Jesus, who was fully God, prayed often, which is an example of the importance of prayer in our lives. Praying connects us with our Father in heaven, offers us hope, and provides us guidance. Scripture also encourages us to pray with others. Praying with others is not only a powerful means of connection to our Lord but also with the person whom we are praying with.

Considering that marriage is the joining of two people into one, what better person to pray with than your spouse? Joint prayer can align your ideas, goals, mission, and emotions. It is a means of spiritual connection with your spouse.

Here are five things to pray about with your spouse.

1. Your Marriage

God was the designer of marriage and set it up to reflect the gospel and His glory. Even Jesus' relationship with the church is described through the metaphor of marriage. This highlights its importance and eternal impact. Even if your marriage seems to be going well, it is good to be praying over it. The devil does not want Christian marriages to prosper. Prayer is a way to prevent him from getting a foothold. Pray for the communication in your marriage, for continued friendship, for forgiveness, for time to connect, for understanding, and biblical intimacy. Pray for each of your biblical roles in the marriage and that God will help you meet them.

2. Your Children

Parenting can be a source of conflict for parents if they are not careful. The sacrifice, business, sleeplessness, and continual changing of seasons in parenting can drive couples apart or put them on edge. If Christian couples have children, they should be praying for wisdom in their parenting and for help with specific parenting issues. They should also be praying for each child individually and specifically. Pray for your children's current needs and issues, for their salvation, and their futures. Pray for wisdom and guidance in training, discipline, and guiding your children. Pray that your children will not divide you but unite you. Pray for patience and compassion as you parent. Pray that God will show you how your family can benefit His kingdom.

3. Your Home

Our homes are important places for the gospel to grow. Our homes bless our spouse, our children, our extended family, and any other family that we welcome. Christian households have immense power and purpose in a world where families and homes are no longer a place of wholeness and joy. Jesus himself often did ministry within the context of homes. Pray that God would reveal how your home is to be used. Pray over problems or needs in the home. Pray for guidance on decisions regarding your home. Pray for hospitable hearts and that God will use your home for His glory. Pray for the nitty-gritty details of homemaking and the home economy because the Lord cares for all those things.

4. Your Purpose

It can be easy to go through the motions of modern life. We go to work, we eat, we participate in recreation, we connect with friends and family, and so on. These are all good things, but sometimes, we can feel as though this is simply a meaningless and repetitive life. This is because God has designed us for more. He wants us to glorify Him through these everyday means. Couples should seek the Lord in their everyday activities to determine His purposes for them. They should pray for God's plan and purposes to be completed in their lives. They should bring their common duties and delights before Him and offer them to Him. These prayers will infuse new purpose into simple habits and routines and will unite Christian couples in the act of doing all things for God's glory.

5. Your Future

They say that the only constant is change. This is true for all of us, and change can often be challenging in marriage. People change, circumstances change, finances change, family dynamics change, and even our locations change. Couples should commit all their plans and unexpected changes to the Lord. Though much is unknown to us, everything is known to God. Asking for His direction, wisdom, and will to be accomplished in your future will help ease the fear and burden of planning for or adjusting to new seasons.

Prayer can be a difficult habit to cultivate personally, but even more so with another because it feels vulnerable. Talk with your spouse about how you feel comfortable praying together. Some may want to write their prayers out first, use a pre-written liturgical prayer, take turns, or even have their spouse do most of the out-loud praying.

Consider making prayer lists together, maybe in a shared notebook, and then coming together for intentional times of prayer. Set reminders in your calendar for when you will pray while physically together or timers where you can pray in a united way while at separate locations during the day. Whether you are joined in spirit or reality, we know that praying together is a powerful tool.