Healthy Practices Of Ministry CouplesSample

We Got To Pray
by Chris and Cindy Beall of LifeChurch.tv

We have been at LifeChurch.tv since 2002 and love being a part of it! We also love being led by our senior pastor, Craig Groeschel. In 2012, he did a five-part marriage series called From This Day Forward. It was outstanding and simple all wrapped into one nicely delivered package. You will be inspired, challenged and encouraged if you watch this series. If you are unable to, here are what the five weeks are about: Seek God, Fight Fair, Have Fun, Stay Pure and Never Give Up.

Simple and to the point, right?

As we started the series, we were feeling very proud of ourselves. We are seeking God, we fight fair, we have fun, we are fighting to maintain our purity in a polluted world and we will never give up. But then, we were thrown a curve ball by Pastor Craig's one and only piece of advice during his "Seek God" message. This is what he said:

Pray together daily.

What? Gulp. We were not that faithful at praying together as a couple. We’re not proud of that fact but that was our reality. We prayed when times were tough and we certainly prayed for other people, but sometimes we went weeks without praying as a couple. So it shouldn't have surprised us to feel completely smothered in a gravy of conviction from the Spirit of God as well as a nice helping of guilt from our spiritual enemy.

We chose not to wallow in that unhealthy place and that Saturday evening after church, we said that no more days would pass without praying together. Since August 2012, we have missed just a handful of days. And friend, we can totally tell the difference.

We don't have to tell you how hard marriage is or can be because you are married! You know! Praying together won't eliminate all struggle and strain in our marriages, but it will most certainly help us stay connected to the One with the power to help you through those troublesome times.

1. Do you pray with your spouse daily? If not, will you commit to doing that beginning today? Start now!