Pray for one another, that you may be healed. (James 5:16)

There may be no more powerful healing tool for relationships than prayer. Amid every argument in marriage, couples can find common ground in yielding prayer: “not my will, but Yours be done”. (Luke 22:42) There’s an important healing message as two agree in prayer, declaring their dependance upon their Creator. When couples declare together God’s greatness, their pride is shattered and their relationship is healed.

Another important dimension of prayer that we have found helpful is our prayer together after apologies. James 5:16 gives us a formula for relational healing. First, to confess our sins to one another and then to pray for one another. In His infinite wisdom, God declared an important guideline for healing in relationships – apology followed by prayer.

After hurting our spouse with an impatient, short response, we need to be convicted to apologize. “It was wrong of me to hurt you with my insensitive response; I’m sure it hurt you. I was wrong; will you forgive me?” After that we need to whisper a prayer: “Lord I don’t want to hurt my spouse with my words or attitude. Change me, Father, make me more sensitive to my spouse. I want to love my spouse better.”

The combination of our humble apology, and then our request for God to intervene, will prove time and again to bring healing in our marriage. When we discover that as our spouse senses our heartfelt understanding of how we have hurt them and then hears our admission of wrong, they feel respected and valued. Then as they hear our prayer to God and request for His power to make necessary changes in us, they feel secure. As we pray the prayer of James 5:16 hurts are healed.

ACTION ASSIGNMENT
What confession might need to be shared with your spouse? What prayer might your spouse need to hear?

PRAYER: Thanks Lord, for Your healing plan.