GPS to a Joyful Marriage

I regularly discuss in my blog posts the importance of praying together as a couple.  I can’t emphasize it enough.  I feel so strongly about it that I want to take the time to look at why it is so important. If you believe in God or have attended church, you probably know the value of prayer.  Or do you?  I’m amazed at the amount of people who are uncomfortable with prayer, especially in front of other people - particularly their own spouse.  Even if you had the benefit of living in a family that required you to attend church weekly, you did not necessarily learn how to pray. I look back at my own church experience.  Maybe my heart wasn’t in the right place as a child or I didn’t listen well, but I don’t remember any discussion about how to pray.  It always seemed to be the pastor leading the prayer, and it was usually to open or close the service.  I did not go to a church that taught you to seek the Lord in prayer in all you do.  ...

Prayer for a Married Couple Iyanla Vanzant Dear God: B less my marriage today. B less me and my wife/husband with a clear vision of your purpose for our union. B less us by ordering our steps. B less our prayers for each other. Bless us with safety from all harm. Bless us with hearts that are open and filled with gentle compassion for each other. B less us so that we will remember to compliment and encourage each other. B less us with strength from the inside that spills forth to the outside so that no weapon can be formed against us or within us. B less my wife/husband in everything that she/he does this day. B less her/his thoughts, words and deeds in every situation and under all circumstances. B less and fill my wife’s/husband’s heart with overwhelming peace and joy. Hear her/his every concern and bring every appropriate solution to her/his mind clearly and gently. B less me to know and to see only the things that really matt...

I found myself riding the emotional roller coaster for a couple days last week.  For the life of me, I couldn’t tell you one event that put me there.  The little fluctuations in life seem to drive it (along with these hormones that we have Eve to thank for).  I’m amazed how I can be sailing along with no cares, feeling on top of the world, and one little comment from someone can throw me for a loop.  My mood can change from a joyful calm to an anxious melancholy at the snap of a finger. Mind you, I’ve come a long way from my days of being an emotional junkie, but once in a while, they still give me a test of my faith.  Even worse, I tend to forget about the spiritual battle engaging around me at these times, trying to destroy my ministry and my marriage.  Satan’s done a good job in making me think it’s my entire fault when I’m in the midst of these rides. My husband, on the other hand, is the most even-keeled, optimistic person I’ve ever met.  He...

Prayer for a Married Couple Iyanla Vanzant D ear God: B less my marriage today. B less me and my wife/husband with a clear vision of your purpose for our union. B less us by ordering our steps. B less our prayers for each other. Bless us with safety from all harm. Bless us with hearts that are open and filled with gentle compassion for each other. B less us so that we will remember to compliment and encourage each other. B less us with strength from the inside that spills forth to the outside so that no weapon can be formed against us or within us. B less my wife/husband in everything that she/he does this day. B less her/his thoughts, words and deeds in every situation and under all circumstances. B less and fill my wife’s/husband’s heart with overwhelming peace and joy. Hear her/his every concern and bring every appropriate solution to her/his mind clearly and gently. B less me to know and to see only the things t...