He Must Pray

posted by Erin Davis on 09/01/10 | Twitter: @ErinGraffiti
Category: Guys; ; 18 comments

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! man praying

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.

Comments

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    Anna Manelle
    prayer
    on Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 3:14 am
    wow! praise and honor unto God! I won't call this a coincidence, for there is no such word as that for a Christian who knows that God is always in control of everything. I have just wrote and posted my new post in my blog, belovedtulip.blogspot.com. It also happened that the youth group in our church decided to have this month be a month of emphasizing on prayer. then, I am so glad that as I visit your blog, again it also tackles prayer.

    It is a sort of intimacy with God whenever I utter my prayers for my Godsend, I mean my future Godsend. I may not know who he is as of now but God knows every detail about him. In that way also, it is an expression of the reserved love - you love your future mate though you don't know him yet. I love him that's why I enjoy and I love praying for him, and someday it will be sweeter for I will not just pray for him but also pray with him. ^_^
    Megan
    Re:
    on Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 8:56 am
    Yes yes yes!! Prayer is so important- I want to marry someone who doesn't lean on his own understanding- but on God! And how is this reached- through prayer!!
    Enyo
    Prayer very important
    on Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 10:36 am
    Thank you for your advice to the singles to pray effectively before entering into marriage is very important in the life of a devoted christian.

    It took prayer and fasting before i got married to a true christian guy and i have not regretted marrying him.

    When we were courting we do pray together. After the wedding, we don't pray often as we use. Anytime i invited him to pray together, he refused or ask me to take the led.

    More grease to your elbow!
    Erin.
    Jenny
    Prayer
    on Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 11:19 am
    I'm not the greatest prayer. In fact, prayer is a week point in my life. Do you think it is okay to look for a guy who prays when you really don't?
    Erin Davis
    Jenny
    on Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 1:57 pm
    Why not endeavor to work on this area of your life instead of looking for this strength in the life of others?

    Erin
    Heather
    Re:
    on Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 11:13 pm
    I didn't know there were 'good' pray-ers and 'bad' pray-ers. I must be doing it wrong XD does that sound dumb? I'll google it. So yeah I hope that my husband is a 'good' pray-er to make up for my lost time.
    monica
    Re:
    on Thursday, September 2, 2010 at 12:28 am
    Yes, prayer is very important, but alot of people pray but dont read the bible because they make the excuse that they cant understand it or whatever. I know a guy that says he prays alot but he doesnt read the bible anymore, he started but got stuck and finds it too hard. I see alot of things in his life he is doing that are totally wrong but he doesnt even realize it cuz he doesnt read the bible. And he doesnt seem to get how important it is to read the bible. I guess that's not the kind of guy you would want to date at least not right now. Is it my duty to tell him what he's doing wrong? We are not dating just hang out in groups sometimes
    Bonnie
    Prayer
    on Thursday, September 2, 2010 at 4:22 am
    I have been praying for my future husband for about four years. I don't pray all the time, but whenever God puts it on my heart, or I am reminded, such as by posts like this. I believe it is very important to pray for your future spouse, because you never know what trials or joy he may be going through.
    Erin Davis
    Heather
    on Thursday, September 2, 2010 at 2:09 pm
    Maybe the way I worded that was misleading. I simply meant to look for a guy who is committed to prayer. I didn't mean to make it sound like some prayers are good or bad or that some people pray right and others pray wrong.

    Does that clear things up?

    Erin
    Heather
    Erin
    on Thursday, September 2, 2010 at 3:34 pm
    Ohhh I got it. You mean it's important to have a man who prays in general. Sorry, I'm a bit slowwwwww. Thanks, Erin! =D
    LindseyLou
    Thanks Erin
    on Thursday, September 2, 2010 at 9:14 pm
    This is really good. It's good to have a daily time to read God's work, but it's also to have a consistant a fervent prayer time with him! He want's us to come to him and pour out our hearts when we are hurt, sad, angry, or just really happy. I know that I have failed in this area misreable, but i've been working on it with God's help! :)
    Kris
    Praying for my husband
    on Thursday, September 2, 2010 at 10:17 pm
    I actually have a notebook where I'm writing letters and prayers for my future husband. I encourage you to ddo the same. It's kinda cool to think about, one day, on your honeymoon giving these letters and prayers to your husband and watching him read what you've written with him in mind for years.
    Traci
    Kris
    on Friday, September 10, 2010 at 7:58 pm
    Hey, Kris - I LOVE your idea!!! I love to write letters and most of the time I actually write out my prayers during my daily quiet-time (for my future husband or otherwise!) :) because it's easier for me to get my thoughts to make sense when I write them out than when I'm talking! :)
    I am totally going to go get a notebook and start writing prayers and thoughts for my future husband tonight! :) Thanks!!!
    Emma
    Re:
    on Thursday, October 28, 2010 at 5:07 pm
    My fiance is sooo with God!! He prays everyday and he says when we are married, every morning we will pray and read the bible together! sorry if im not a teen... well I am 18.
    RL GREEN
    Prayer
    on Sunday, July 31, 2011 at 9:11 pm
    WOW, stumbled across this site and what an article, so correct. Never even date a man who is not a man of prayer or trouble will follow.

    Also remember, have what you seek. Ladies develop a strong prayer life, a man of God needs this in his Bride.

    Patiently waiting for His choice :)
    Theresa
    WUprZozHuVdE
    on Sunday, September 16, 2012 at 11:40 pm
    I am praying for a mcarile cure for my severe gum recession and for my three back teeth. If this is not God's will, then at least halt the recession permanently, do not let the gums bleed or thin out, forever stop any more shifting and/or loosening and/or spacing of my teeth, let there be no tooth decay and no recurrence of the gum disease. (I had periodentitis.) As far as the back teeth are concerned, I fervently pray that the worst-case scenario with them is that they require refilling. One of these teeth is almost all filling with just this thin strip of real tooth on the side. I pray that if it is needed, my dentist is able to refill that tooth. I am begging God that I do not lose a single tooth and that my teeth do not get all funny looking and sticking out. I also am begging God it costs me nothing to not that much money in order for me to be able to keep all my teeth. Amen.
    Sarah, with the LYWB team
    @Theresa...
    on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 at 3:30 pm
    I am joining you in prayer this afternoon for each of these requests. Our God is able and trustworthy to carry our burdens and answer according to His purposes and will. Know that I am entrusting you and your gums and teeth to Him. (Gal. 6:2)
    bgbjjb
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