Not sure who established February as the so-called “month of love” but here it is and we need to take it seriously.  This month, I am going to help you gain a fresh perspective on your marriage. This first week I am putting out a challenge for you and calling it, “Loving Your Spouse 28 Day Challenge: 28 Days of Prayer.”  But caution—this is not for the faint of heart—this challenge is for those who want to go deeper in their marriage and take it to the next level.   

For this challenge, I’m not going to suggest that you pray for specific things on certain days. While the guided challenges can be great, this challenge is going to require you to be mindful of what challenges your spouse may have that are unique to him/her.  

What you’ll need: A journal, your Notes App, or you can open up a word doc, an attentive heart, and a few minutes of uninterrupted time each day.

This may surprise you but your spouse communicates things that are important to them every day.  Whether unspoken or clearly communicated, your spouse is going through unique challenges specific to the season of his or her life. What is the season your spouse is going through? Are you both knee deep in permission slips and homework help or exhausted from having little sleep as new parents, a demanding job or maybe you are nearing retirement and not sure about the next step.

Whatever the stage of life you’re in, start there. What are the challenges you feel? Your spouse probably feels them too but what other unique challenges have they expressed?   

Each day, as you spend a few moments in quiet, allow your thoughts to focus on your spouse in prayer, specific needs may come to your mind that you hadn’t considered before. The more you practice prayer for your spouse, the more attuned and sensitive you will become to their needs.

Prayer is one of the most loving things you can do for your spouse. And I have found that the more we pray for our spouse, the closer we feel toward them. My hope is that you will begin to see how much prayer can also change your perspective as well. It has for me. In the comments, share your thoughts on the importance of prayer and what it has done for your marriage!

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. — John 13:34

Your Virtual Life Mentor,

Doug