MY THOUGHTS on Stormie OMartian's "The Power of a Praying Wife"
Chapter 2: HIS WORK

How fitting that the day after we talk about "His Wife", that we would talk about his work.  It seems fitting to to have his work be the first thing we pray about FOR him.  Stormie points out that our husband's identity is often tied into his work, whatever that may be.

He need to be appreciated and he need to win, and his work is often a means of seeing both happen.  It frightens him to think the may never experience either.  If he is doing work that is demeaning to him, he feels devalued as a person.  If his work is not successful, he feels like a loser.  -Stomie OMartian (p.50)

I also also love when she brings up the point about how the active prayers of parents (or lack there of) effect boys as they grow into men. 

Many parents have an agenda for thier children, not enough of them seek out God's plan for thier lives.  When a child's life is left to chance that way, a kind of vocational wandering can result.  There is a needless floundering, disappointment, doubt, and despair as he tries to carve out a place for himself.  If you husband had that kind of star,t your prayers can change his life.  -Stomie OMartian (p.52)

I will not share about my husband's family life, for that is his story to tell and not mine, but I know from my own experience that our childhood CERTAINLY affects us as we grow up.  The view we have of ourself can be carried over into adulthood and drag us down if, as children or teens, we were "never good enough". 

Sometimes it's hard though, to see our husband with empathetic eyes.  He may show his frustration or lack of self-worth through anger, harsh words, or solitude.  We can become hurt and then bitter, making the situation about us and how we're being treated, rather than showing compassion toward a hurting man that we are to love and honor.  WE get in the way of being vessels of unconditional love and encouragement toward our very own husband.

Regardless of what your husband does, or doesn't do, for a living... let me ask you a question:  What does he come home to?  I'm not talking about the condition of your home... but the condition of YOUR heart.  Think back to the times when you were first married and your heart "fluttered" when he entered the door...  Remember how you acted when he returned to you...  Did you greet him with a smile?  A kiss?  Did you drop everything and show him there was NOTHING more important in your life at that moment than him?

I was terribly convicted of this a few years back when after a VERY long day of homeschooling, laundry, arhuing, errands, endless diaper changes, and a messy home, my Beloved walked in the door.  I continued to pick up the house in effort to make it look somewhat pleasing for him as he entered, but my daughter ran to him laughing, "Da-a-a-a-a-ddy!"  With her arms open wide she ran to hug and kiss him and I watched my husband melt at her greeting.  She had no idea what his day had been like... and he had no idea what hers had been... but the way she welcomed him back home made everything in his world "worth" any struggle he'd experienced because he knew he was adored.  I had to ask myself... why wasn't it ME greeting him like that?  When did I stop?

Don't get me wrong ladies... I know about THOSE days.  We ALL have them... but why is it that when we first fall in love with our men, we have the ability to set aside the trials of the day? How is it that we long to be together and that everything else is forgotten when we're with them again?  The only answer I could come up with was... SELFISHNESS.  Somewhere over the years, I had a few too many bad days and I began to resent my husband in a way that prevented me from greeting him like that anymore... I no longer ALLOWED myself to put him before every other earthly thing (including the children) and I lost that "magic" feeling... and it ultimately affected my husband the most.

What would happen today if when your husband came home (or you came home to your husband) if you greeted him with a smile and a kiss?  What if you asked him to sit down and talk with you about his day?  What would he do if you gave him a foot massage while you listened to him share his life?  What would happen if you told him to sit and relax while you made supper?

Ladies, this prayer "challenge" is just that.  We are praying for changes... but it MUST START WITH US.  It may seem awkward at first... for some, it may seem completely out of character (and let's face it, if you're heart has become hardened toward your husband, this is the last thing you WANT to do) but YOU have a choice to NOT GIVE UP and give every effort in trying to make your marriage work or not.  Regardless of what happens, you will know at the end of the day that you put in every attempt to make it work... and God sees it all... and He knows your heart.

MY PRAYER: 
Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that You would watch over my husband while he works.  Guide his "career" so it will line up with what You created him to be.  Help me to encourage him at all times so that regardless of the pressure he may have while he's away, he knows that I support him.  Help me to also greet him in a way that makes him look forward to coming home, regardless of how his day has went.  Thank You for giving me a man who is willing to work so I can stay at home.  I'm sorry for the times that I forget what a blessing that truly is.  Guide his hands to do the work You have placed before him, and may his heart seek Your glory in all he does.  In Jesus' name, Amen.


It's not too late to join us for the month of June as we pray for our husbands!  You can check out more about it by clicking the following link: S.H.M.I.L.Y. for 30 days of prayer...  Please share a link to your blog post if you've made one on this chapter!