As I've mentioned before, Barbara and I, early in our marriage, started the habit of praying together before we would go to sleep. If there is one simple ritual I would urge couples to begin adopting in their marriages, it is this one-the habit of praying together every day.For us, this habit of acknowledging God's presence in our life and marriage has, I believe, saved us from many nights of isolation.
Nightly prayer keeps us from building walls between each other. And it builds bridges across chasms that have widened between us during the day.
It isn't always easy, though. I can remember one occasion where we ended up in bed facing in opposite directions. I didn't want to pray with her. But in my conscience Jesus Christ was asking me, "Are you going to pray with her tonight?"
"I don't like her tonight, Lord."
"I know you don't. But you're the one who tells people that you pray with your wife all the time."
"Yes, Lord. But you know, Lord, she's 80 percent wrong."
"But your 20 percent started the whole thing," God reminded me.
Slowly but surely, the Lord turned me over, and I said, "Sweetheart, will you forgive me?" And we talked and prayed.
I don't know about you, but we just can't seem to pray if we're out of fellowship with each other. I thank God for that little tradition that He helped us build early in our marriage.