Covered Together

Prayer: Inviting God Over, Around, and Between Us

Looking at this picture of Bill and me standing underneath that massive natural bridge, I couldn't help but think about covering. There we are, smiling together, while this enormous rock formation towers over us. We look pretty small underneath it!

And maybe that's not such a bad picture of marriage.

Because as much as Bill and I love each other, neither one of us is big enough or strong enough to cover everything the other person will face. I can't protect Bill from every disappointment, every struggle, every temptation, or every difficult season. He can't protect me from everything either. But God can cover us both.

“He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust.” - Psalm 91:4

That's one of the reasons Prayer is such an important pillar in Pamper Your Marriage.

Prayer isn't just for the hard times. Sometimes we treat prayer like an emergency button. Something goes wrong. There's conflict. Someone gets sick. Finances get tight. We're worried about the children.Our marriage is struggling. Then we pray. And thank God we can run to Him in those moments! But prayer was never meant to be reserved for emergencies. Prayer is also how we maintain what God has given us. Bill and I don't have to wait until something is wrong with our marriage to pray over it. In fact, when things are good, that's a wonderful time to pray:

Lord, protect this.

Protect the friendship. Protect the laughter. Protect the intimacy. Protect the unity. Protect our minds. Protect our home. Protect the work You've called us to do together. We don't want to take God's blessings for granted. We want to keep placing them underneath His covering.

Prayer Bridges the Gaps

There's something else I love about this picture. We're standing underneath a bridge. Marriage brings two people together, but no matter how close we become, there will still be places where we don't completely understand each other. Sometimes Bill doesn't understand me. Sometimes I don't understand Bill. Sometimes we see things differently. Sometimes one of us is carrying something the other one simply cannot fix. That's where prayer becomes a bridge.

When I don't know what Bill needs, I can pray.

When I don't know what to say, I can pray.

When I can't change a situation, I can pray.

When I need God to work in my heart instead of focusing on what I think needs to change in Bill, I can definitely pray!

Prayer invites God into the space between us.

I don't have to be Bill's everything. There is actually something freeing about recognizing that I cannot be everything my husband needs.

I'm his wife.

I'm his partner.

I'm his friend.

I'm his biggest cheerleader.

But I am not his Savior.

Jesus is.

And Bill cannot be everything I need either. There are places in my heart that only the Lord can reach. Prayer reminds us that our marriage was never designed to exist apart from God. We aren't simply two people trying really hard to make a relationship work. We are two people standing together underneath His covering.

Prayer isn't simply asking God to bless what Bill and I are doing.

It's acknowledging:

Lord, this marriage belongs to You. Cover it. Lead it. Protect it. Use it for Your glory.

Covered Together

Standing underneath that natural bridge, Bill and I looked tiny compared to what was above us. And I kind of love that. Because our marriage doesn't have to be strong because we are strong enough. We simply need to keep remembering Who is over us.

There will be adventures ahead. There will be mountaintops and valleys. There will be laughter, changes, challenges, celebrations, and probably plenty of moments when we don't know exactly what we're doing.

This Week's PAMPER Challenge

Take a few minutes and pray specifically over your relationship - not because something is wrong, but because something is worth protecting. Thank God for the person He has placed in your life. Pray over their heart, mind, purpose, health, relationship with God, and the future you are building together.

And remember, the Pamper Your Marriage principles aren't only for married couples. Prayer can strengthen and cover the relationships God has entrusted to us whether we are married, dating, single, family, or friends.

Don't wait for trouble to pray over what you treasure.

Keep it covered.

And remember this your marriage does not need to be perfect, it just needs to be pampered.

If you'd like to go deeper into the seven biblical pillars that have strengthened our marriage, Pamper Your Marriage is available on our website. For a limited time, the book is only $15, and the companion workbook is $10. Whether you're married, dating, single, or investing in other relationships, these biblical principles can help you build stronger, healthier connections centered on Christ.

📖 Pamper Your Marriage is available in paperback and Kindle on Amazon, and our website🌐Learn more at www.PamperYourMarriage.org