We've been talking all week about the kind of man who makes a godly husband. First and foremost he must be a Christian. But you can't end your wish list there. Yesterday I wrote about the fact that he needs to be able to lead in order to live out God's design for the relationship between a husband and wife. Today I want to focus on his prayer life.
Here's an important reminder for all of us, regardless of our gender. Prayer is a big deal!
Philippians 4:6 urges, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
Colossians 4:2 says, "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful."
James 5:13 says, "Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise."
James 5:16 promises, "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
Prayer is the conduit through which we connect with the Almighty God! These verses tell us that when we are anxious, we should pray. When we are in trouble, we should pray. When life is good, we should pray. God's Word promises that our prayers have power to effect change.
Choosing whom you will marry is more than selecting who will look great standing at the end of an aisle in a tux. You are deciding with whom you want to weather the storms of life. You are choosing who will walk beside you in good times and in bad, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health. When tough times come, you need to align yourself with someone who understands the importance of prayer.
A man who understands his role as leader of his household should also be committed to leading his family in prayer.
In 1 Timothy 2, when Paul is giving instructions for how men and women in the church should act, he focuses on the need for men to be serious about prayer. He writes, “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing" (1 Timothy 2:8).
Being a Christian is one thing. Having a meaningful prayer life is something totally different. How can you tell if a guy you're interested in is committed to prayer?
- Have you seen him pray with others?
- Have you heard him talk about what God is teaching him through prayer?
- Does he ask others to pray for him?
- Does he encourage others to pray?
- Does he have regular quiet time with God?
Prayer is an intensely personal thing. You often can't tell if someone is passionate about prayer just by hanging out with them. It's worthwhile to have a conversation about prayer with anyone you are considering a serious relationship with. If you are already in a serious relationship, I recommend setting aside time to regularly pray together. This will lay the foundation for a prayer-filled marriage down the road.
So to recap—the man you marry should be a Christian. He should be able to lead and he needs to be committed to prayer. Does it seem like I am describing a guy who's impossible to find? Trust me, I'm not. These biblical truths aren't new. God is more passionate about teaching young men to live like He calls them to than I am about urging you to wait for this kind of guy. (Which is hard to believe because I really want each of you to wait for a godly husband!)
You don't have to just hope that God will drop the right guy into your life at the exact right moment. Become a passionate pray-er yourself. Ask God to teach your future husband about the importance of prayer and to surround him with people who can show him how to have a meaningful prayer life. Create patterns of prayer in your own life that will carry over when you become a wife and mom.
Be sure to check the blog tomorrow to find out one more thing to look for in a future mate. In the meantime, I'd love to hear how you are praying for your future husband.
