1. Pray first that you and your spouse would be humble in order that your prayers would not be hindered.

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. 1 Peter 3:7

2. Pray that the work of your spouse’s hand would be blessed by God.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalm 90:17

3. Pray for wisdom to choose the God honoring option in every decision.

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; Proverbs 24:3

4. Pray for discretion to steward the resources God has given you.

Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. Ecclesiastes 5:19

5. Pray for godly principles and practices to characterize your communication.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29

6. Pray for your spouse to take the way of escape God provides in temptation.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

7. Pray for your spouse to have spiritual victory in trials and over worry, discouragement, or doubt.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

8. Pray for your spouse to grow in faith and bear fruit in his/her walk with Christ.

And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God Colossians 1:10

9. Pray for your spouse’s health and protection.

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
       He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2

10. Pray that your relationship with the Lord and with your spouse would be ever deepening in intimacy, respect, and love.

In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— Ephesians 5:28-29

I was going through old emails today. I found several emails I sent to Charles Stanley and Michael Beale where I was asking for help with prayer and more specifically prayers.

As I took this trip down forgotten lane my attention was brought to the exact prayers I asked for. I had long since forgotten or wrote off these prayers as unanswered and I figured that God must have a reason and I did say if it is your will Lord (why would he if it’s not? I just like saying that I think) so I assumed it was not his will.

Well let me tell you right now, God answered every single one of those prayers in a BIG way! Praise God! It was me that was too blind to see the blessings that he poured out to me. Truly it is amazing. If you would like to know what those prayers are I would be happy to share them.

I know someone whose spouse suffers from Alcoholism. She tried to confront her husband but he would only deny the problem. Finally she did the right thing and asked God to handle it. She asked the Lord to help her husband to stop drinking. A few weeks later he got really sick and went to the emergency room. After some test were run he was diagnosed with diabetes and had two clogged arteries one of which was 99% blocked. He was facing very serious problems.

Now, what do you think was God’s plan here? You have two ways to view this. One; God is just plain mean and only added to her pain by hospitalizing her husband, putting his life in danger and adding insult to injury. Or you can see it the way she did: God answered her prayer in a big way! The husband had a stint placed in the artery. Got the attention and medicine needed and was told that if he wants to continue living that he will change his lifestyle. The prayer she asked for was for her husband to stop drinking. He has stopped drinking.

I know at times we all may think that it is not his will or maybe he is not listening but truly he does and he always responds. It is us who do not listen to his response because it may not be on our time frame or calculated the way we thought it should be. It’s not until after we truly let go that we let him do the work.

It is my prayer for you that you dig up those old prayers and seek the response you received. It’s hard and sometimes and a little uncomfortable going down forgotten lane but I know the answers are there.

I love you all, Scott Smith

We live in a world on the go. We want fast food, fast computers, cell phones, IM and blueteeth =). Does anyone remember the old days when the phones had cords attached to them? If your car broke down, no biggie, walk to a service station, pay phone or the closest house for help. Do you have a prayer that God seems to be ignoring? What do you do when you want your prayers answered now?

I was deep into reading this book. You know, when it has you leaning forward in the chair, tapping your toes wanting to skip a page to see what’s next; when my daughter asks me: Daddy, what do I have to do next before I can go next door and play? Well for the 3rd time I told her again the chores to be done before she can go play.

Ok, back to the book… Daddy, what do I have to do before I can go play? Once again, I tell her the chores to complete. Now after telling her umm I don’t know, maybe 757 times what she has to do I became a little frustrated. This time after I almost got to the part where I know what happens in the book… Daddy, what do I have to do before I can go play? My first reaction was to get angry. I raised my voice some and with a firm voice said: When your duties are done, then you can go play!

In that very same moment before the last word came out of my mouth, my father God let me know that he feels similar with us. He gave me a list of chores to do and I expected the blessings before I was ever done. I wonder how many times I asked him; Father, can I be blessed now before he decided to give me a little wake up nudge?

To be honest with you, after having my eyes opened with some help from some books and my brothers and sisters. I am a little tired of myself. I am getting to the point where I don’t want the blessings and I do want the blesser. I know when my daughter stops asking me for toys all the time and just wants to hug me… Whew that lights me up with Joy!

There is a point to this story…

My daughter has still not completed her chores and therefore tonight she will not go next door and play. I did hug her and tell her how much I love her though and when she does finish with all that I have asked her to do (or gives me that look, you know that look and says Daddy, I Love You!)… I will take her to see a movie and get ice cream.

I know that our Father in heaven is also waiting to bless us immensely. Hebrews 11:6 (and many more verses) we just need to have faith, practice patience and seek him first. The blessings will come but truly he is the blessing.