Day 3: What Should I Be Praying? - How to Pray for Your Marriage

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matthew 6:7-8

In this passage, Jesus takes His time to compare and explain how we should and should not be praying. He exhorts His followers to consider their words when they pray and urges them to avoid empty phrases. The reason He doesn’t want empty phrases is to confront their belief that they had to pray that way in order to be heard. Jesus assures His people that God already knows their needs before they even ask.

How wonderful it is of Jesus to release the weight of feeling that the quantity of our words determines how God answers us. Our words do not need to be many, nor do they need to be convincing or powerful. They simply need to be spoken to God in faith. This means it is okay to pray short phrases, such as “Help me” or “I need You.” And sometimes our prayers may consist only of silence.

Hearing our children pray can encourage us in our prayers. Their words are so simple, and most of the time, they are short. We believe God loves the prayers of these little ones just as much as He loves all who come to Him earnestly and in faith.

We must never forget, no matter how old we are, that we are the Lord’s children, and He is our good Father.

Be encouraged to persevere in prayer even if you don’t have the “right words” to pray. The right words are the ones that come from a heart of faith in God. Pray to Him and trust that He knows you, your spouse, and exactly what your marriage needs.