Core Idea
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Read it if
- You are a wife seeking to deepen your spiritual impact on your husband and marriage, believe in the power of intercessory prayer, and are looking for practical guidance and inspiration to pray for specific areas of your husband's life.
- Skip it if
- You are not religious, do not believe in the efficacy of prayer, or are looking for secular marriage counseling or psychological approaches to marital improvement.
Key Takeaways from The Power of a Praying Wife
Prayer as the Ultimate Marital Tool
Worrying changes nothing; prayer changes everything.
Omartian says that prayer is not just a last option but the most effective way a wife can improve her marriage. She believes that worrying, being anxious, and trying to control a spouse do not work and often cause problems. Instead, by giving these worries to God through prayer, a wife brings about divine help. This view moves the responsibility from the wife to God, bringing peace and trust. The book stresses that prayer connects directly to God's power, which can change hearts, situations, and the very nature of the marriage in ways human effort cannot.
“Worrying about your marriage changes nothing... Praying about it can change everything.”
In the book: Omartian shares her own testimony, detailing how her marriage was strengthened and transformed after she committed to praying for her husband in specific areas, rather than trying to change him herself. She provides numerous real-life illustrations of wives who saw significant positive shifts in their husbands and marriages through persistent prayer.
Try this: Instead of dwelling on marital problems or complaining to friends, commit to daily, intentional prayer for your husband. Identify specific areas of concern and formulate prayers based on biblical principles and God's promises, trusting Him to work in ways you may not immediately see.
Related ideas: power-of-prayer, marital-transformation, spiritual-warfare
Praying for His Spiritual Walk
A husband's spiritual health is foundational to the marriage.
The book focuses on praying for a husband's spiritual growth and his relationship with God. Omartian says that a man's spiritual strength directly affects his character, decisions, and his ability to lead his family with honesty and love. When a husband is close to God, he is more likely to show qualities like patience, kindness, and self-control, which are important for a healthy marriage. On the other hand, a husband who is spiritually lost might struggle with anger, selfishness, or a lack of purpose, causing problems in the relationship. Therefore, a wife's prayers for his salvation, spiritual desire, and obedience to God are presented as very important.
“When you pray for your husband's spiritual walk, you are praying for the very foundation of your marriage.”
In the book: Omartian recounts her prayers for her husband's salvation and continued spiritual maturity, highlighting how these prayers led to visible changes in his life and a deeper connection between them. She includes sample prayers specifically for a husband's desire for God, understanding of His Word, and resistance to temptation.
Try this: Regularly pray for your husband to draw closer to God, to hear His voice, and to be protected from spiritual deception. Ask God to give him a hunger for His Word and a desire to live according to His will, trusting that these spiritual shifts will positively impact his role as a husband.
Related ideas: spiritual-growth, husband's-faith, godly-marriage
Praying for His Emotions and Identity
A man's emotional well-being impacts his entire being.
Omartian includes a chapter on praying for a husband's emotional health. She knows that men often find it hard to show or even recognize their emotions. She suggests praying for him to be free from anger, fear, sadness, and anxiety, and instead to feel joy, peace, and emotional stability. She connects emotional health to a man's identity in Christ, highlighting that he should know his worth and purpose through God's eyes, not from worldly success or outside approval. This prayer focus aims to break down emotional barriers that can hurt closeness and communication in the marriage.
“Pray for your husband to be emotionally whole, secure in his identity in Christ, and free from destructive emotions.”
In the book: Omartian shares how praying for her husband's emotional peace and freedom from stress brought about noticeable changes in his demeanor and their interactions. She provides scriptural 'power tools' that speak to God's desire for emotional healing and inner peace, such as Philippians 4:7.
Try this: Pray specifically for your husband's emotional stability, asking God to heal past wounds, remove burdens of stress or anxiety, and fill him with peace and joy. Pray for him to find his true identity and security in his relationship with God, rather than in his job or achievements.
Related ideas: emotional-healing, identity-in-christ, male-emotions
Supporting His Roles as Leader and Father
Empowering him through prayer to fulfill his God-given roles.
The book tells wives to pray for their husbands in their important roles as family leaders and fathers. Omartian understands that these duties can be overwhelming and need God's wisdom. She suggests praying for his ability to make smart decisions, to lead with honesty and humility, and to be a loving, present, and godly father to their children. This is not about telling him how to lead but empowering him through prayer to seek God's guidance and show the qualities of a servant leader. These prayers are important for the well-being of the whole family.
“When you pray for your husband as a leader and father, you are helping him step into the fullness of God's calling for his life.”
In the book: Omartian illustrates how her prayers for her husband's leadership and fatherhood roles brought about greater confidence and wisdom in his decision-making and a more engaged relationship with their children. She includes biblical examples of wise leaders and fathers to inspire prayer points.
Try this: Regularly pray for your husband's wisdom in making family decisions, for his ability to lead with grace and truth, and for him to be a strong, loving, and spiritual example for your children. Ask God to equip him for these vital roles.
Related ideas: godly-leadership, fatherhood-prayer, family-roles
Praying for His Security in Work and Finances
Releasing financial anxiety through intercession.
Money stress is a common cause of marital tension. Omartian addresses this directly by encouraging prayer for a husband's work, career, and financial support. She tells wives to pray for his success, hard work, honesty in his job, and for God to open opportunities. More importantly, she stresses praying for his contentment and trust in God's provision, freeing him from feeling solely responsible for the family's finances. This approach changes the focus from worry to faith, believing that God cares deeply about their practical needs and will provide.
“Praying for your husband's work and finances brings peace and security, knowing God is in control.”
In the book: Omartian shares instances where financial burdens were lifted or new opportunities arose after consistent prayer for her husband's work and finances. She references scriptures like Matthew 6:33, reminding readers to seek God's kingdom first, and all other things will be added.
Try this: Pray for your husband's career path, for wisdom in financial decisions, and for God's provision and blessing over his work. Release any personal financial anxieties to God and pray for your husband to trust in God's faithfulness.
Related ideas: financial-provision, career-prayer, trust-in-god
Interceding for His Health and Protection
Safeguarding his physical and mental well-being.
Omartian points out the importance of praying for a husband's physical health, mental well-being, and safety. This includes praying for specific illnesses, for strength and energy, and for safety in his daily activities. She emphasizes that life is uncertain, and a wife's prayers can serve as a spiritual protection for her husband, asking for God's protecting hand. This also includes mental health, praying for clear thinking, freedom from stress, and emotional strength. This part of prayer shows the full care God offers, even for the physical and mental parts of life.
“Your prayers for his health and protection are a powerful shield against harm.”
In the book: While specific medical cases are not detailed, Omartian generally speaks to the peace and assurance gained from praying for health, and the belief that God protects and heals. She includes scriptures that speak to God's healing power and protection, such as Psalm 91.
Try this: Consistently pray for your husband's physical health, strength, and energy. Ask for God's protection over him daily, whether at work, traveling, or engaging in activities. Pray for his mental sharpness and freedom from any debilitating thoughts.
Related ideas: physical-health-prayer, divine-protection, mental-wellbeing
Praying for His Faith and Future
Guiding his path and destiny through intercession.
The book tells wives to pray for their husband's strong faith and for God's clear direction for his future. This means praying for him to have a deep trust in God, especially during hard times, and for spiritual understanding about his calling, purpose, and long-term goals. Omartian believes that a wife's prayers can help her husband align his desires with God's will, leading to a more satisfying life and a marriage based on a shared divine purpose. This forward-looking prayer for his future brings hope and trust that God has a good plan for him and their union.
“Pray for your husband's faith to grow stronger and for God to direct his future.”
In the book: Omartian discusses how praying for her husband's spiritual discernment helped him navigate career changes and life decisions, leading to outcomes that brought peace and alignment with God's will. She cites Jeremiah 29:11 as a promise for a hopeful future.
Try this: Pray for your husband to have unshakeable faith, even in trials. Ask God to reveal His specific plans and purposes for your husband's life and to give him the courage and wisdom to follow that path, trusting in God's guidance for his future.
Related ideas: future-guidance, spiritual-discernment, unwavering-faith
The Power of a Wife's Submission and Respect
Prayer empowers respectful submission, not passive obedience.
While often a debated topic, Omartian presents biblical submission not as blind obedience, but as a wife's respectful attitude and trust in God's plan for marriage, where the husband is the spiritual head. She says that a wife's prayers for her husband help her genuinely respect and honor him, even when they disagree. This respect, coming from prayer, is a strong force that can soften a husband's heart, encourage his leadership, and lead to a more peaceful relationship. It is about empowering him through prayer to be the man God wants him to be, rather than trying to control or criticize him.
“True submission is not weakness, but a powerful act of faith, trusting God to work through your husband.”
In the book: Omartian references Ephesians 5:22-33, which outlines the roles of husbands and wives in marriage, and explains how prayer helps a wife embody this biblical principle in a way that is empowering and loving, rather than diminishing. She shares how her own shift in attitude (through prayer) transformed their marital dynamics.
Try this: Pray for God to give you a spirit of respect and honor towards your husband. Ask for wisdom to know when to speak and when to be silent, and for the grace to support his leadership in ways that are pleasing to God, trusting God to work through him.
Related ideas: biblical-submission, marital-respect, godly-roles
Overcoming Obstacles with Persistent Prayer
Consistency in prayer breaks down strongholds.
Omartian strongly highlights the need for persistence and faith in prayer, even when the desired changes in a husband or marriage do not happen right away. She acknowledges that marriage problems can be deep-seated and that spiritual challenges are real. Therefore, consistent, steady prayer is important for breaking down barriers, overcoming resistance, and seeing God's timing unfold. This idea encourages wives not to be discouraged by delays or problems but to keep trusting in God's faithfulness and His power to work in His perfect time. The combined effect of persistent prayer is presented as a powerful, transforming force.
“Don't give up praying for your husband, even when you don't see immediate results. God hears every prayer.”
In the book: Omartian shares her own experiences of praying for years before seeing significant breakthroughs in certain areas of her husband's life and their marriage. She uses the parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8) as an example of not giving up in prayer.
Try this: Commit to a consistent prayer routine for your husband, even if it's just a few minutes daily. Keep a prayer journal to track your prayers and God's answers, and remind yourself that God's timing is perfect, even when it's not yours.
Related ideas: persistent-prayer, spiritual-warfare, god's-timing
The Wife's Heart Transformed Through Prayer
As she prays for him, God transforms her.
A deep, often unexpected result of a wife consistently praying for her husband is the change that happens within her own heart. Omartian points out that as a wife focuses on her husband's needs and gives her worries to God, she experiences a change in her own outlook, attitude, and emotional state. Bitterness, resentment, and anger start to fade, replaced by love, patience, and a deeper understanding. This inner change makes her a more loving and supportive partner, which further helps the marriage. It is a back-and-forth process where giving through prayer eventually leads to receiving grace and peace.
“As you pour out your heart for your husband, God pours His grace into your heart.”
In the book: Omartian frequently alludes to her own journey, where her initial frustration and desire to change her husband eventually gave way to a heart of compassion and patience as she committed to praying for him. She implies that the act of prayer itself cultivated these virtues within her.
Try this: Be open to the personal growth and transformation that will occur in your own heart as you faithfully pray for your husband. Reflect on how your attitude and emotions shift, and embrace the peace and grace God provides through this practice.
Related ideas: personal-transformation, wife's-heart, prayer-benefits
The Power of a Praying Wife Quotes
“The power of a praying wife is not a means of gaining control over your husband, but a way of releasing control of your husband, yourself, and your circumstances into the hands of God.”
“Prayer is the ultimate love language. It communicates to God that you are trusting Him for the things you can't handle on your own.”
“When you pray for your husband, you are inviting God's presence into his life and into your marriage.”
“A praying wife does not have to be perfect; she just has to be willing to let God work through her prayers.”
“Your husband is God's son first, and your husband second. Pray for him as God's beloved child.”
“Prayer changes things because it changes us. It aligns our hearts with God's will.”
“Don't wait for your husband to change before you start praying. Pray first, and watch God work.”
“The most powerful thing you can do for your marriage is to pray for your husband's relationship with God.”
“When you pray, you are not alone. You are partnering with the Creator of the universe on behalf of your husband.”
“Prayer softens hearts—yours and his. It replaces anger with understanding and resentment with grace.”
“Your prayers are a covering of protection over your husband's life, his work, and his decisions.”
“Trust God to answer your prayers in His way and His time. His plans are always better than ours.”
“A wife's prayers can be the bridge that leads her husband back to God when he has strayed.”
“Prayer is not about getting what you want, but about becoming who God wants you to be.”
Quiz
10 questions on the main ideas. Each answer comes with a short explanation.
Question 1
According to Stormie Omartian, what is the central premise of 'The Power of a Praying Wife'?
- That wives should focus on changing their husbands through direct communication
- That worrying about marriage is effective, but prayer enhances it
- That praying for your husband can change everything, while worrying changes nothing
- That only professional counseling can save a troubled marriage
Show answer
C. That praying for your husband can change everything, while worrying changes nothing The book's core message is that prayer has transformative power in marriage, whereas worry is ineffective. This is highlighted in the book's description: 'Worrying about your marriage changes nothing... Praying about it can change everything.'
Question 2
What does Stormie Omartian call the Bible verses included in the book to inspire and encourage wives?
- Prayer prompts
- Divine directives
- Power tools
- Scriptural supplements
Show answer
C. Power tools In the book, Omartian refers to specific Bible verses as 'power tools' that help wives draw on God's promises for strength and guidance in their prayers for their husbands.
Question 3
Which of the following is NOT listed as a key area for wives to pray about concerning their husbands?
- His spiritual walk
- His emotions
- His hobbies and leisure activities
- His security in work and finances
Show answer
C. His hobbies and leisure activities The book specifies praying for areas like spiritual walk, emotions, roles as father/leader, work/finances, health, and faith/future. Hobbies and leisure activities are not highlighted as a primary focus in the described key areas.
Question 4
What does Stormie Omartian suggest God delights in doing, according to the book's description?
- Providing instant solutions without any effort from us
- Doing the impossible if we ask through prayer
- Guaranteeing a problem-free marriage
- Rewarding only those who never worry
Show answer
B. Doing the impossible if we ask through prayer The book emphasizes that 'God delights in doing the impossible if only we would ask!' This underscores the theme of relying on prayer to address challenges that seem insurmountable in marriage.
Question 5
How does Stormie Omartian support her teachings in the book?
- By citing only theological theories without personal examples
- Through real-life illustrations and sample prayers
- By focusing solely on historical biblical marriages
- Using statistical data on marriage success rates
Show answer
B. Through real-life illustrations and sample prayers The book includes real-life illustrations from Omartian's own marriage and provides practical resources like sample prayers to help wives apply the principles of prayer in their own relationships.
Question 6
What is the primary audience that Stormie Omartian targets in this book?
- All married individuals, regardless of gender
- Women who desire a closer relationship with their husband
- Single women preparing for future marriage
- Marriage counselors and therapists
Show answer
B. Women who desire a closer relationship with their husband The book is specifically written for wives, as stated: 'Every woman who desires a closer relationship with her husband will appreciate this refreshing look at the power of prayer in marriage.'
Question 7
Which of the following best describes the 'assurance' that Stormie Omartian says wives can rest in through prayer?
- That their husbands will change immediately
- That God promises restoration, renewal, and growth in marriage
- That all marital problems will be eliminated
- That prayer guarantees financial prosperity
Show answer
B. That God promises restoration, renewal, and growth in marriage The book encourages wives to trust in God's promises of 'restoration, renewal, and growth in marriage' as a source of assurance when praying for their husbands, rather than expecting instant or specific outcomes.
Question 8
In the context of the book, what does Stormie Omartian imply about the role of a wife's prayers in her husband's life as a father?
- Prayers should focus on making him a perfect father without flaws
- Praying for his role as a father is one of the key areas that can strengthen his leadership and family dynamics
- His role as a father is less important than his spiritual walk, so it requires minimal prayer
- Only mothers should pray for children; fathers' roles are separate
Show answer
B. Praying for his role as a father is one of the key areas that can strengthen his leadership and family dynamics The book lists praying for a husband's role as a father as a key area, alongside his spiritual walk and other aspects, indicating that such prayers contribute to his overall growth and the health of the family.
Question 9
What underlying assumption does Stormie Omartian make about the nature of today's marriages, based on the book's description?
- They are inherently stable and rarely face significant challenges
- Modern pressures can make a fulfilling marriage seem like an impossible dream
- They are primarily threatened by lack of financial resources alone
- They do not require divine intervention to succeed
Show answer
B. Modern pressures can make a fulfilling marriage seem like an impossible dream The book acknowledges the difficulties in contemporary marriages, stating: 'Today's challenges and pressures can make a fulfilling marriage seem like an impossible dream.' This sets the stage for the need for prayer as a solution.
Question 10
How does Stormie Omartian's personal experience influence the framework of the book?
- She bases it entirely on others' stories without referencing her own life
- She uses her marriage as a case study to show how prayer strengthened it, making the teachings relatable and grounded
- She avoids personal anecdotes to maintain objectivity
- She focuses only on her failures to warn readers
Show answer
B. She uses her marriage as a case study to show how prayer strengthened it, making the teachings relatable and grounded Omartian shares how God strengthened her own marriage through prayer, providing real-life illustrations that lend credibility and practicality to the book's advice, as mentioned in the description.
The Power of a Praying Wife FAQ
What is 'The Power of a Praying Wife' about?
The book is a Christian guide for wives on using prayer to strengthen their marriages. It shares Stormie Omartian's personal experiences, sample prayers, and Bible verses to help women pray for key areas of their husband's life like spiritual growth, emotions, leadership, work, health, and faith.
Does praying for your husband really work?
Yes, according to the book, praying can transform marriages by inviting God's intervention. Stormie shares real-life examples of how consistent prayer improved her own marriage, emphasizing that God responds to heartfelt prayers to restore and renew relationships.
How is this different from other marriage advice books?
Unlike secular self-help books, this focuses solely on spiritual solutions through prayer. It provides specific, faith-based tools like sample prayers and Bible verses, targeting a wife's role in praying for her husband rather than general communication or conflict resolution techniques.
What are the 'power tools' in the book?
The 'power tools' are Bible verses that inspire and encourage wives. They serve as spiritual anchors to reinforce faith while praying, helping women trust in God's promises for marriage restoration and growth.
Can this book help if my marriage is struggling?
Yes, it's designed for wives in various marital situations, including challenges. Stormie addresses common pressures and offers prayer as a proactive way to seek God's help, aiming to foster renewal and a closer relationship over time.
What key areas does the book suggest praying for?
It covers six key areas: a husband's spiritual walk, emotions, roles as father and leader, work and financial security, health and protection, and faith and future. Each area includes focused prayers to guide wives in intercession.
Is this book only for Christian wives?
Primarily yes, as it's rooted in Christian spirituality and Bible-based teachings. It assumes belief in God and prayer, making it most suitable for those familiar with or open to Christian faith practices in marriage.
How does it compare to 'The Power of a Praying Husband'?
This book is specifically tailored for wives, focusing on their unique role in praying for husbands. While similar in spiritual approach, it addresses female perspectives and marital dynamics from a wife's viewpoint, complementing the husband-focused version.
Are there practical steps or just prayers?
It combines both: it offers sample prayers and verses as direct tools, along with real-life illustrations to show how prayer works in practice. The emphasis is on actionable prayer routines rather than step-by-step behavioral advice.
What is the main message for wives?
The core message is that worrying changes nothing, but praying can change everything in marriage. It encourages wives to trust God's power to do the impossible, fostering hope and active faith through consistent prayer for their husbands.
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