Renee and I are usually up fairly early in the morning—somewhere between 6:00 and 6:45 AM most days. It’s a routine we fell into over the years with children and work, and one we’ve stayed in even now, in our 47th year of marriage.Of course, the nest is empty now, but even when it wasn’t, we did our best to meet and pray. More often than not, we would sit together on our living room couch, bringing our hearts before the Lord. If the morning was too rushed, we made sure to pray before we went to bed at night. Praying together was something we both always wanted to do. Not just because it was a good Christian habit, but because we truly believed Jesus’ words in John 15:5:“Apart from Me, you can do nothing.” And we held fast to Philippians 4:6:“B e anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” These scriptures became pillars for our prayer life. We pray about everything we can think of!Like many couples, we learned the hard way that when you try to handle life’s challenges without God’s help, things don’t go well. But once we embraced the power of prayer, we never wanted to go back. It became a foundation of our marriage—something as essential to our daily lives as eating or breathing.This morning as I sat on the couch with Renee, praying together as we have for so many years, a thought crossed my mind. I had recently heard a statistic that I’ve come across before: Less than one percent of married couples who pray together daily, end up divorcing. In fact, the number cited is 0.09%. That’s a staggering and profound statistic. It confirms what we’ve experienced firsthand—prayer is one of the strongest bonds a couple can have. It invites God into the marriage, strengthens unity, and fosters a depth of intimacy that nothing else can.Why Praying Together is So ImportantJesus taught about the power of agreement in prayer. In Matthew 18:19, He said: “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.”When a husband and wife pray together, they are living out this principle. They are standing together in faith, inviting God’s presence and leadership into their relationship, and seeking His wisdom and guidance for their lives. A couple that prays together learns to rely on God rather than their own strength. They take their concerns, hopes, and dreams before the Lord, trusting Him to lead them.Paul also emphasized the importance of prayer in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”A marriage built on prayer will be one where joy, thankfulness, and faithfulness flourish.Making the Commitment to Pray TogetherI won’t pretend praying together is always easy. Life is busy and if you have kids of any age, usually a little crazy busy! There are mornings when the to-do list is long, or evenings when exhaustion sets in. But in our experience, taking just five or ten minutes to pray together has made all the difference.If praying together daily isn’t something you and your spouse already do, I encourage you—make the stretch. Start small. Even if it’s just a short prayer before bed, make the commitment and grow from there. Let it be a time where you not only seek God but also hear each other’s hearts.The Intimacy of Praying Out Loud TogetherOne of the most beautiful aspects of praying out loud as a couple is that we get to hear each other’s hearts every day. It creates a depth of understanding and connection that doesn’t come in any other way. When I hear Renee pray, I hear what is weighing on her heart, what she’s believing God for, what she’s thankful for, and what she desires for our family. Likewise, she hears the same from me.Over time, prayer has shaped our hearts together as one. It has strengthened our faith, deepened our love, and reinforced the foundation of our marriage.The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 4:12: “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”A marriage that includes God as the third strand—woven together through prayer—will not be easily broken.So Here's a Challenge for YouIf you and your spouse don’t already pray together regularly, I challenge you—start today. Make it a habit. Keep it simple at first, but be consistent and be flexable if necessary! Some things are worth fighting for. (I don't mean each other!) Even just a few minutes of prayer together daily can transform your marriage in ways you never expected.Let prayer be the glue that holds you together. Let it be the light that guides your way. Let it be the fuel to your faith and hope! And let it be the foundation that keeps your marriage strong, no matter what comes.God is waiting to bless your marriage in ways beyond what you can imagine. All He asks is that you invite Him in and let Him show you what a three strand chord really looks like!
In His love,
Pastor Tim Burt
