Sanctification and Cooperation: How Prayer Strengthen Relationships in Good Times and Heal Relationships in Bad Times

“Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of…prayer”

A happy home is a home filled with prayer. I was taught in my youth to pray but it was not until I was out on my own that I came to love prayer and rely on it. Prayer in marriage is important. When Thomas S Monson who is president of the LDS church was married, the person performing the marriage counseled he and his wife to prayer every night. He said in doing so “any misunderstanding that develops during the day will vanish as you pray. You simply can’t pray together and retain any but the best of feelings toward one another”. I love this advice. It’s something that I need to do better with in my own life.  

Let me first give two definitions of prayer; the dictionary defines prayer as “a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or an object of worship”. The definition that the LDS bible gives this definition. “As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are His children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7:7–11). Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings.” 

I absolutely love these definitions. Prayer is so important within couples and families. Prayer and relationships go hand in hand. God must be an active member of our relationships. Every marriage, every couple will encounter trials and conflict but also times of happiness and contentment. We must pray during the good times and the bad. Sometimes when life is going good, prayer is something that becomes rote but in times of trials our prayers become more fervent. President Monson. "Indeed, prayer helps couples in good times and bad times. During the good times, including God in the relationship through prayer helps people to view their partner through God's eyes and come to view the relationship as holy and sacred. This outlook can protect a couple from the fiery darts that the adversary throws at relationships." 

Are we spending the necessary time each day in supplication with God; are we spending time as a couple and a family in meaningful prayer?

 

Prayer is a vital part of our everyday life, prayer in families is so important, prayer within couples is scared. Prayer can help resolve conflict and can help achieve goals. I love teaching my children the concept or prayer and how important it is. We have had special instances with our kids where we have been able to pray for a certain thing and been able to see Gods hand. Our relationships are important, prayer is important and with God we can find peace and harmony in our lives.