The Prayers that Changed Husbands
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"Lord, please change Dan," Tami Chelew prayed—not once but many times during her 12-year marriage. Tami admits she was afraid her husband was slipping away from God. His life was filled with stress as he worked fulltime, attended graduate school, and carried the full financial burden for their family.
Tami begged, argued, cajoled, cried, and flat out told Dan he should spend more time praying and studying his Bible—especially during that stressful season. She even strategically placed a Bible at the foot of their bed as a hint.
"I tried everything I could think of to get him to change," says Tami. "I played mother, counselor, spiritual advisor—even Holy Spirit," she adds, smiling and embarrassed as she recalls her controlling behavior.
Then one day after another episode in which she watched her husband choose again not to seek God's wisdom and help in a stressful situation, Tami became desperate—and fed up. She stretched out on her living room floor, face down, and prayed like she'd never prayed before.
"God," she cried. "Dan is yours. Please take charge of his life—because I can't do it any more."
Something wonderful happened in that moment. "I felt the burden of my husband's relationship with God release from my grip. I knew God would answer my request," Tami says. This was the "turning point" in her marriage that she'd wanted for so long.
As Tami lay on the floor, she felt God present her with an idea for how to handle her husband. Instead of pestering him about getting spiritually in sync with God, she could pray for him—really pray for him—and get together with other wives for a consistent and regular prayer time.
Tami wasn't sure how to make that happen, so she left it up to God—since it was his idea.
"Okay, Lord," she said, "if you bring the women, I'll do it."
The next day Tami received a call from her friend Cindy. Just before they ended their conversation, Cindy asked Tami if she'd like to get together to pray for their husbands.
"I nearly dropped the phone," says Tami. "I'd never seen God work so fast!"
That was the confirmation she needed to move forward. "We looked at our calendars," says Tami, "and chose Friday mornings as our time to pray together for our husbands."
Wives In Prayer was born that first meeting. Tami and Cindy made a commitment to get together each week. Soon their friend Caryn joined them and then other women were calling, eager to be part of this unique group of praying wives. That was 11 years ago—and Tami is still hosting Wives in Prayer meetings in her home.
"I've seen God take my prayers and those of like-minded women and answer them beyond anything we could have hoped for or imagined," she says, still amazed at how much has occurred by simply praying.
Originally published in: Marriage Partnership, 2005, Winter, Page 28
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Elizabeth
Hi, My husband never cooperates with me. He leaves me at the mercy of his parents. He doesnt have any respect for my parents. He says that my parents are no longer to be considered as I am married off and his parents and his family are to be considered. Even if I m sick, he isnt considerate, he just speaks good words with no action. I feel all alone in that house. I feel like quitting and going back.. But i am just pushing one day after another thinking that he will change. I reach home from office by 10 at night, his parents expect me to teach the child, how can I?. Kindly please pray for me. I have no one to help me except our Lord Jesus Christ. Please ask him to answer my prayer... make me enduring and patient to go through this ordeal. Help me carry this cross with the word of God in my mouth. Please please pray for me.
ORPAH KIBIDI
It is a true blessing to me to see that am not alone on this journey of tears,hurt and depression over my marriage.It is has been tough for me and my kids being abused and thrown out of my home because of another woman,i put everything to GOD and i still do pray for my husband to come back to us and be a family again,which after an year of tears GOD changed alot around us,he is back but not left this other woman,i ask my fellow sisters help me in prayer so that the devil that is out there with him would live him and make him see that we are his life and nothing else.GOD IS GOOD ALWAYS AND ALWAYS HE WILL BE.AMEN
Maria
I also am asking prayers for my daughter and two babies. Her husband works with a woman that has been texting him after he leaves work and on days off. She asked him if she could call his house. His tires were slashed at the job where he and this woman work. My daughter met her husband at the tire company and while she was there with the children(4 month old and 3 years old) Married for 6 years and dated for 7 years Christian family. He was talking on the phone for an hour while my daughter was waiting with him to have the tires fixed. I told her why didn't she grab the phone and tell the woman to leave her husband alone! She said that her husband works with this woman and if she did this or come to the store. He would quit his job from embarrassmen! Please pray for them! I told her to tell him to read Proverbs! God tells about these woman who are waiting and given opportunities to get MEN! God Bless you!
Anonymous
This article is a very timely message .....My daughter , who has been married for only 1 1/2 years has been undergoing anxieties due to her husband's bad character and attitude. We are both praying for her husband's deliverance from the words and works of Satan. He looks very good husband and father in front of people, but the moment they are gone , it's 360 degrees turn around. My daughter is verbally, mentally and physically abused. He speaks profane language, hurtful and unkind words, threatening always my daughter that he will abandon her. may I request Tami's prayer group to pray for my daughter, Anna, to have the strngth and the courage to face her difficulties, and may these be transformed into a great way of blessing turning them into her benefit. Please pray for her husband, that he will be set free from all the words and works of Satan and demonic forces and evil spirits that are taking control of him. In Jesus' Mighty Name. Amen.
Gcobisa
Hi Thank u so much 4 the wonderful article. It has uplifted and encouraged my spirit. Last month I was ready to give up on my marriage becouse of the way my husband has been treating me. But thanks to God 4 speaking to me and remind me about the vows I have made before HIM. I have also realised that I have not been praying enough for my husband, and as from now on, I commit myself that I will pray and fast for him, our marriage and my kids. Thank you so much and God bless!
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