Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4.6-7).
Do Battle with Your Fears by Enlisting Your Chief Warrior
Heaven knows marriages are under the gun these days. So many pressures can leave you and your spouse feeling overwhelmed with life’s uncertainties.
Where are we going to get the money we need to pay the bills? How can I be sure the kids are safe? Will my spouse be faithful, even when things are rough? Can I keep going? Do we have what it takes to make it?
Undoubtedly, thousands of questions like these run through the minds of millions of couples every day. How are you supposed to handle it all?
You aren’t. Not on your own, at least. There’s only one only way to truly protect yourself against the onslaught of insanity with which the Enemy tries to flood your mind. If you want peace in your marriage, you must be on guard against the things that threaten it.
It may sound paradoxical, but the way to be on guard is to let your guard down with God. If you can take what you’re facing, emotionally bundle it up and send it in a spiritual package to God, he’ll remove your worries and give you calm assurance in their place.
But how? Well, here are a few ideas.
Four Steps to Battle Anxiety Using Prayer
Engage
1. Engage in prayer. This helps you acknowledge that you aren’t alone in your struggle. There is a God of the universe who wants to help you through hard things, and he’ll deploy his angels, his people, and his power to help meet your needs.
Align
2. Asking God for your heart’s desires helps you align your will with his. It’s hard to fake prayer, since God knows your every thought anyway. Baring your heart to God helps you see the areas in which you need help and changes you need to make. It also enables you to look at the things you need to offer your spouse.
Give Thanks
3. In the same way, giving thanks to God for the good things in your life and marriage helps you see the provision that you can expect going forward. He will not leave you out in the cold. God has covered your life with blessings in the past, hasn’t he? He’ll do it again if you hope in him.
Be Specific
4. Another step as you pray is to be specific about changes you want to see in your marriage, which helps clarify your role in the process. Do you want things to smooth out between you and your spouse? If so, God may give you an opportunity to address the issue, but you’ll have to rely on his power to do so with grace, humility, and forgiveness. You have to pursue a marriage that’s rooted in Christ Jesus.
That’s the key to all of it. Being transformed more in your life and marriage into the image of Christ Jesus. When you’re focused on that, your prayers for your marriage will find their mark.
You’re not alone. You’ve got God on your side. So don’t worry. He’s got you covered and wants to join you in making your marriage the best it can be.
More reading:
Tips to Help Resolve Marriage Conflict
Three Reasons Husbands Have Trouble Praying with Their Wives
Download our free guide, “7 Foolproof Ways to Build Exceptional Love”
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