I remember when Seth and I first got married, we often did couples prayer. Basically every prayer we did was a couples prayer! When we added children to our family, slowly couples prayers became nonexistent as it became absorbed into family prayer. The other night Seth and I had our first couples prayer is a long time and I realized we were missing out.
We were missing out on an opportunity to seek guidance on how to work together in raising our children. When we prayed for each of our children, we got to ask our Heavenly Father for specific help for each child and asked for understanding on what they needed. We got to align our desires for our children as we prayed to know what they needed from us.
We were missing out on a time to reconnect to a higher purpose for our marriage. We got to remember that we are not alone in our marriage. That there is someone who has a higher purpose for our relationship and wants us to be united. When we face challenges and differences we do not need to fight them alone, but we can seek Heavenly Father as we strive to understand each other.
We were missing out on an intimate and sacred act. There is nothing like being held by someone, holding their hand, or kneeling next to someone as you pray together. There is a bond that starts to build and strengthen as we pray together because we begin to realize our marriage is bigger than us. As we pray together and realize the significance of our marriage and its purpose we start to have a great need to protect it and build it up.
We were missing out on opportunity to pray for each other out loud. As I listened to Seth pray for me specifically, I had an overwhelming feeling of love. I listened as he prayed for things that were important to me but I never think to pray for, he prayed about things I did not think he listened to. Hearing him pray for me was a confirming action that he does love me and cares for me and only wants what is best for me.
I could go on about all the things Seth and I were missing out on as we neglected our couples prayers. It is a sacred and intimate act that brings you closer to the couple you want to be. prayer together as a couple doesn’t even need to be for religious couples but all couples who seek to strengthen their bond. It is an opportunity to speak to a higher power that is greater than us all.
I hope as I share this experience with you that one, Seth and I can be more consistent with our prayers together but also so others can realize that maybe it is what is missing in their marriage.