Power of a Praying Wife, The

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My Husband Would Not Be Happy If I Wrote This (And - Taking Relationship Advice From That Friend Who Doesn't Have a Good Relationship): Chapter 25: "Suzanne was a praying wife who never stopped believing that God would bring her husband to repentance." I use this last one because there is a constant use of "will" "Would" verbiage that implies prayer always equals results. Sometimes, God might have a reason for not answering your prayer, no matter how fervent and well intentioned you are. There is no guarantee that if we just follow the magic formula of a praying wife we'll get good results. Can it happen? Yes. Should we pray? Yes. But don't make it out as a problem solved sort of situation.

Seems to be for women who think their husband is desperately immature spiritually; at least, that’s the picture she paints of her own husband. She seems to think his unique struggles are universal. Lets just say that I found some red flags in the authors marriage that make me thankfully mine is nothing like hers. My husband would think I was slandering him if I tried to publish similar stories, and it's kinda hard to take her advice when I don't want to be in her shoes. Examples are:What about the middle aged and elderly couples who no longer desire or are able to be at the ready for sex on demand at all times? What about marriages where one person is disabled? I am disabled and so could not be the perfect wife (shame on me!). However, God has used this challenge to make my husband into a more gentle, patient, and less selfish person. And his patience with me has helped me to be grateful to him, and makes me love him more. In Chapter 17 she says "Every married couple should have at least two strong believing couples with whom they can share encouragement, strength, and the richness of their lives." The Bible does teach that iron sharpens iron and Christian fellowship is important, but 2 couples is such an arbitrary (and unexplained) measurement of that. Maybe they don't need to be other couples, and you can get the same richness from single friends. Maybe one couple will be all you need. Who knows what wonderful and beautiful relationship dynamics you can build around you. I want to end off with saying that Stormie Omartian speaks of women like we are mere slaves to our man. That we are accessories. That God made it that way. I want to say that this mindset is toxic and silly. This book actively encourages old, ridiculous rules and standards of women. This book actively encourages you to be an emotional sponge for your man. For a man that you pray for, but doesn't need to pray for you. You are not just a slave for your husband. You are your own autonomous person with your own free will. If your husband is abusive to you, then you need to leave, regardless if God grieves or not. Chapter 13 "If your husband is going through a difficult time, carry it in prayer, but don't carry the burden. Even though you may want to, don't try to take away his load and make it yours. That will ultimately leave him feeling weak or like a failure." Galations 6:2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. That's it. That's the Bible. Marriage is a partnership, and you help each other through it.

Shallow. This could’ve been a great, deep book on prayer, but it was so shallow and poorly executed. Begins with a challenge to seek God’s change in your own life before you start wanting Him to change your husband. What about the majority of women in poor countries, who don’t have the money or even the access to stores to buy sexy lingerie, or a special perfume to be worn for him alone, or skin care products that make my skin look dewy and fresh? I'm going to try and summarize my issues in a few different categories here. The examples are not comprehensive but hopefully show where I'm getting my opinions from.

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There is a constant feeling in this book, a previously mentioned, that prayer is a special power you can tap into. She talks about what makes your prayers stronger or weaker, as if we have any control over God and how he responds to us. Indeed, the focus often isn't on God and what he can do, but what YOU can do through prayer, which is a totally wrong focus on things. It also constantly dips into the charismatic, prosperity gospel outlook that good things will come to you if you just pray. Chapter 10: "If your husband is not a full-time fool, so to speak but he does occasionally engage in foolish behavior, don't try to fix him. God is the only one who can do that." And maybe lovingly correct him and try to point out the error of his ways? Chapter 1: "My husband will not do something he doesn't want to do. And if he ends up doing something he doesn't want to do, his immediate family members will pay for it. I've learned to pray about it until I have God's peace in my heart before I ask." NOOOOOO!!!! This book only capture some of Stormie's memories and they just happen to be when God answered her prayers. She is showing us how she prayed to bring about change in her marriage. She tells us several times, that she had to ask more than once and so things took months and even years before she received her answer from God. The above quote is in the context of a problem that's been worked through and changed, which is great, but then the below comment comes which is written in present tense, and you wonder if maybe her husband is still verbally abusive?

Of course you can't force him to do something he doesn't' want to do, but you can access God's power through praying for His Voice to penetrate your husband's soul. For the first few chapters I was very impressed by this book, and I still think it's a brilliant idea, but I do think the author made some very troubling claims.

A flaw I find a lot of these types of books fall into. Things that sound good and might even be mostly true are presented as fact, which at best gives you nice but baseless warm fuzzy feelings and at worst gives you these unbiblical standards that aren't inherently bad but could stress you out by not achieving. New from bestselling author Stormie Omartian is a book close to her own heart—The Power of a Praying® Wife Devotional. Following up on the insights and prayers of The Power of a Praying® Wife (more than 3.5 million books sold) 100 brand-new devotions, prayers, and supporting Scriptures offer a praying wife fresh ways to pray for her husband, herself, and her marriage. In Chapter 1 she says "I assume no woman would marry a man she didn't love." Which sounds nice in a perfect world, but there are many women who might marry to escape circumstances, because they feel like they don't have other options, or even have their marriages arranged.