1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:09,640 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Hi there, it's Dana Sche and welcome to 2 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:16,440 Speaker 1: the Rebuilding US Marriage Podcast. Hey hey everybody, it's Dana 3 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:19,800 Speaker 1: se and you're listening to the Rebuilding US Marriage Podcast. 4 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 1: You know a lot of churches and Christians choose to 5 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 1: use the month of January as a month of prayer. 6 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 1: Maybe your church has dedicated some specific time to really 7 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:33,519 Speaker 1: seek God for whatever we believe that He wants to 8 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: do in this coming year. And I really want to 9 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:40,040 Speaker 1: help you to learn how to pray specifically for your marriage, 10 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:43,200 Speaker 1: for your spouse. Today, I am excited to bring back 11 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:46,479 Speaker 1: to you a sweet repeat. That's my glamorous way of 12 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: saying a repeat. But this episode is called five Ways 13 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 1: to Cover your marriage in Prayer. The word cover coov 14 00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 1: er is an acronym that we're going to get into 15 00:00:56,680 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 1: in the podcast. So after you finished listening to today's episode, 16 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 1: you are going to be equipped to not just say 17 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:06,200 Speaker 1: like thank you for my spouse, help them have a 18 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 1: good day, help them to overcome whatever they're facing, but 19 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:12,319 Speaker 1: you're actually going to have a template of how to 20 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 1: easily conversationally cover your spouse. Super excited for you to 21 00:01:17,959 --> 00:01:22,680 Speaker 1: hear today's message. I'm also super excited because I've been 22 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:25,400 Speaker 1: talking about this for a while. My brand new book, 23 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 1: Tried and True Marriage Advice from twelve imperfect Biblical Couples 24 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 1: is now available. That's right, there's no more waiting, There's 25 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 1: no more on this day sign up. Nope, the time 26 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 1: is now, so head over to Tried and truemarriagebook dot com. 27 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:43,680 Speaker 1: You can get your copy today. I would love for 28 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:45,520 Speaker 1: you to read this. I would love to hear your 29 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 1: amazing reviews and share it with someone, another couple, another 30 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: friend who you know will really benefit from the wisdom 31 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 1: in this book. All right, my friends will. Without any 32 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:58,000 Speaker 1: further ado, let's get into how to cover your marriage 33 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 1: in prayer? All right, you all? So today I want 34 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:05,640 Speaker 1: to give you an acronym for how to pray for 35 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: your marriage. I am an acronym girl. I love alliteration. 36 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 1: I love acronyms because they help us to remember what 37 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 1: we need to know. So, as I was praying for 38 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 1: you all before I started recording this episode, I thought, Lord, 39 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:22,360 Speaker 1: how would I encourage people to pray over their marriage? 40 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:24,920 Speaker 1: And why do we need to pray for our marriages anyway? Like, 41 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 1: isn't it enough for us to just do the things 42 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 1: that we're supposed to do. Isn't it enough for us 43 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 1: to just put into practice what we're learning, either on 44 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 1: this podcast or what we're reading in books, or what 45 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 1: we've heard in other marriage conferences. The answer is yes 46 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 1: and yes. But we also need to cover our marriages 47 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:45,079 Speaker 1: and prayer. And so there's an acronym that I want 48 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 1: to share with you today, and it's the word cover. 49 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:50,680 Speaker 1: What does it mean to cover your marriage and prayer? 50 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:53,079 Speaker 1: And I know that some of you right now, I 51 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 1: already hear your hearts. You're thinking, I'm weary, Dana. I've 52 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:00,000 Speaker 1: been praying for my husband. I've been praying for my wife. 53 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 1: I've been praying for my marriage, and I'm not really 54 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 1: seeing a lot of change. Maybe others of you feel 55 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:08,520 Speaker 1: guilty because you know that you need to be praying more, 56 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 1: and you just forget or you just don't think to 57 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:14,000 Speaker 1: do it. Y'all, I understand. I mean, I am telling 58 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: you what I know through experience. But I'm also telling 59 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 1: you that I, as a marriage coach, sometimes get weary 60 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:25,359 Speaker 1: in prayer over my own marriage, and sometimes I forget 61 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:28,880 Speaker 1: to pray. I forget to pray specifically for what I'm 62 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 1: going to tell you about today, So I am here 63 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:33,640 Speaker 1: right with you, all right. So if there's any judgment, 64 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 1: any condemnation that you're feeling, just go ahead and throw 65 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:39,200 Speaker 1: that out. All right. We are all on a journey together, 66 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:42,720 Speaker 1: and I'm going to help us all today to learn 67 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 1: these five simple ways on how to cover your marriage 68 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:46,960 Speaker 1: in prayer. So let's go ahead and jump right in. 69 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 1: The first letter is C, So again cover is an 70 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 1: acronym cove er, So the C stands for compassion. I 71 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 1: believe that when we are praying for our spouses, we 72 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: have to start from a place of compassion. We have 73 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 1: to start not from a place of judgment or a 74 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:11,040 Speaker 1: place of tattle telling on our spouses to God, but 75 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 1: from a place of compassion, a place that says, you 76 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 1: know what, Lord, I know that my spouse is going 77 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:18,599 Speaker 1: through some challenges in their life right now. I know 78 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 1: that maybe they haven't been responding to me the best way, 79 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:24,479 Speaker 1: or maybe they're walking in fear or shame, or maybe 80 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 1: they're beating themselves up over insecurities that they have or 81 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 1: weaknesses that they have. So when we go to God 82 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 1: for others, we need to first of all go with 83 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:37,120 Speaker 1: a heart of compassion. We don't go to God self righteously. 84 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:40,920 Speaker 1: There's a parable and the Bible about the tax collector 85 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:46,200 Speaker 1: and the pharisee or the publicans. Some translations say, and 86 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 1: the difference in prayer is that the tax collector goes 87 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 1: before God humbly. He's like, I'm not worthy of your mercy, Lord, 88 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:56,920 Speaker 1: where the Pharisee was all self righteous and listing all 89 00:04:56,960 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 1: the wonderful things that he had done. When we go 90 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:02,680 Speaker 1: to God in prayer, we come humbly. We come understanding 91 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 1: that none of us are worthy. That's why we're there. 92 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:07,719 Speaker 1: We don't go to God because we're worthy. We go 93 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 1: to Him because we know we're not. And so when 94 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:14,039 Speaker 1: we go to God first and foremost to the Lord 95 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:17,160 Speaker 1: for our spouses, we go with a heart of compassion. 96 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 1: Ephesians four thirty two says, be kind and compassionate to 97 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 1: one another, forgiving each other just as Christ forgave. You. 98 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 1: Think about that, how are you treating your spouse? Are 99 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:35,240 Speaker 1: you treating them with compassion? Are you treating them with kindness? 100 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 1: Are you walking in forgiveness? Or are you going to 101 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 1: God because you've got a grudge against them? And you're like, 102 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 1: you know what, Lord, and let me tell you the 103 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:44,200 Speaker 1: other thing they did, and this is also what they did. 104 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 1: So if that's how you're going to God, friend, I'm 105 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:50,000 Speaker 1: just going to tell you, like, don't expect to have 106 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:53,159 Speaker 1: your prayers answered because God doesn't respond to that. The 107 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 1: Bible says that he resists the proud, but he draws 108 00:05:56,480 --> 00:05:58,919 Speaker 1: near to the humble. So when you go to God 109 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:04,599 Speaker 1: first and foremost, go with compassion. All right. The letter 110 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:09,720 Speaker 1: O is for oneness. Marriage is all about becoming one. 111 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:14,919 Speaker 1: That's really the promised land quote unquote in marriage is 112 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 1: that we are becoming one. The goal of marriage is 113 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:20,280 Speaker 1: not to be happy. The goal of marriage is not 114 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:22,600 Speaker 1: just to have your needs met. The goal of marriage 115 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:24,600 Speaker 1: is not just to have a good friend. Those are 116 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:28,840 Speaker 1: all byproducts of oneness. The purpose of marriage is that 117 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:33,240 Speaker 1: you and your spouse become one. That's God's deal, okay. 118 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:36,320 Speaker 1: And so when we go to God and prayer for 119 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:40,280 Speaker 1: our spouses, our heart has to be God, make us one. 120 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:43,800 Speaker 1: Help me to become one with this man, Help me 121 00:06:43,839 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 1: to come one with this woman. John seventeen, twenty two 122 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:50,839 Speaker 1: and twenty three. These were some of Jesus's final words 123 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 1: that he prayed before he went to the cross. It's 124 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 1: so important that we get this, y'all. Jesus says here, 125 00:06:57,000 --> 00:06:59,560 Speaker 1: he says, I have given them the glory that you 126 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:02,719 Speaker 1: gave me, so that they may be one as we 127 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:05,039 Speaker 1: are one. He's talking to the Father. He's saying, God, 128 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:07,360 Speaker 1: you and I are one. We're one and the same. 129 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 1: And I want my people, my disciples, my children, my 130 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 1: brothers and sisters. Right. That's talking about you and me. 131 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 1: He wants us to be one. He goes on in 132 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:18,800 Speaker 1: verse twenty three to say, I am in them, and 133 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:23,120 Speaker 1: you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity 134 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 1: that the world will know that you sent me and 135 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 1: that you love them as much as you love me. Y'all. 136 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 1: This always convicts me when I read this scripture, because 137 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 1: how does the world know that Jesus is real. They 138 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 1: don't know that he's real because we know a whole 139 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:41,720 Speaker 1: bunch of Bible verses. They don't know that he's real 140 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:44,720 Speaker 1: because of the miracles that he did, even though those 141 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 1: are great. They don't know that he's real because we 142 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:49,800 Speaker 1: tell him that he's real. The Bible says that the 143 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 1: world will know that Jesus Christ is real, that God 144 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:56,640 Speaker 1: sent him as the savior of the world. By how 145 00:07:56,680 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 1: you and I walk in oneness and unity with one another, 146 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 1: how much more for our marriages. Did you know that 147 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 1: your marriage is a living witness of the realness, if 148 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 1: I can put it that way, of who Jesus is. 149 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:15,679 Speaker 1: So when people see you and your spouse walking in unity, 150 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:19,600 Speaker 1: not always agreeing, being real humans right like we disagree 151 00:08:19,640 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 1: sometimes that's okay, But to actually walk in oneness, that 152 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 1: is such an example to the world of who Christ is. 153 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:32,680 Speaker 1: So let me encourage you as you pray to go 154 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:36,720 Speaker 1: to God in prayer with the attitude of oneness. It's 155 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 1: not about me being right. It's not about me showing 156 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 1: up my spouse or me needing to prove a point. 157 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:47,320 Speaker 1: It's about me getting on the same page and being 158 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 1: unified with my spouse. Have you heard the news? My 159 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:57,319 Speaker 1: latest book, Tried and True Marriage Advice from twelve and 160 00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:01,560 Speaker 1: Perfect Biblical Couples, is now available. Head over to Tried 161 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 1: and True Marriagebook dot com to get your copy. Plus 162 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:08,840 Speaker 1: you can get the free five day devotional. This is 163 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:11,959 Speaker 1: a guide for you and your spouse to go deeper together. 164 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:15,120 Speaker 1: In just five days, you are going to learn how 165 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:17,560 Speaker 1: to lay the foundation of what it looks like to 166 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 1: spend time together deepening your spiritual intimacy. You can get 167 00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:25,840 Speaker 1: the free five day Companion devotional at Tried and Truemarriage 168 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:33,200 Speaker 1: book dot com. So when we're having conflicts, my goal 169 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 1: isn't that I win. My goal isn't that I can 170 00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 1: prove my side. My goal is how can we become 171 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:43,080 Speaker 1: one even in the face of the conflict that we're 172 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:49,319 Speaker 1: experiencing right now? So oneness, all right? The the and 173 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:53,640 Speaker 1: cover stands for vigor. Vigor is not a word that 174 00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:55,680 Speaker 1: we use a whole whole lot, but I love it. 175 00:09:56,280 --> 00:10:01,280 Speaker 1: Vigor means efforts, energy, and enthusiasm. So when you pray, 176 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:04,840 Speaker 1: your prayers need to be vigorous. We don't come to 177 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:09,600 Speaker 1: God like, oh Lord, oh Lord, I'm so sick and 178 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 1: tired of this man right now. Oh my God, Lord, 179 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:15,240 Speaker 1: I don't know why I married this woman. Oh Lord, Jesus, 180 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 1: have mercy. Like, honestly, y'all, real talk. There are times 181 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:20,839 Speaker 1: for those kinds of prayers when you're just kind of 182 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:23,839 Speaker 1: pouring your heart out and you're just lamenting to God 183 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:28,600 Speaker 1: for something. But hopefully all your prayers are not like that. 184 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:31,960 Speaker 1: Hopefully the majority of your prayers are going to be 185 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 1: vigorous prayers. They're gonna be prayers that are full of effort, 186 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:40,080 Speaker 1: They're energized, they're enthusiastic, where you're saying, like, God, I 187 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:42,280 Speaker 1: believe that you have the best for both of us 188 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:44,959 Speaker 1: in store. I believe that we are going to overcome 189 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:47,960 Speaker 1: whatever challenge is come our way. I believe, Lord, God, 190 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 1: that the best is yet to come for us. And 191 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:54,920 Speaker 1: even when you are weary, you can still pray vigorous prayers. 192 00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 1: Isaiah forty twenty nine says that he meaning He, meaning God, 193 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:03,520 Speaker 1: he gives strength to the weary, and he increases the 194 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:06,360 Speaker 1: power of the weak. How many of you have ever 195 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:09,360 Speaker 1: felt weary in your marriage? I've got my hand up. 196 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:12,080 Speaker 1: How many of you have ever felt weak in your marriage? 197 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 1: I've got my hand up. I get it. There are 198 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:17,960 Speaker 1: times that we feel weary. There are times that we're 199 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:20,720 Speaker 1: just like, Lord, I'm so done, I am so tired 200 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:23,840 Speaker 1: of this where we feel weak, where we feel like 201 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 1: we don't have what it takes in order to have 202 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:30,200 Speaker 1: a flourishing marriage, a marriage that thrives. But the good news, 203 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:32,000 Speaker 1: y'all is that we don't have to do this in 204 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 1: our own strength. That God gives us strength, that He 205 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:39,560 Speaker 1: gives strength to the weary that God is the one 206 00:11:39,559 --> 00:11:43,160 Speaker 1: who increases our power. He gives us wisdom, He gives 207 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 1: us sustainability. He is the one who gives us the 208 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:49,600 Speaker 1: energy that we need to make, the effort that we 209 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:52,800 Speaker 1: need to make so that our marriages can be full 210 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:59,960 Speaker 1: of vigor. So when we pray, we pray vigorously. All right, 211 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:02,400 Speaker 1: let's move on to the E. So we've got C 212 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:06,600 Speaker 1: is for compassion, O is for oneness, V is for vigor. 213 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 1: The E stands for expectation. I love talking about this. 214 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:12,760 Speaker 1: If you've been around me for any length of time, 215 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:16,960 Speaker 1: you know I am always talking about praying with expectation. 216 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:19,920 Speaker 1: I'm a pastor at my church if you didn't know that, 217 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:23,320 Speaker 1: And whenever I'm leading a prayer service, I always say, 218 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:25,960 Speaker 1: we are going to pray with expectation. We are not 219 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:28,360 Speaker 1: just going to pray and hope for the best. We're 220 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 1: not just going to throw out these prayers in the 221 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:32,679 Speaker 1: universe and hope that one of them sticks. No, no, no, 222 00:12:32,679 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 1: no no. When we go to the Lord, we go 223 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:39,520 Speaker 1: to him with a heart of expectation. Do you know 224 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:42,840 Speaker 1: who you are? Do you know if you are a Christian? 225 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:45,160 Speaker 1: Do you know that you are a son of the 226 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:49,080 Speaker 1: Living God, that you are a daughter of the Living God, 227 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:51,960 Speaker 1: that He hears you when you pray, and that not 228 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:55,120 Speaker 1: only is he able to move on your behalf, but 229 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:59,000 Speaker 1: he is willing to move on your behalf. So when 230 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:01,200 Speaker 1: we go to God and pray, we go to him 231 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:05,760 Speaker 1: expecting that what we're praying for we will have. And 232 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:08,040 Speaker 1: there are so, so, so so many scriptures in the 233 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:11,679 Speaker 1: Bible about praying with faith. That's really what faith is. 234 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:15,560 Speaker 1: It's expectation. If you're praying for something that you don't 235 00:13:15,559 --> 00:13:17,840 Speaker 1: even really believe is going to happen, then why even 236 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:20,840 Speaker 1: pray for it. So when we go to God, we 237 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 1: pray with expectation. Psalm five three says, listen to my 238 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:28,719 Speaker 1: voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning, I bring my 239 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:33,080 Speaker 1: request to you, and I wait expectantly. Some other translations 240 00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:37,720 Speaker 1: say I eagerly watch. Like imagine that that when we're praying, 241 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:40,080 Speaker 1: it's like a little kid who's sitting on the step 242 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 1: watching for something to happen. We're waiting, we're expecting. We 243 00:13:44,960 --> 00:13:47,800 Speaker 1: believe that what we're praying for God is actually going 244 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:51,840 Speaker 1: to do. So, if you're praying that your spouse would 245 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:55,080 Speaker 1: come to know the Lord expect that they're coming into 246 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 1: the kingdom. If you're praying that your spouse stops some 247 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:02,920 Speaker 1: whatever ative behavior they might have, then go ahead and 248 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:06,920 Speaker 1: start rejoicing in that thing. Even now, start praying in victory. 249 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:10,440 Speaker 1: Start praying believing that what you are praying for you 250 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:13,199 Speaker 1: will have. Jesus says that, he says, when you pray, 251 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 1: believe it, and you will receive what you're asking for. 252 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:24,040 Speaker 1: So we pray with expectation. All right, friends, The last 253 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 1: letter is readiness, so that our stands for readiness. What 254 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 1: does it mean to be ready? That means that we 255 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:37,000 Speaker 1: are ready to obey what we hear. Oh. I love 256 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:41,320 Speaker 1: talking about praying as listening because a lot of people 257 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 1: think that when you pray, you're doing all the talking. 258 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:46,120 Speaker 1: It's a monologue. Like I'm doing right now. I'm talking 259 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:47,720 Speaker 1: to you. I can't hear you talking back. I know 260 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 1: some of y'all are talking back to me, and that's great. 261 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:54,040 Speaker 1: I love it. But when we pray, it is a dialogue, y'all. 262 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:58,880 Speaker 1: We pray and then we listen. So if you've never 263 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:02,440 Speaker 1: prayed like that, I want to encourage you. It's very 264 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:05,240 Speaker 1: simple to do. You go ahead and you present your 265 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:09,200 Speaker 1: request to God. But then you get quiet and listen 266 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 1: and see if you can hear what God is speaking 267 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:14,800 Speaker 1: back to you. Now, most of us aren't going to 268 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:18,520 Speaker 1: hear him speak audibly, but you're gonna hear something in 269 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:21,800 Speaker 1: your heart. You're gonna maybe a scripture is gonna come 270 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:24,640 Speaker 1: to your mind, or you're gonna hear something and it's 271 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:28,560 Speaker 1: God's response to you. So what is he saying back 272 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 1: to you? Most often, when I'm praying about something, God 273 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 1: will speak and he'll tell me to do something, And honestly, 274 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 1: I don't always like what he says. I don't always 275 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 1: want to do what he's telling me to do. So 276 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:46,400 Speaker 1: for example, if I'm praying and I'm like, Lord, Sean 277 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:50,040 Speaker 1: and I were a little disconnected right now, I pray 278 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 1: Lord God that he would learn how to be more 279 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:56,560 Speaker 1: affectionate to me. If I'm quiet, you know what I 280 00:15:56,640 --> 00:16:00,960 Speaker 1: usually hear. I usually hear something like this, Dana, you're 281 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:03,720 Speaker 1: holding a grudge against Sean because of something that he 282 00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:06,640 Speaker 1: did to you last week. I need you to forgive him. 283 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:09,440 Speaker 1: I'm like, that is not what I asked you, Lord, 284 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:12,280 Speaker 1: but that's real, right. Or I might hear something like 285 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:14,920 Speaker 1: this when's the last time that you put your arms 286 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:19,560 Speaker 1: around him and told him that you loved him dot 287 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:22,520 Speaker 1: dot right, cause I'm expecting God to like do whatever 288 00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:24,960 Speaker 1: I want him to do. Like God doesn't work for 289 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:27,320 Speaker 1: us though, y'all. Like we got to understand that God 290 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:29,480 Speaker 1: is not one of our little minions that we send 291 00:16:29,520 --> 00:16:32,240 Speaker 1: off on little errands to do things for us. No, no, no, no, 292 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 1: like we have got that all twisted. God is the 293 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:39,200 Speaker 1: God of the universe. He's sovereign, He knows way more 294 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:43,280 Speaker 1: about everything than we could ever know, and oftentimes he 295 00:16:43,320 --> 00:16:45,800 Speaker 1: will speak to us and tell us something that we 296 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 1: need to do. So when we pray, we have to 297 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:52,400 Speaker 1: be ready to obey. You got to be ready to 298 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:54,000 Speaker 1: hear what the spirit of the Lord is going to 299 00:16:54,040 --> 00:16:57,600 Speaker 1: tell you to do when you're praying. Now, it's not 300 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:01,760 Speaker 1: always bad and negative. Sometimes you'll hear God speak back. 301 00:17:01,920 --> 00:17:07,640 Speaker 1: Keep going, stay encouraged, keep believing. You'll hear him say 302 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:11,880 Speaker 1: things like that, but often be ready to hear him 303 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:16,640 Speaker 1: tell you to do something. In Luke chapter eleven, twenty eight, 304 00:17:16,720 --> 00:17:19,480 Speaker 1: it says that Jesus replied, blessed rather are those who 305 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:23,200 Speaker 1: hear the word of God and obey it. So we're 306 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:26,199 Speaker 1: not just hearers of God's word. When you pray and 307 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:28,280 Speaker 1: you hear something and you walk off and you don't 308 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:30,320 Speaker 1: do it, well, why should you expect God to keep 309 00:17:30,359 --> 00:17:33,160 Speaker 1: speaking to you? Why should you expect God and answer 310 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:35,439 Speaker 1: your prayer if he's going to speak to you, and 311 00:17:35,480 --> 00:17:38,639 Speaker 1: then you're not going to obey what he says. And 312 00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:40,720 Speaker 1: here's a quick little tip here. How do you know 313 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:43,280 Speaker 1: if it's God speaking to you, whether it's you speaking 314 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:45,399 Speaker 1: to you, or whether it's the enemy speaking to you. 315 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:48,400 Speaker 1: I get that question a lot a lot of times. 316 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:50,800 Speaker 1: When God tells you to do something, your flesh is 317 00:17:50,800 --> 00:17:54,280 Speaker 1: not gonna like it. Some people think that God only 318 00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:56,439 Speaker 1: tells them wonderful things that they want to hear and 319 00:17:56,480 --> 00:17:58,800 Speaker 1: stuff that they want to do. That's usually you boo. 320 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:04,800 Speaker 1: Usually you talking to yourself. So when you hear things 321 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:06,640 Speaker 1: like yeah, I can do bad by myself. I don't 322 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:08,359 Speaker 1: have to put up with this. God wants me to 323 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:13,720 Speaker 1: be happy. That is not in scripture anywhere. So usually 324 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:17,640 Speaker 1: if you hear something that your flesh is like, ah, 325 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:23,440 Speaker 1: I don't like that, that's usually God. You're welcome, all right? 326 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:26,119 Speaker 1: So how do we pray and cover our marriage? We 327 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:30,440 Speaker 1: pray with compassion. We pray with oneness on our heart, 328 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:33,800 Speaker 1: believing that God is calling us into unity. We pray 329 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:40,000 Speaker 1: with vigor, enthusiasm, effort, energy. We pray with expectation, believe 330 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:43,960 Speaker 1: for what you're asking for. And then we pray with readiness, 331 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:46,960 Speaker 1: get ready for whatever God is going to tell you 332 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 1: to do. If he tells you to forgive, you need 333 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:52,159 Speaker 1: to forgive. If he tells you to let something go, 334 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:55,240 Speaker 1: let it go. If he tells you to remain steadfast 335 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:57,399 Speaker 1: and don't give up, well guess what He's going to 336 00:18:57,480 --> 00:19:00,000 Speaker 1: give you the power and the endurance to be steadfast. 337 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:03,359 Speaker 1: So then how do we pray and what do we 338 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:07,040 Speaker 1: pray for? Well, there's a million things that you can 339 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:11,000 Speaker 1: pray for concerning your marriage. I could literally create an 340 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:16,240 Speaker 1: entire other podcast just on this subject alone. So instead 341 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:20,760 Speaker 1: of prescribing you prayers, I want to encourage you on 342 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:24,840 Speaker 1: some topics that you can start praying for today. Maybe 343 00:19:24,840 --> 00:19:27,400 Speaker 1: your prayer life is real, real shallow. Maybe you only 344 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:29,360 Speaker 1: pray kind of every now and again when you find 345 00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:31,960 Speaker 1: yourself in a ditch or in trouble or in a 346 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:36,120 Speaker 1: pit somewhere, or maybe you do genuinely want to grow 347 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:38,240 Speaker 1: in your prayers and you just don't really know where 348 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:43,920 Speaker 1: to start, so specifically praying for your marriage. I want 349 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:46,879 Speaker 1: to encourage you to pray for unity. And I know 350 00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:49,080 Speaker 1: I talked about this when we were talking about oneness, 351 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 1: but this is so important you all, that we begin 352 00:19:51,680 --> 00:19:55,439 Speaker 1: to pray for unity. The enemy is always coming to 353 00:19:55,480 --> 00:19:58,840 Speaker 1: try to bring division. Literally it is his number one 354 00:19:58,920 --> 00:20:03,480 Speaker 1: job is to bring disunity, to bring disorder, to bring chaos. 355 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:08,560 Speaker 1: So we're gonna pray for unity when there are conflicts 356 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:12,200 Speaker 1: that arise. What's more important the relationship or you being right. 357 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:16,639 Speaker 1: If you being right is most important, then you're on 358 00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:19,040 Speaker 1: the wrong relationship. And I don't mean that by you 359 00:20:19,119 --> 00:20:21,320 Speaker 1: chose the wrong person. I mean you are not a 360 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:26,280 Speaker 1: candidate for marriage. If I can just be blunt, it's 361 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:31,240 Speaker 1: not about you being right. The relationship is what's most important. 362 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:35,760 Speaker 1: So pray for unity. And when you begin to pray 363 00:20:35,800 --> 00:20:40,119 Speaker 1: for unity, you realize that you need to get an 364 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:43,320 Speaker 1: alignment and your spouse. It's not your spouse coming over 365 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:46,600 Speaker 1: to your side, and it's not you going over to 366 00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:49,439 Speaker 1: your spouse's side and doing everything they want. It's both 367 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:53,040 Speaker 1: of you getting into agreement. Another thing that you can 368 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:56,320 Speaker 1: pray for is wisdom. I'm kind of giving you some 369 00:20:56,480 --> 00:20:59,320 Speaker 1: overarching themes here. Of course, under these if you look 370 00:20:59,359 --> 00:21:02,280 Speaker 1: at these as like umbrellas, under these umbrellas are going 371 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:03,760 Speaker 1: to be lots and lots of things that you can 372 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:06,480 Speaker 1: pray for. Wisdom about what, wisdom about how to parent, 373 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:10,160 Speaker 1: wisdom about your finances, wisdom about decisions that you need 374 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 1: to make together, wisdom about how you spend your time, 375 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:16,520 Speaker 1: Wisdom about all kinds of things. But overall, pray for wisdom. 376 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:19,879 Speaker 1: God is the source of wisdom, and the Bible says 377 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:22,919 Speaker 1: that if you lack wisdom, you can ask God and 378 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:26,520 Speaker 1: he will pour it out on you liberally. That's in 379 00:21:26,560 --> 00:21:28,919 Speaker 1: the Book of James. You can ask God, Lord, I 380 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:30,959 Speaker 1: don't know which way to turn. I don't know what 381 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:33,879 Speaker 1: I should do here. So pray for wisdom. Pray that 382 00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:37,639 Speaker 1: you and your spouse would be in unity in the 383 00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:42,160 Speaker 1: areas of wisdom that you need. Pray for protection over 384 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:45,520 Speaker 1: your marriage. I said earlier that the enemy works over 385 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:49,199 Speaker 1: time to bring chaos and disorder. He wants to destroy you. 386 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:51,800 Speaker 1: He wants to destroy your legacy, he wants to destroy 387 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:54,679 Speaker 1: your family, he wants to destroy your mental health. He 388 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:57,879 Speaker 1: wants to destroy you so you have to fight against 389 00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:01,640 Speaker 1: him in prayer. Pray for protection. Pray that God would 390 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:06,480 Speaker 1: keep your marriage from outsiders, from adultery, from your own temptation, 391 00:22:06,640 --> 00:22:10,639 Speaker 1: from your own weaknesses. Pray that God will protect your health, 392 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 1: your mind, your spirit. So pray for protection over your marriage. 393 00:22:19,040 --> 00:22:22,199 Speaker 1: You can pray for strength and resilience as we go 394 00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:24,840 Speaker 1: through life, y'all, we all get weary at times. We 395 00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:26,640 Speaker 1: all want to take a little rest stop, a little 396 00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:29,040 Speaker 1: pit stop, And that's all right as long as that's 397 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:32,880 Speaker 1: like short lived. But some of you are so weary. 398 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:36,800 Speaker 1: You know, you can pray for strength, You can pray 399 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:40,720 Speaker 1: for endurance, you can pray for perseverance, So pray for that. 400 00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:45,119 Speaker 1: Pray for that and your spouse. If your spouse is 401 00:22:45,119 --> 00:22:47,720 Speaker 1: cutting up and acting a fool, maybe it's they're not 402 00:22:47,760 --> 00:22:50,400 Speaker 1: an evil person. Maybe they're just weary and they're tired, 403 00:22:50,680 --> 00:22:53,240 Speaker 1: So pray for strength and resilience for them as well. 404 00:22:55,119 --> 00:22:57,159 Speaker 1: And then the last thing I want to say is 405 00:22:57,160 --> 00:23:00,320 Speaker 1: that you can pray and should be praying for peace. 406 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:03,919 Speaker 1: Nobody wants to live in a home that's full of 407 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 1: conflict and chaos and disorder, So pray for peace. Pray 408 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:11,080 Speaker 1: for peace in your communication that you guys would have 409 00:23:11,320 --> 00:23:14,480 Speaker 1: peaceful conversations. Pray for peace in your home, that the 410 00:23:14,560 --> 00:23:18,200 Speaker 1: atmosphere in your home is an atmosphere of peace. Pray 411 00:23:18,240 --> 00:23:20,600 Speaker 1: for peace in your mind, that your thoughts are not 412 00:23:20,680 --> 00:23:24,840 Speaker 1: full of anxiety and worry and doubt and confusion. Pray 413 00:23:24,920 --> 00:23:29,280 Speaker 1: for peace in your marriage. I think if you pray 414 00:23:29,320 --> 00:23:32,480 Speaker 1: along these lines, then a lot of the little issues 415 00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:34,800 Speaker 1: that we face in life, they're going to be taken 416 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:40,199 Speaker 1: care of because we're praying these big, bold, powerful prayers. 417 00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:43,800 Speaker 1: And lastly, I'll say, your prayers don't have to be 418 00:23:43,840 --> 00:23:48,199 Speaker 1: super long and drawn out. They can be very short, 419 00:23:48,920 --> 00:23:53,840 Speaker 1: they can be simple. They should always be heartfelt and authentic. 420 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:56,800 Speaker 1: So this is why I don't like to say, like 421 00:23:56,960 --> 00:23:59,840 Speaker 1: repeat after me when I'm leading people in prayer, because 422 00:23:59,880 --> 00:24:03,840 Speaker 1: that's not your heart, that's my heart. Pray your heart 423 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:06,280 Speaker 1: to God. Talk to him like you would talk to 424 00:24:06,359 --> 00:24:09,159 Speaker 1: a friend, because that's who he wants to be to you. 425 00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:12,280 Speaker 1: He wants to be your friend, he wants to listen 426 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 1: to you, he wants to give you an amazing life. 427 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:19,240 Speaker 1: But more importantly, he wants you to know him. When 428 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:21,960 Speaker 1: we pray to God, that's our way of getting him 429 00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:25,840 Speaker 1: to know us. We're telling him these are the concerns 430 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:27,960 Speaker 1: and these are the cares that are on my heart 431 00:24:28,080 --> 00:24:30,080 Speaker 1: when we read his word. That's how we get to 432 00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:34,600 Speaker 1: know him. So what's really powerful is when you learn 433 00:24:34,960 --> 00:24:38,560 Speaker 1: how to pray God's word back to him because you 434 00:24:38,640 --> 00:24:41,960 Speaker 1: know that that's a guaranteed. Yes, you're literally praying his 435 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:47,320 Speaker 1: heart back to him. So those prayers again can be simple, 436 00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:51,280 Speaker 1: but let them be heartfelt. Well, I hope that this 437 00:24:51,359 --> 00:24:55,480 Speaker 1: episode has not only encouraged you but also equipped you. Again. 438 00:24:55,680 --> 00:24:58,440 Speaker 1: My hope for you is that you implement this in 439 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:01,679 Speaker 1: your prayer life. Thing about prayer is that it is 440 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:06,480 Speaker 1: a personal conversation between you and the only one who 441 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:09,800 Speaker 1: can truly change your circumstances, your situation, and that is 442 00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:13,040 Speaker 1: the Lord. So I am so grateful that you've listened, 443 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:16,400 Speaker 1: and more grateful that you are going to be implementing 444 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:20,119 Speaker 1: this model how to cover your marriage in prayer the 445 00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:22,800 Speaker 1: very next time that you think about your spouse. Have 446 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:25,280 Speaker 1: an amazing day. Thanks so much for listening. I'll see 447 00:25:25,280 --> 00:25:27,000 Speaker 1: you on the next episode. Be sure to get your 448 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:29,560 Speaker 1: copy also of Tried and True. You can find it 449 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:32,920 Speaker 1: at Tried and truemarriagebook dot com. See you on the 450 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:35,200 Speaker 1: next episode.