The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.                      James 5:16b (NKJV)

An older woman put her arms around me as she pulled me into a hug and whispered into my ear, “The Lord is gonna use you. He has great plans for your life.”

This was many years ago in a Bible Study. I had never met this woman before but she had started a conversation with me because she thought I looked sad or pensive. We had a brief conversation and I agreed to stop by her house sometime.

At the time I had no idea what an influence she would be. We had one visit and then she moved.

I had not had much experience with people telling me what the “Holy Spirit had given them for me.” She was willing to say and do whatever God led her to – and she believed He was telling her to speak to me. I was all ears.

She started with, “Do you pray for your marriage?” I did but she gave me specifics. “Pray that you will love him and be kind to him. Pray that you will be available when he needs you, that you will be his helper.” I began to pray.

“Do you pray when you have sex?” Honestly, I had never thought that God would be too interested in our sex life. She assured me I was wrong, that I should invite God to be part of even this most intimate part of our lives. I added this to my prayers.

“Do you pray for your husband’s success in his workplace? Pray that he will have wisdom for his work and grace for the people he works with. Pray for God to bless him in that place.” I started praying differently for my husband.

It was a long time ago. What I clearly heard from her that day was that the way I treated my marriage and my husband would have a profound impact on all areas of my life and his life, including ministry. She taught me that if things were right at home God could and would use me in other places. I knew that she was speaking truth.

Today, most of my marriage prayers are prayers of thanksgiving! God uses us together in ministry and in our family. I thank God for this woman who taught me to pray for my marriage and my husband. By God’s grace He sent her to teach me what I needed to know.

I hope that as you read this you, too, would hear her wise, Godly woman advice.

Do you pray that you will love and serve your husband? Do you pray for God to grow your love for each other and for Him? Do you pray for God to be a part of even the most intimate moments in your marriage, to bless you with children, and give you the wisdom and patience to raise them to love and serve Him?

Prayer is a powerful form of assistance that God has given us..

How important is your marriage to you? Will you pray for every aspect of your husband’s life?  Will you teach other women to do so, too?