Yesterday my husband shared with me that he resolved not to do something that he thought bothered me, then walked into the room where I was and did it. I just laughed when he told me, I could totally relate.
I hear the verse, “The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous avails much,” quoted often. I’ve recited it from a heart of “holier than thou” many times. It comes from James 5:15 which states, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man avails much.”
As I was reading the Word this morning, the next verse (James 5:16) caught my eye, which says, “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.” This portion of scripture is what we should be reciting over and over, “Elias was a man subject to passions as we are.” It might help us to lighten up on ourselves and our spouses. It’s not the prayers of the perfect that cause it to cease from raining and that saves marriages (I’m not sure which is the greater miracle) It is the prayers of the imperfect, to the One who is Perfect, Who prays without ceasing on our behalf to our Creator (Who is also the Author of marriage and rain).
If we could only learn to rejoice over our spouses’ imperfections, these imperfections make them reliant on the Lord Jesus and qualify them as “the righteous whose prayers avail much.”
Silly games to help us communicate with our spouse:
- “Red Light Green Light”: Have your spouse share things that they think bother you.
When they are correct say, “red light”. When they are incorrect, say, “green light”.
(Most of us don’t live in mansions, so tiny, baby steps may be necessary during “green
light”.) - “Mother May I”: The “mother” repeats things the spouse has said in the past that make
them feel like they are being talked to like a child. (Keep it light and fun!!) - “Motorboat, Motorboat”: Hold hands and go in a circle saying, “Motorboat, motorboat
go so slow. Motorboat, motorboat go so fast. Motorboat, motorboat step on the gas.”
(This game reminds me of a time when my kids were little. We were at the doctor’s office; my
brain was so fried from sick children. I rested my head on the wall behind me saying, “pickle pie,
pickle pie, pickle pie”. The doctor walked in (unbeknownst to me) and heard me. He understood
my mental state and just laughed. Sometimes all we can do is recite meaningless words.”
