In today’s society, the term "Power Couple" is a common phrase. This term usually refers to two people from prestigious backgrounds that have gotten married. For example, two well-known celebrities, or two people from prominent families combining their power and wealth. The problem with this type of power couple is that they tend to get married for all the wrong reasons and such marriages rarely last. Lesson number one; marry the right person for all the right reasons, not for money, fame, power, or family pressures. Marry only for love. If you choose to get married because you cannot stand to live even one second apart from your dearest, then you are already on the right track.
However, as wonderful as being madly in love with your spouse is, you can always take your marriage to an even higher level and make it even better. You can truly become part of a marriage that is full of love, peace, joy, respect, romance, and that lasts forever. You and your mate can be a literal power couple.
The best way to become a power couple is not to rely on your own strength as individuals or as a couple, but to call upon the Power of God with prayer, praise, and bible study.
O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God! Psalm 68:35 Do not be fooled into thinking that God only listens to people when they pray in large groups such as at a church service. Your prayers as a couple are just as powerful. "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." Matthew 18:20 This means that God listens just as intently to what you have to say when it is just as the two of you and is right there with you.
God does not just answer any prayer. The bible clearly states that God listens best to those who are righteous and abide in Him and obey His commands. In other words, if you are cheating on your mate, yet are begging God to give you a job you want, do not expect miraculous results. I am not saying that God only answers the prayers of the righteous, and He may ignore the prayers of those that faithfully serve Him, but you are more likely to get positive results when living a pure life.
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. John 15:4-8
And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. "If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever. John 14:13-16
Prayer also requires faith. If you and/or your mate are lacking faith, please still pray together and talk about the reasons for your lack of faith. Oftentimes your spouse can encourage you and help build your faith, thus increasing the power in your prayer life. I’m not just preaching to the choir; I often struggle in the area of faith, but God is gracious and only requires faith the size of a mustard seed. That’s great news not only for me, but for you as well.
"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches." Matthew 30:31-32
So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." Matthew 21:21-22
Another way to be a Power Couple and call upon the Power of God is through praise. If you are shy like I am, singing in front of your mate may seem awkward the first few times, but just remember that you are not singing to your mate, you are singing to God and He does not care about the quality of your voice. Be sincere and be ready to listen in case God has something to say back to you. You will see in the below scripture that Paul and Silas had results while "praying and singing."
But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed. Acts 16:25-26
And yet another way to enhance your prayer life and increase your strength as a power couple is through fasting. You can read more about that topic on this blog Mel and I wrote together: http://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2014/08/fasrinh-and-prayer-written-by-mel-and.html Notice in the verse below that again, the mention of having faith the size of a mustard seed.
And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." - Matt 17:18-21
Another great way to be a power couple is to pray for each other. Do this both together as well as when you pray alone. Pray for specific needs as well as encouraging each other in your spiritual walks. Encourage faith and boldness. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. Romans 1:16 Encourage the gifts you see in your mate. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. I Peter 4:10 Being a Christian has never been an easy road and it is very easy to get discouraged. Pray for your mate even when he does not ask you to. Lay hands on one another and pray for peace and security. Mel and I both really appreciate it when one of us sees the other having a down day and we say, "Let me pray for you." I would highly recommend reading "The Power of a Praying Wife" by Stormie Omartian as she gives a wonderful list of topics to pray over your mate (works for husbands to pray over wives as well).
...Without ceasing, I remember you in my prayers day and night. II Timothy 1:3
Therefore comfort one another and edify one another. I Thessalonians 5:11
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. James 5:13-18
On the subject of praying for one another, I want to stress a little more that it is good to pray separately as well as together. As you know, Mel and I love reading together. (Which, by the way, is another way to be a power couple - spend as much time together as you possibly can.) We recently finished the book "The List" by Robert Whitlow. This was an excellent suspenseful book, but also very spiritual. Two of the characters in the book enjoyed the use of a prayer closet. After reading that book, I decided to turn the closet into my room into a prayer closet where I now shut myself inside when I pray alone. You do not need a literal closet, but praying alone can sometimes take away all your distractions and really help you focus on what to pray about. All in all, if you only pray once a day, I suggest doing it with your mate, but if you have more time, then I really recommend some quiet time with God alone as well. I have had a tough time praying since last October, but I can still find the words to say "thank you" to God and ask Him to bless our marriage and help me be a good wife. Prayer time should not be all about asking God for things anyway, but if you do not know what to say, simply say thank you.
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:6
I am sure there are many more topics I can include on enhancing your life as a power couple, but I will just list one more: bible study. Whether you are new believers or have been practically born in a church, there is always the need for studying your bible as a couple as well as individually. And don’t just simply read a few chapters together, discuss what you have read and honestly share what you think the verses meant and even how you can apply them to your life. Invest in a good bible that includes a bible study. Mel and I really enjoy "The Family Life Marriage Bible."
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2
