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Praying Like Never Before - Part 4: Inviting Unbelieving Husbands to Pray - Is It Possible? · Couples’ Journey Podcast Channel

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  What if a simple invitation could transform the prayer life of your family?
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  Hey everyone, welcome back to the Couples Journey blog series podcast.
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  We're on part four of Praying Like Never Before.
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  Today, we'll hear from Annie as she shares a profound moment that sparked a
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  new prayer practice in her home.
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  Join us as we explore the power of sharing our faith and the importance of inviting
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  our loved ones into a deeper relationship with God through prayer. Here's Annie. you,
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  I still remember that morning when I invited my husband Ray and our children
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  to join me in prayer to thank God for our food.
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  It was the first time they heard me make such an invitation and it marked the
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  beginning of our family praying over every meal.
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  Before that breakfast, I spent an hour meditating on God's words and pouring
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  out my heart in prayer in our guest room.
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  Though they didn't say anything, I could see the curiosity in their eyes,
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  especially after I had just finished a heavy cry.
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  I shared with them how I encountered God that morning and how He reminded me
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  that I'd been neglecting Him for too long.
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  I admitted I wasn't even thanking Him for the food because I was rushing through
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  my busy day filled with work and responsibilities.
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  Ray and the kids understood what I shared. When I finally invited them to pray,
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  some were surprised, but that morning became a milestone for us,
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  marking the beginning of thanking God intentionally for every meal.
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  I want to clarify, I hadn't shared the gospel with them before that day.
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  It was simply an honest moment where I boldly shared how I had experienced God
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  during my devotion. In our book, Couples' Journey, Restore, Relearn,
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  Rejoice, Ray and I share how we were raised in different religious backgrounds.
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  Thankfully, this didn't cause conflict in our little family of five.
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  Later, we realized that our understanding of God was often tied to a religious
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  perspective, attending church, whether Catholic or Protestant,
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  but lacking a true relationship with Him.
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  My experience at mourning, sensing God's presence during my devotion,
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  truly surprised them and opened their eyes.
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  This is often how I start when women in faith ask me about inviting their unbelieving husbands to pray.
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  Back then, Ray, our kids, and I had some knowledge about God,
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  but it was far from what truly God intends for us—to know Him intimately and personally.
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  I didn't see them as believers, nor did I consider myself fully living out that
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  reality, because our daily lives doesn't reflect genuine faith.
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  When it comes to inviting your spouse or children or others to pray,
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  I believe it's valuable to share why prayer matters for that moment.
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  Ray and the kids might have joined me that morning because they knew I was thankful,
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  but beyond that, many may not fully understood or embrace the truth that in
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  everything, we should give thanks to the Lord.
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  Just as 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 18 reminds us.
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  In some cases, your spouse may not respond with sincerity or might even reject
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  the invitation altogether. Don't be discouraged.
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  Recognizing God's authority in our lives takes humility.
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  I, for example, discovered Christianity at young age, but I still wandered away from it.
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  It took years before I realized I needed to return to God.
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  That journey was humbling. so humbly that I almost had an open-heart surgery.
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  When someone rejects your invitation, extend grace.
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  We're all recipients of God's grace. I always encourage believing wives living
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  with unbelieving husbands to see prayer as declaration of faith,
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  honoring God's authority and His attributes.
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  It's an act of humility that continually seeks His guidance.
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  As our spouses observe how we intentionally live a life anchored in Christ,
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  God can use that to reveal Himself in their eyes and hearts.
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  May our prayers serve as a powerful way to share the message of the gospel and
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  lead others closer to Him.
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  In the end, it is only God who has the power to change our hearts.
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  For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
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  Belief in Stu, verse 13.
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  Before we close, we want to invite you to engage with us and support the Couples
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  Journey blog series podcast.
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  By following this channel, leaving comments, and sharing episodes with your family and friends.
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  You're helping us in our mission to transform marriages today.
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  Your support encourages more couples to seek God's guidance and grow stronger together.
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  Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we can make a difference.
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  Here's the final part of today's episode.
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  Thank you for joining us as we reflect on the beautiful journey of inviting
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  family members into prayer.
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  Annie's insights remind us of the transformative potential prayer has in our relationships.
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  Don't miss tomorrow's final part of the series, where we'll wrap up with powerful
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  takeaways and encouragement for implementing prayer in our everyday lives.
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  Until then, may your heart inspire those around you to seek God's presence and grace.