Did you know that when couples pray together daily, they stay together in marriage over 99 percent of the time? This is in contrast to the fact that about half of all first marriages end in divorce, and 78 percent of all second marriages end in divorce.

A 1997 Gallup Poll done by the National Association of Marriage Enhancement showed the divorce rate among couples who pray together regularly is one out of 1,152! There is power in prayer! Unfortunately, it is estimated that only 11 percent of married couples pray together. Doing an informal poll of folks that attend church weekly, I have found that number to be the same among church-goers.

If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. – John 15:7. Marriage is often referred to as a cord of three strands – wife and husband wrapped around the central strand, Jesus the Christ. Jesus is the “Word become flesh” (John 1:14), so as a couple prays, they remain in Him and wrap themselves around the word of God. Then the cord of marriage is strengthened supernaturally. In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus gives specific instructions on how to pray: “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, Who is in Heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’”- Matthew 6:9-13. A key pillar of being a faithful father is to lead spiritually by example. The foundation for that pillar is prayer. Through prayer, you will bear much fruit and prove to be His disciples. The charge to us dads is to be His disciple in the home by praying with and for our wives.

Tips for praying with your wife:

• Pray on your own for your wife, and for strength and clarity to initiate prayer with her;
• Decide as a couple on the best timing for 5-minutes of daily prayer time;
• Discuss highlights and lowlights of the day, then identify specific praises and concerns;
• Enter a time of lifting the praises and concerns up in prayer;
• Close out the time by praying the, “Our Father, …” together.

Prayer guide: Thank You Lord for Your truth and Your grace in my life. I confess that my prayers have, more often than not, involved a checklist of needs and a crying out in a time of challenge. Forgive me. I understand now that time in prayer is time in intimate relationship with You, a time to draw closer to You. In prayer with my bride, we both have a unique opportunity to experience Your presence in the middle of our marriage. Help us to listen for Your voice, hear what You have to say, and move forward together in obedience under Your word. Grant me strength and clarity to initiate prayer with my bride and lead spiritually by example in the home. That is the dad You call me to be and that is the dad the next generation needs. Amen.

A faithful father prays with and for his wife every day.