MARRIED COUPLES: Pray Like Garanimals!

Perhaps I'm dating myself as a child of the seventies, but when I was a young I loved to wear Garanimals! You didn't need your parents telling you what to wear, because all you had to do was match the animals on the tag to know what clothes went together.  The introduction of this coordinated system was fun, promoted maturity, and helped children feel good about themselves.

Now that I'm a married "grown woman" (as Mary J. Blidge so aptly put it), I have found the need for learning how to match once again.  The best wedding gift we received was advice: Be sure to pray every single day together without fail!  At the time it seemed easy enough, but as the days passed by after our "I Do", we worked hard to make it a critical part of our routine.  We both know that prayer has kept us standing as outside forces have beat up against us.  Darryl always says, "God is the head of this union"... Scriptures says, "a three-fold cord isn't easily broken"... I say, "Amen to both"!

Praying together is mandatory in a healthy, God-centered marriage relationship.  If a couple hasn't both decided that Christ is their glue-connector, then staying together may be difficult when life kicks into high gear.  Can't we all agree that staying married is the ultimate goal???  Statistics say that almost half of Christian marriages end in divorce.  I wonder how many Christians are getting married equally yoked, with wise counsel established, and equal goal lines ahead.  Let us not rush to our own desires and not see the team's desires as most critical!

Garanimals teach children how to match clothing outfits by using various animals on the tags.

So this is where, praying "Garanimal Style" becomes necessary! As married couples build their daily prayer life, it is imperative that matching prayers take place when together or individually.  Garanimals clothing are so cool, because they are built on a "coordinated system", and so should our prayers be.

Uncoordinated Prayer: 
Theresa prays, "dear Lord... please send the Ordells to Italy to live in a palace."
Darryl prays, "dear Lord... please send the Ordells to the Dominican Republic to live in a shack."
There is NO coordinated system of prayers.  This shows not only being out of sync with each other, but it also shows a lack of communication on our part.  If you don't talk it out and map out a plan, you'll never make progress.

God will not answer prayers that divide a married unit.

Prayer is a serious thing, it involves power, accuracy and expectancy... and a turning of the will!  Our wills should be clearly directed to God's agenda if we want the most effectiveness.  So when couples see no activity, they must reconvene and address what is being prayed.  Perhaps many couples don't want to take the risk of praying together due to the possibility of exposing their opposition of desires!

Get on one accord and pray like Garanimals together!  First, discuss what you'd like to see God do in your future.  Whether it's praying about a job change, purchasing a house, having children, moving to another state, going back to school or even going on vacation... pray like Garanimals - find a coordinated system so that your prayers will be effective!

Mark 3:25 states: 

If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

Just recently, Darryl and I were discussing something in our lives that we anticipated God to do.  I assumed we were both cheering for the same team and expecting the same result!  Darryl listened to me go on and on and on and on and on and on... (did I say he actually listened to me go on and on?) and after I finished my tirade, he broke IT down and ME down too!

This is how my husband viewed our prayers:
Theresa was praying/asking for God to bless us in a particular way, as if it may not be possible for us to receive or be considered for a blessing.  
Darryl was praying for God to get us ready for the blessing so that we could be good stewards over it, because he knew the Lord was more than able to fulfill the request!

Our prayers were not on a coordinated system... or should I say, we were close, but not quite matching and praying Garanimal style!  Our belief system had to be set the same way, then we had to ask in agreement. I was still hoping and he had already been there and done that.

Garanimal Style Prayer:
Lord, prepare us for the blessing that is coming our way. We know that you are a specific God that tailors our blessings in a unique way.  We cannot be unprepared when you decide it's time for us to receive the blessing.  We want to maximize our miracles and be the right stewards over every gift you bring to our house.  Most importantly, let your will be done in our lives. We submit to your agenda, your timetable and your plans of prosperity.  Be it unto us according to your Word and our faith! In Jesus' name... Amen.

Now, sometimes we're just not where the other spouse is in our ability to ask the Lord for our needs.  This is okay.  When you come together for prayer, it can still be Garanimal style if one of you says, I'm just not where you are yet, but I'm willing to come in God's presence with you to work it out so we can get on one accord.  When both of you are saved and walking in relationship with Jesus Christ, then agreement is possible.  If you cannot reach a place of agreement with what to pray, there's still a way to pray like Garanimals!

Garanimal Style Prayers when you can't Agree:
Lord, we're at a crossroads in our marriage.  We're in separate corners of the ring ready to come out swinging to get our way.  I want to go to Alaska, and they want to go to Hawaii.  They want to go to one church, while I want to go to another.  One of us wants to quit our job and the other wants to look for more work.  One of us isn't in love anymore, and the other wants to stay in this marriage for better or for worst.  Neither of us want to give up our desires, but we all that we can agree on is that you are a just Judge.  You will have to call the shots on this dilemma, you turn our wills to your will.  Send a clear and precise sign that will get both of our attentions so that we don't let our differences cause a breach in the covenant.  Help us oh Lord for there is none other that can fix our marriage but you... In Jesus' name, Amen... so be it...

Even if it hurts, ask your spouse to sit in prayer to find agreement.  Remember, before it gets completely divided consider their option and God's option before you fight to the death for your own way.  All in all, I speak life to your marriage decisions.  May the Lord use every situation to teach you all how to merge into a powerful unit full of focus and precise in their prayers!

Amen,

Mrs. Wow

Need help getting a prayer routine started with your spouse? Check out this blog for pointers: http://ournewlywedchronicles.blogspot.com/search/label/home%20life

Be sure to look out for my upcoming training session in prayer for wives: Praying a Boaz Blessing over Your Husband!  This session will give you directives to take before the Lord when asking him to bless your husband, you don't want to miss it!

Email theresa@harvestwords.com for more information. This will be scheduled for an online video program and an in-person session for engaged and married women. Information will be posted on the webpage too: www.harvestwords.com

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Find Your Special Corner

Wife's Report:

We have a favorite corner of the house...  Before we got married, we were counseled by many couples we love to be sure that prayer is a vital part of our daily life.  In fact, my parents told us never to miss a day of praying together during our marriage in order to stay on track.  This is not something that is optional; however, it is mandatory for us to grow as husband and wife.

I've always believed in having a place to pray was as important as praying. We have a place to sleep - our bed, we have a place to hang our clothes - our closet, we have a place to cook - our kitchen... so we must have a place to pray. That special place to pray should often be untouched by a lot of activity. There's no golden rule for this, but as God requires that we be sanctified, I like to have the place where I meet him to be sanctified as well. Sanctified means to set apart as or declare holy... to consecrate.

It took a couple of weeks to get settled in the house in terms of where we'd keep our things, and how we'd organize the attic. Now that it's understood that Darryl has control over the extra bedroom as his private guy space and was willing to allow me to have the run of the rest of the house... our place where we'd meet the Lord (the one who gave us the house) was needing to be set.

Having breakfast one morning, we were preparing to pray and found the perfect place in the house to meet the Lord. Even though we hang out in the living room, there's a little corner with pillows, a keepsake box of pictures, and candle stand. It is so rare that someone goes to that side of the room. Even when we invite people to sit there, they often politely refuse that special corner...so I realized that it has been "sanctified" for the place where we go to meet the Lord to worship him as the King of Kings, to ask for direction for our marriage, life purposes and direction.

So it has now become common place that when it's time to pray... Darryl & I meet each other in the sanctified corner of the house. I love how this place immediately calms us down... focuses our attention on God's grace instead of the things that are out of our control. We sit in that corner, get comfortable, discuss things on our minds, talk about the gift of Faith we pray for in order to believe for anything... then we begin to talk to the Lord and acknowledge him as the third member of our wedding union.

My wedding ring is a Trillion cut diamond, meaning it has 3 points like a triangle. This is my constant reminder that it's me, D and the Lord working out this marriage together. Kenny Lattimore told Darryl at our wedding rehearsal that the wife is the husband's ministry. Since that day, my husband has made it his focus to put that in action.

If you are single, have you sanctified a place where you meet the Lord? if you are married, have you all sanctified a place where you meet the Lord? This is mandatory for growth, meeting divine appointments and purpose.

Steal away to that place where you are safe, encouraged and infused with power to give God the glory and honor with your life.

Husband’s Log - #2

Solid As A Rock
Stardate: 09-7-18-16:00-AJ
(July 18, 2009) 4:00 p.m. After Jesus
Day 84

Waddup Fam?

Mrs. WoW and I are in Chicago trying to rectify a situation with my aunt. We are dealing with insurance companies, Medicaid, Medicare, elder care facilities, friends and family who want to be backseat drivers but refuse to take the wheel when called upon. Sooooooo, everything falls on us.

In addition to all this chaos we have decided to do a fast. That’s right mi familia, a FAST! One might ask oneself, “What the heck (remember I only get two French words a day) would they do that for?” I’m glad you asked. Number 1: my wife is not happy with her weight and current eating habits. Which means, EVERYTIME we get dressed for a function, family event or just to go to the store she goes mad because her clothes don’t fit. Notice I didn’t say “gets” mad, because it’s waaaaaaay beyond “getting” mad. Mad cow ain’t got nothing on a mad Wood! Ya’ll pray for me…no, for real…PRAY FOR ME!

My wife is on a Quest for Cuteness!!! As fine as she may be to me, she is not satisfied where she is presently. I respect that. So I support her in her effort to become “cuter” than she already is. Therefore, I am trying to get myself together as well by changing my diet and working out more. I call it, “Buscando de Buff!” It means looking for buff…I made it up. You can say what you want but why would I let a fine woman get finer and I stay the same. That’s just asking for trouble. I can see it now some cat named Taekwon is going to try to roll up on My woman. I AIN’T HAVIN’ IT!!!

Reason Number 2 for the fast: I think that we forget to spend time with God. Yeah, I know we pray and we try to read the Word daily but the fact of the matter is that we are inundated with stuff ALL day long. Email, TV, facebook, text messages, myspace, work, friends, leisure activities, daily errands etc…our days are full. Since Wood and I have been married we have not spent a good two weeks together in one place. It may not seem like a significant amount of time but think about it…we just got married! So we’ve decided to spend some quality time with the Lord by fasting and praying. God is fashioning our marriage to suite His will. He’s giving us confidence to trust one another and His direction. He’s helping us develop a foundation that’s "Ashford & Simpson". If the foundation is solid when the rough times come you can weather the storm.

I know a man named Oscar who lives in my aunt’s facility. He said the reason his marriage didn’t work is because, his wife was trying to break him and he was trying to break her. That sounds horrible. I’d be pissed off all the time. Back off that’s borderline French! Check this out, you have to deal with the world everyday and when you come home you have to watch your back. I AIN’T HAVIN IT!!!

God put me and Mrs. WoW together and now He is teaching us how to get each other’s back. This fast not only helps us get back on track with regard to a healthier lifestyle, it gives us an opportunity to deny our flesh and focus our spirits on communing with Him. He is preparing us for the job He has for us to do. Man, when my wife gets to the place she wants to be, she ain’t going NOWHERE without me, you can believe that!


Lata