Power him Up!

A couple days back, I went through my books I have stored on the bookcase underneath the stairs. I gathered some to give away to friends. While I was there I came across a book I apparently bought "used" but never read. It was a popular title at the time and I had an interest but no commitment to read it. So there it sat and I picked it up and put it back on the shelf. Well, yesterday, I was drawn to read it. I didn't truly want to but I felt I needed to. So I picked up the book and placed it on the coffee table and watched a recorded Hallmark movie first. Resistance to the call!! I then finished the movie and decided I needed a bath and my legs needed shaving. Just call me Rebellious to the call. I walked in the kitchen it was 1:30 and I decided we needed to eat an early supper. So I cooked and we ate at 3:30pm. I cleaned the kitchen. Kevin went to the dentist and bookstore. Cory went to the movies with a friend. Tim went to take a nap before doing homework. As for me, I had nothing pressing and "the book" was staring at me from the coffee table. So I crawled up under a warm comforter and propped up on a pillow on the couch and didn't get up for several HOURS. The book is entitled "The Power of A Praying Wife" by Stormie Omartian.

Some of you might be saying well "Anna, don't you pray for your husband?" "I thought you told me you and Kevin pray together." "It's not a science, just pray for your husband." WELL!!! Ladies, of course I pray for my husband. I bring up our needs. We pray together for our marriage and family. We pray specifics for our children. But, girlfriends, there is nothing like truly dissecting our prayers to include specific areas of need our husbands have which comes by knowing how he thinks and how he is made up. The book is divided up into 30 chapters with specific topics regarding our husbands lives and with specific scriptures to pray and model prayers. It really isn't about how to pray but why we need to pray for them specifically and address what he truly needs to be the husband, father, etc. and ultimately to fulfill God's purpose. I discovered that my prayers weren't deep enough. Sure God knows my heart and my husbands heart and needs, but that does not justify "fly by night prayer" or what I call "vending machine prayer". You can't use God and expect to put in a quick quarter's worth amount of prayer and out pops an answer. We need to seek the presence of God and enjoy the power of honest, specific prayer. At least I do. I have found great peace in this.

The book opens up by addressing why it is so hard to pray for our husbands. It's not that we don't love our men. It's just that we have so much life behind us. We have endured hurts, disappointments, etc. Our husband may be lazy or workaholics. We have distant or possessive husbands. We don't always want to pray for them because after all do they ever pray for us? She is more specific and endearing when she addresses this but you get the gist.

Ladies, I guess what was profound to me was that I go out in public with my husband and the public sees a couple that still holds hands. Kevin still kisses me on the cheek and gently on the lips in public. He is very demonstrative and verbal with his love. We laugh and we in general display a good marriage. Behind closed doors, things are not much different. We are loving and we laugh and enjoy a pleasant marriage. We are not perfect. We fight verbally. At least I do. He walks away or clams up. We disagree on things, and he's been known to make me cry. However, overall we have a sound, committed marriage. Yet, are we real? I am not so sure now. Because a Godly marriage would be one utilizes all His resources to build a great relationship with each other so we can ultimately serve God together in His will, fulfilling His purposes.

Beth Moore said this morning on a teaching segment on TV, that we need to "Cut the bull (Bulloney) and be real before God. Be who we seem. Be true to the bone. If we would be real, we could be freer and nurture better." She is right. We say we are good wives, and moms. We read the Word, we homeschool, we take our kids to school, we teach manners, we do etc........ But do we answer the call to pray for our husbands to succeed and do well. Be well. Truly pray for them to be who they are and accept them. Do we pray that we will change? If we are real, we will evaluate our pray life. We would be the real Christian that communicates with God daily for our family...our husbands. I think some of go around doing good things for God and for our family and friends but we neglect good old fashion on our knees prayer. At least this is my conviction which I have somehow turned into a "soap box". Sorry.

I will briefly share some text from her book. I would encourage you to look into this book. It is very practical and it will change your life. It already has. I couldn't wait to finish each chapter and read the prayer and scripture. I can't wait to see the power of God work in my husbands life. This is more than an emotional response to a good book. It is a project for me. I will practice and expect results. Not a trend...a lifestyle. Here are a few sentences and phrases from the first part of the book:

It's a gentle tool of restoration appropriated through the prayers of a wife who longs to do right more than be right. (Prayer)

...we have been given authority "over all the power of the enemy" (Luke 10:19) and can do great damage to the enemy's plans when we pray.

"I will not stand by and watch my husband be wearied, beaten down, or destroyed."

...God would use me as His instrument of deliverance...

...we don't see the whole picture. We only see the way it is, not the way God wants it to become. When we pray, however, our hearts become soft toward God and we get a vision.

God will is to break down all these barriers and lift you out of that pit. He can heal the wounds and put love back in your heart. Nothing and no one else can.

Praying for your husband will be an act of unselfish, unconditional love and sacrifice on your part.

The purpose is to ask God to make your heart right, show you how to be a good wife, share the burdens of your soul, and seek God's blessing on your husband.

Look to God as the source of all you want to see happen in your marriage, and don't worry about how it will happen. It's your responsibility to pray. It's God's job to answer. Leave it in His hands.

It is a long blog today ladies. Thank you for your patience.

Answer to question #1 from Plans of the Diligent

1. What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
I plan to learn some photography this year and take pictures of simple things. I want to see the His creation with new eyes. See new colors. Enjoy His humor in the bodies of animals, and peoples expressions. It should be fun. I will have to share the pics. First I have to learn how to use the camera.