MY THOUGHTS on Stormie OMartian's "The Power of a Praying Wife"
Chapter 22: HIS EMOTIONS

Mike went through a time period after losing his business, where he felt completely worthless.  To add to all of that, he had to begin fund raising for his salary and our future church plant.  While there were encouraging moments, he struggled for 6 months and we wondered if we were going to be able to continue on that particular path or if God had something else for us in mind.

It was so draining for Mike and lasted day after day without signs of improvement... there were things that gave us hope (groceries, anonymous gifts of money, and more) but bill collectors still showed up on our door step and we just couldn't get caught up... let alone ahead and it eventually took its toll on my husband.

In our home, Mike is the financial provider and the "head of our household.", meaning, we try to agree on everything, but if there is a time when we don't, he has the ultimate say... period.  I believe that a man in this position is tormented when he struggles financially because there is a part of his "manhood" that is challenged.  When he can no longer "provide" as he has, he feels "less" and feeling less of a man certainly effects his emotions... and his emotions certainly effect his marriage.

Anger and depression are but two of the many negative emotions that can torment a man's soul.  Often they are only an habitual way of thinking that has been given place over time.   Men tend to believe it's part of their character that can't be altered, but these patterns can be broken.  Don't stand by and watch your husband be manipulated by his emotions.  Freedom maybe just a prayer away.    -Stormie OMartian (p.161)

While Mike spiraled, I began to pray harder than ever before to not let satan get to his mind.  Mike was ready to throw in the towel and I wanted him to be hearing from God and no one else.  I knew I needed to support him in whatever decision he made,  and so I prayed for God to give him the strength he needed to endure this very difficult and trying time so he could hear God's voice.  I had never seen my husband so low and I ached for him.  It was hard for me not to be "pulled down" with him.  I prayed to have the ability to speak words of Truth into his life... and that his heart would hear them.

It was emotionally draining for me as I felt myself fighting for him when he could not.  As wives, when our husbands are struggling, we must ask for the strength that can only come from God to fight on our husband's behalf when he can't.  We can also ask those that we can trust to pray for him as well.  Prayer is powerful... and we simply cannot stand by and watch our husbands suffer.  Would you stand by and watch your husband drown without doing anything? 

Do not let the enemy who seeks to destroy your husband have his way... fight for your husband when he cannot... love him when he is unlovable... and pray for him when he doubts... "freedom may be just a prayer away" (p.161).

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for my husband to hear You speak to him throughout tough times.  May the enemy have no place in his life, and I ask You to close my husband's ears to hearing anything that isn't Your Truth.  May he never be controlled by depression, anger, anxiety, jealousy, hopelessness, fear, or suicidal thoughts (p.161).  May he not be controlled by his emotions, but instead by the Holy Spirit.  Give me the wisdom to speak Truth into his life when he struggles, and may he always feel that he can talk to me about his deepest feelings.  I pray for him to never keep his feelings from me, and I ask that You would help me to be strong to deal with his emotions as well as my own.  May he keep his eyes on You and not on his circumstances, knowing You will deliver him in Your time, and may he rest assured knowing I am standing right beside him in all things.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

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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!