Principle 2: Stay In Sync Spiritually.

UNCOMMON WISDOM

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. —Ephesians 6:18

UNCOMMON PRACTICE

Take a few moments to select one of this week’s practices to explore further. The related Adventure Application appears just below each practice. If you’d prefer to come up with a different way of living out that practice this week, feel free to discuss what that might look like.

Communicate about spiritual matters—which should be the number one priority of your life.

Choose one way to grow in your communication with each other and with God this week. You might decide to spend a few minutes together praising God or asking for His direction in a certain area of your life. Or you might discuss a sermon, Scripture passage, or book you’re reading over lunch some day this week.

Look for opportunities to study the Bible with your spouse and/or in a small group.

If you are part of a couples’ small group, how is it helping you grow? If it isn’t, what might your group learn from the example of Christ and His disciples? If you’re not in a group, check with your church about couples’ small groups. While joining a group may seem risky, it’s a great way to grow close to Christ while gaining a support system.

Accept that the time and place where you connect spiritually as a couple may need to change along with the seasons of your marriage.

Try to schedule at least three or four times this week that you and your spouse can spend together in devotional study and prayer. Then complement that with Sunday worship time at a Bible-teaching church of your choice.

Ask God to give you His infinite wisdom and to make you of one mind as you pray about decisions.

What are you and your spouse having trouble agreeing upon today? Resolve not to talk about it any longer but instead to begin praying together about the situation, seeking God’s wisdom as you pray.

Remember that God will answer your prayers in His own timing—and in ways you might not expect.

What is it that you have been seeking? What is it that you have been praying for? Lay it before the Lord again today, but be open to His timing and His answer—it may be different from what you expect.

Continue to pray together in the good times—that’s often when couples make foolish mistakes.

If you were to picture a mountain, would you describe yourselves as being at its summit, enjoying fresh air and a spectacular view, or at the base, with your view so obscured by fog that it’s difficult to even see the top? Either way, spend some time seeking God in prayer today. Be sure to thank Him, to appeal to Him for His perspective, and to remember that all you are and have is a result of His graciousness to you.

UNCOMMON PRAYER

Take a few minutes to discuss any praises and needs you’d like to bring to God as a couple. Then, in addition to praying about those things together, use one or more of the following prayer prompts to ask God to help you stay in sync spiritually.

Praise God for the gifts of His Word and of prayer, evidence that He loves you and wants a continual relationship with you.

Confess any unresolved frustration or bitterness between the two of you that has developed because of trying circumstances or difficult decision making.

Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in your prayers for each member of your family, for your future, and for your faith.

Ask the Lord to give you His perspective on your desires and dreams.