ODJ: wife carrying
November 22, 2011
We also pray that you will be strengthened with all His glorious power (v.11).
READ: Colossians 1:3-14
Contestants in the Wife Carrying World Championships meet in the Finnish town of Sonkajärvi. During the contest, men tote their wives a full 831 feet through gravel, grass, and sand, over two obstacles and through water. Dropping your wife means a 15-second penalty—not to mention dealing with an angry woman.
When it comes to marriage, I’m convinced that men need to carry their wives, and wives need to carry their husbands—so to speak. One important way to “carry” your spouse is through prayer.
If your loved one has slipped down a couple of notches on your prayer list, try some new angles. One idea is to ask God to give your husband or wife a “complete knowledge of His will” (Colossians 1:9). Wouldn’t it be great to have God’s wisdom for all of our family-related decisions, like how we should discipline our kids, best help our parents, and decide which local church to attend?
Besides knowing God’s wisdom, most of us need strength to meet life’s challenges. Paul prayed for the early believers to be “strengthened with all [God’s] glorious power” (v.12) so they would have “all the endurance and patience [they would] need.” If your spouse needs help in some area, ask God to give him or her staying power to deal with the problem.
While you’re at it, don’t forget to ask God to bless your spouse with joy and a spirit of thankfulness (v.11). Many times an improved outlook can shrink mountain-sized issues down to their true dimensions.
When my husband says, “I’m praying for you,” it comforts me. I know he won’t drop me in this race of life. I also know that the Bible says, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power” (James 5:16). —Jennifer Benson Schuldt
How do you feel when someone close to you tells you he or she is praying for you? How will you begin praying more intentionally for other Christians?
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