragement to others who come to the site.

  • FDE says:

    I was separated from my husband for 2 1/2 years and our divorce was finalized for 6 months when I finally picked up this book and within a month of finishing it we reconciled. This book has literally changed my life. TO GOD BE THE GLORY! ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH HIM!

  • cfast says:

    Sinnah,
    The link that Leah provided above is a website link to Power to Change’s online bookstore where you can purchase the book. You may also visit another online bookstore to purchase it. We are unable to provide any number in South Africa. I suggest looking online to see where you can purchase it in South Africa.

  • sinnah dimakatso says:

    I cant get through may be i donot understand please send me the nearest telephone for the nearest store in south africa EG JOHANNESBUR,CAPE TOWN AND SO ON

  • Leah says:

    Hi Sinnah

    Please check out our bookstore to order the book. http://store.powertochange.org/p-168-the-power-of-a-praying-wife.aspx.

    Thank you

  • sinnah dimakatso seatlholo says:

    what is the nearest store to can have this books

  • sinnah dimakatso seatlholo says:

    I would like to order the book but need the price please,i dont how to order
    give the information to the said mail ( the power of the praying wife

  • Puddy says:

    Ohh what a good morning to read such an inspiring prayer. I will make sure i go around our nearby book storee so that i can get myself a copy so that i can read more about praying for my husband. I shared it with a friend / workmatwe who had had a bad night with her husband after reading this she prayed , called him and someone who had sworn never to speak to her called and they talked happily…MAy God bless

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