1 True Talks

Holy Matrimony: The Power of Prayer in Marriage

• Renee Richel

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Have you ever reached that breaking point where all your efforts to fix your relationship fall short? That's exactly where I found myself—exhausted, heartbroken, and finally ready to surrender. The moment everything changed wasn't when my circumstances shifted, but when I stopped trying to control them and simply prayed, "Lord, I need you. I don't know what to do, but I trust you."

Prayer transforms marriage in profound ways by creating a three-strand cord that isn't easily broken—you, your spouse, and God working together. This spiritual practice builds unity by reminding couples they're on the same team, deepens emotional and spiritual intimacy during life's challenges, and invites divine power into your relationship. The beautiful truth is that prayer doesn't require eloquence or perfection—God desires honest hearts, not polished performances.

For couples wondering how to begin, start small with simple prayers like "Lord, help us love each other well today." Establish consistent prayer times, perhaps before meals or bedtime. Try holding hands while praying to reinforce physical connection. Bring specific challenges to God together, whether they're financial concerns, parenting struggles, or work stress. And don't forget gratitude—thanking God for each other cultivates appreciation and love. I've witnessed countless marriages transform through prayer, including couples on the brink of divorce who discovered renewed connection and understanding when they began praying together daily. This week, I challenge you to set aside just a few minutes for prayer with your spouse. Start where you are, be patient with the process, and watch how God moves in your marriage in ways you never imagined possible.

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Renee Richel:

Hi, I'm Renee Richel, the founder and president of 1 True Match. I'm here to help you find and cultivate the love of your life. For over a decade, I've dedicated my life to the importance, purpose and dynamic of human relationships. My team and I are disciplined by faith, love and integrity to help our clients find the quality relationship they've always dreamt of. Each week, I will be sharing the tools and tips I've learned that have rooted my success as a matchmaker with other leaders around the world.

Renee Richel:

Hello, loves, welcome back. I hope you've had an incredible week. I am excited to talk about the power of prayer in marriage this week. Let's dive in. Have you ever had a moment where you realized you couldn't fix something on your own? Like, no matter how hard you tried, no matter how many conversations you had, nothing seemed to change. I remember a time in my life when I was doing everything I could to make things work. I was trying to fix things in my own strength, trying to hold everything together, but instead of feeling peace, I felt exhausted. My heart was heavy. Then, one night, I finally let go. Instead of trying to figure everything out, I just sat with God and prayed, not with fancy words, not with a long speech, just an honest raw. With a long speech, just an honest, raw. Lord, I need you. I don't know what to do, but I trust you. And that's when everything changed. Not because my situation was instantly fixed, but because I changed myself. My heart shifted when I started bringing prayer into my relationships. When I invited God into my love life. I saw transformation in a way I never had before.

Renee Richel:

Today I want to talk about how prayer can do the same for your marriage, can do the same for your marriage, how inviting God into your relationship through prayer can bring peace, unity and strength in ways you never imagined. So grab your cup of coffee, your tea, your journal and let's begin. Before we talk about praying together as a couple, let's start off by talking about prayer itself, because I know for some people prayer can feel intimidating. You might think what do I even say? Or what if I don't say it right? Here's the truth. There is no right or wrong way to pray. Prayer is simply talking to God. It's like having a conversation with a close friend, someone who already knows your heart, your struggles and your desires.

Renee Richel:

In Matthew 6-7, jesus tells us when you pray, don't babble on and on like the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. This means God isn't looking for polished, perfect prayers. He's looking for honest ones. So how do you pray? Number one be real. If you're struggling, tell God. If you're grateful, tell him. Just speak from your heart. Number two keep it simple. Your prayers don't have to be long or complicated. A simple Lord help me today is just as powerful. Number three listen. Prayer isn't just about talking. It's about taking a moment to be still in God's presence, allowing the peace and the Holy Spirit to wash over you and through you. There is something so beautiful about spending quality time with you and the Lord. The most important thing is just start. Whether it's a few words in the morning, a quiet moment before bed or even a whispered prayer in the middle of your day, god really wants to hear from you.

Renee Richel:

Why is prayer together so powerful? First, prayer brings unity. When a husband and a wife come together, they're reminded that they are on the same team. In Ephesians 4, 23 through 3, it says Be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace. Second, prayer builds emotional and spiritual intimacy.

Renee Richel:

Let's be real, marriage isn't always easy. Life throws challenges our way. But when you take those struggles to God together, you grow closer. You learn to rely on each other and on him. And third, prayer invites God's power into your marriage. When you invite God into your marriage, it reminds us that marriage isn't just about two people. It's about three God, husband and wife. Ecclesiastes 4.12 says a cord of three strands is not easily broken. Okay, I know some of you might be thinking that sounds amazing, but where do we even start? Maybe you and your spouse feel awkward about praying out loud, or maybe life just feels too busy to pray.

Renee Richel:

Here are a few simple ways to make prayer a part of your daily routine in your marriage. Number one start small. Prayer doesn't have to be long or complicated. A simple Lord, help us love each other well. Today is powerful. Number two choose to set time, whether it's in the morning, before bed or even before meals. Make prayer a habit, just like brushing your teeth once in the morning and once in the evening before bed. Number three hold hands while you pray. There's something intimate about physical touch while praying. It reinforces the unity between you and your spouse.

Renee Richel:

Number four pray over specific needs. Maybe you're facing financial stress, parenting challenges or work pressures. Bring those topics to the table and surrender those burdens to God together. Number five thank God together. Gratitude is a game changer. Thanking God for each other builds appreciation and love in your marriage. Each other builds appreciation and love in your marriage. If you're new to prayer, don't stress. Just start where you are. God isn't looking for a perfect prayer. He's looking for hearts that seek him. Remember you are his beloved child. He is always willing to meet you where you are and love you just as you are.

Renee Richel:

I've seen firsthand how prayer changes relationships. I've heard stories from couples who were on the brink of divorce, but when they started praying together, their hearts softened. Resentment turned into understanding and distance turned into closeness. One couple told me that before they started praying together, they felt disconnected, like roommates, but when they made prayer in a daily habit, their intimacy deepened. They started communicating more effectively, engaging in healthy conversations, practicing action, listening with one another and, ultimately, leaning on each other in ways they never had before.

Renee Richel:

So if you're struggling in your marriage, I want to encourage you today to start praying together. It doesn't have to be perfect, it just needs to be honest, and I promise you, when you invite God in, things shift. He moves in miraculous ways we can't even imagine and remember. In Romans 8, 28, reminds us he is always working things for the good. So in conclusion, before we wrap up, I want to challenge you this week.

Renee Richel:

Set aside a few minutes to pray with your spouse. Start small, even if it feels awkward, just do it and watch how God moves in your marriage. Let's close in prayer. Father Lord, thank you for the gift of marriage, thank you for the power of prayer and how it brings couples close to you and to each other.

Renee Richel:

Lord, I pray that every couple listens today. Lord, I pray that every couple listens today. May you strengthen their bond, find their heart with love and guide them to unity, teach them to see you together, to trust you together and to love each other the way you designed. In Jesus' name, amen. In Jesus' name, amen. Thank you so much for joining me today. If this episode encouraged you, be sure to share it with a friend or leave a comment down below. It means so much to me and remember, love starts with you, with God, and when you invite him in, amazing things happen. And when you invite him in, amazing things happen. Next week, we are going to talk about how to speak your spouse's love language. I hope you have a blessed day, a wonderful week and cannot wait to see you next chat.

Renee Richel:

It's been another great talk on this episode of 1 True Talks by Renee Richel. I look forward to our next chat. Please write in your questions and comments so I can be sure to talk about whatever it is you want to discuss in our next upcoming episode. Lots of love, God Bless XOXO.