My wife and I have found a place of intimacy that far exceeds any level of intimacy within a marriage through our connecting in prayer.  We have made this a priority for many years and have grown our marriage in numerous ways through the vulnerability of prayer together.  Here are seven benefits that we have identified from praying together.

1. When we pray, we find agreement with God and with one another. Agreement is far more powerful, life-giving and life changing than disagreement.
2. Through prayer together we are not so self-focused, but rather, we are focused on God, one another and the needs of those we are praying for.
3. We are recognizing our need to trust outside ourselves. We are realizing we cannot provide all the needs or answers.  We are humbling ourself to say, we need God.  Prayer reminds us and our family that God IS our source.
4. Prayer helps us to grow in grace and patience. We learn to wait on God.  We also learn to confess our needs, brokenness and vulnerability. We, before God, recognize our need for forgiveness.
5. We communicate our life issues when we pray and that helps us to hear out loud those needs. We pray what is on our heart and when we hear one another’s heart, we know what deeply touches us and concerns us.
6. Prayer changes us as we learn to listen to God. It changes us financially, emotionally, mentally and sexually.  In all ways we are changed as we reach out to and then hear God’s still small voice.  Our hearts and our minds are transformed through prayer and we experience a greater level of oneness.
7. Praying together increases our intimacy. As intimacy increases our trust levels increase and as our trust levels increase, our strength and bond together grows stronger.

Helping you to start your prayer trek

• Purchase a devotional book, read and then pray.
• Take turns praying/reading.
• Start small or brief and grow your time.
• Find a specific focus and pray.
• Walk your neighborhood and pray.

• Pray together with your children teaching them to pray.
• Pray in the car when there is a lull in the conversation.
• Pray when one of you or your children are not feeling well.
• Pray with thanksgiving to God repeatedly.
• Bless one another in prayer.  Bless one another’s day, workplace, etc.
• Ask your spouse how you can pray for them.