Just Say The Word: Pray With Your WifeSample

More intentional and more regular spiritual intimacy

I have a thought for you to ponder. One you might find freeing. I did! Your wife does not need you to disciple her! She does not desire or need you to impart spiritual information to her. Yet she does desire and need you to lead her spiritually.

Your wife does not long to sit at your feet so you can bless her with an unending string of spiritual pearls of wisdom and insights (as if we had such a string of pearls to offer). Rather, she wants to walk at your side and face life with a true spiritual perspective together. Remember that in Genesis, marriage started when God fashioned woman out of a rib from man’s side. Our wives are not intended to be under us or over us, but beside us. That is Christian marriage!

Leading your wife spiritually is not about imparting information to her. It is about walking in relationship—a relationship of three: husband, wife, and God. It is not about how much you know to impart to her. It is about who you are as her partner in life and your commitment to live in yoke together with her and with Jesus Christ.

Perhaps we have a misguided view of discipleship. We think about discipleship as information-centric. That’s a big mistake! Discipleship is relationship-centric. Discipleship is walking side-by-side with someone in the realities of life. This includes the mountaintop blessings, the curses of the deep, dark valleys, and everything in between. Leading your wife spiritually is just that, walking side-by-side with her through the realities of life. You don’t lag behind her in the journey or run ahead of her. Leading in marriage is not done from out front. It is done from her side.

Jesus clearly says where 2 or 3 gather in His name, He is in their midst. The most intimate gathering of 2 is in marriage. You are leading your wife spiritually when you come together before the Lord. You are not pressured to bring a profound lesson to her attention on a regular basis. You and your wife come before the Lord and He will provide the content for your prayers directly from His Word!

Since you have tracked this far into the plan, it is a clear indication God is speaking to your heart! Even now, if your wife were to know the movement stirring in your heart, she would be deeply touched! You are ready to love your wife in a fresh way with a more intentional and more regular spiritual intimacy than possibly ever before.