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The Power of a Praying Wife Prayer and Study Guide
Stormie Omartian's bestselling The Power of a Praying series (more than 28 million copies sold) is rereleased with fresh new covers and new material to reach a still-growing market of readers eager to discover the power of prayer for their lives. This warmly written prayer and study guide will help you apply the life-changing, marriage-enriching principles of Stormie's bestselling The Power of a Praying Wife to your own life. In this companion resource, you will find fresh inspiration on how to pray deeply for areas of your husband's life--his thought life, sexual life, business life, emotional life--and discover new ways to ask God to encourage and direct your spouse.
Drawing on her own personal experience of praying for her husband at a difficult time in their marriage, Stormie wants to walk with you on this journey through revealing questions and suggestions to help you focus on God and His plan for your husband and your marriage. By asking and trusting God to build up, encourage, and direct your husband, you will experience renewed intimacy and a deeper spiritual union with God. Great for individual or group study.
Drawing on her own personal experience of praying for her husband at a difficult time in their marriage, Stormie wants to walk with you on this journey through revealing questions and suggestions to help you focus on God and His plan for your husband and your marriage. By asking and trusting God to build up, encourage, and direct your husband, you will experience renewed intimacy and a deeper spiritual union with God. Great for individual or group study.
176 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1996
4659 people are currently reading
36035 people want to read
About the author
Stormie Omartian
434 books1,608 followersStormie Omartian is an award-winning bestselling author and speaker who personally connects with readers and listeners by sharing her experiences and illustrating how God transforms lives when we learn to trust in Him.
The strength and transparency of Stormie’s message has driven her books to the top of the bestsellers list. More than 26 million copies have been sold worldwide of her "Power of Praying Series," including "The Power Of Praying For Your Adult Children," "The Power Of A Praying Wife," "The Power Of A Praying Husband," "The Power Of A Praying Woman," "The Power Of A Praying Parent," "The Power Of A Praying Teen," and "The Prayer That Changes Everything."
Her latest books are her recently updated and re-released bestsellers: "Power of a Prayer Wife," "Power of a Praying Woman," "Power of a Praying Parent," "Power of Praying for Your Adult Children," and "Power of a Praying Husband."
In May 2002, "The Power Of A Praying Wife" broke a 21-year industry record by claiming the top spot on the Christian Booksellers bestsellers list for 27 consecutive months. From 2001 to 2003, for an unprecedented three years in a row, it was named a finalist for The Charles “Kip” Jordon Christian Book of the Year Award. It has been on the bestsellers list continually for over ten years. It was replaced as number one by "The Power Of A Praying Husband," which was honored in 2002 with a Gold Medallion Award. "The Power Of A Praying Parent" has been on the bestsellers list for years. In September of 2002, her prayer series astonishingly held the top four spots on the bestsellers list:
Among other of Stormie’s bestselling books are her autobiography, "Stormie," plus "Just Enough Light For The Step I’m On," "Lord I Want To Be Whole," and "Praying God's Will For Your Life." Michael and Stormie have been married for 40 years and have two married children.
If you have any questions for Stormie, please send them her way on her Facebook page, the link is below.
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https://www.facebook.com/stormieomart...
https://twitter.com/StormieOmartian
The strength and transparency of Stormie’s message has driven her books to the top of the bestsellers list. More than 26 million copies have been sold worldwide of her "Power of Praying Series," including "The Power Of Praying For Your Adult Children," "The Power Of A Praying Wife," "The Power Of A Praying Husband," "The Power Of A Praying Woman," "The Power Of A Praying Parent," "The Power Of A Praying Teen," and "The Prayer That Changes Everything."
Her latest books are her recently updated and re-released bestsellers: "Power of a Prayer Wife," "Power of a Praying Woman," "Power of a Praying Parent," "Power of Praying for Your Adult Children," and "Power of a Praying Husband."
In May 2002, "The Power Of A Praying Wife" broke a 21-year industry record by claiming the top spot on the Christian Booksellers bestsellers list for 27 consecutive months. From 2001 to 2003, for an unprecedented three years in a row, it was named a finalist for The Charles “Kip” Jordon Christian Book of the Year Award. It has been on the bestsellers list continually for over ten years. It was replaced as number one by "The Power Of A Praying Husband," which was honored in 2002 with a Gold Medallion Award. "The Power Of A Praying Parent" has been on the bestsellers list for years. In September of 2002, her prayer series astonishingly held the top four spots on the bestsellers list:
1. "Praying Wife"
2. "Praying Woman"
3. "Praying Parent"
4. "Praying Husband"
Among other of Stormie’s bestselling books are her autobiography, "Stormie," plus "Just Enough Light For The Step I’m On," "Lord I Want To Be Whole," and "Praying God's Will For Your Life." Michael and Stormie have been married for 40 years and have two married children.
If you have any questions for Stormie, please send them her way on her Facebook page, the link is below.
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https://www.facebook.com/stormieomart...
https://twitter.com/StormieOmartian
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,386 reviews
July 12, 2013
I have to be honest about a book that's been so popular. The main value in this book for me was (1) it spurred me on to pray intentionally for my husband more regularly and (2) the prayers at the end of each chapter provided a good tool for prayer. However, I have a big issue with her theology that seems to put too much emphasis on the power of the one praying instead of the power of the God who hears prayer! I didn't agree with her teaching that my lack of prayer can limit God's work in my husband's life, or that if I prayed enough, God will bless my husband in tangible here-and-now ways. Of course I want that, but the Bible is filled with examples of godly people with godly spouses who were not blessed on earth (see Hebrews 11) because they were waiting for the Unseen Kingdom.
I would love to see a book written with prayers guiding a wife to pray for the realities of THIS Kingdom for her husband. Like perseverance, endurance, choosing to do with less in order to make others rich, courage to choose suffering rather than sinning, etc. Maybe I'll write it ... !
I would love to see a book written with prayers guiding a wife to pray for the realities of THIS Kingdom for her husband. Like perseverance, endurance, choosing to do with less in order to make others rich, courage to choose suffering rather than sinning, etc. Maybe I'll write it ... !
July 12, 2010
Just finished (re)reading this book this morning. I first got it the year after we got married, back when I thought my husband and our marriage was perfect. I read it cover to cover in a very short time period and thought it was great.
Then we moved to AZ, I was invited to a women's Bible Study that just happened to being to doing this book. It was life changing at that time, as things were a little rocky and this book gave me the hope and tools I needed to see me through that period of time.
Fast forward a couple more years, things got even rockier. But God gave me a desire to pray for and a love for my husband that at the time I didn't even think was possible. The darkest time in our relationship came a few months after I started fervently praying for him daily. I firmly believe that if it had not been for this book, coupled of course with my Bible and the prayer and faith in God, I would have walked away when that storm hit without a backward glance.
That's not to say that everything got magically better over night because I was praying. It was a long hard process. I had some very dark days. BUT God gave me the hope, and just enough light to keep me moving in the right direction.
Then we moved to AZ, I was invited to a women's Bible Study that just happened to being to doing this book. It was life changing at that time, as things were a little rocky and this book gave me the hope and tools I needed to see me through that period of time.
Fast forward a couple more years, things got even rockier. But God gave me a desire to pray for and a love for my husband that at the time I didn't even think was possible. The darkest time in our relationship came a few months after I started fervently praying for him daily. I firmly believe that if it had not been for this book, coupled of course with my Bible and the prayer and faith in God, I would have walked away when that storm hit without a backward glance.
That's not to say that everything got magically better over night because I was praying. It was a long hard process. I had some very dark days. BUT God gave me the hope, and just enough light to keep me moving in the right direction.
October 17, 2014
I find this book to be quite sexist, and feel that it tries to resurrect some old and trite stereotypes about men and women. It is also very hard on women. There seems to be an unhealthy tradition to place the blame on the woman and the entire burden and responsibility upon her for the success of her marriage.
Not only that, this book only applies to a very narrow sector of married women in the world. It may be applicable if you are young, healthy and not disabled, and affluent.
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 have a disability called autistic spectrum disorder, which is a real disability. It gives me continuous and multiple daily challenges. It is literally impossible for me to meet the extremely high expectations that this book puts forth. All I wanted was some prayers to read and pray for my husband, but unfortunately, if came packaged with this sexist advice to be the perfect wife at all times, and to pander to my husbands whims, no matter how ludicrous and unreasonable.
I’m to be sexy, a good cook, keep a clean house at all times, be a great mother, and make sure we are never out of ligh bulbs or batteries? REALLY??? Where in the bible does it say a woman is to be an unpaid slave to her husband? That is totally alien to the gospel. And if my husband calls me one day and demands a specific chicken dish, I’m to scramble to buy the ingredients, fix it for him, and then when he comes home and says I don’t want chicken I want lamb chops, I’m to just grin and bear it? Really????? That is utterly dysfunctional. I think what the authors husband really needed was a good swift kick in the back side. He sounds like a narcissistic jerk. And for a wife to allow this behavior only enables his selfish attitude. Wow!!
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.
The most tragic thing is, what about the many women in abusive marriage? Unfortunately this book has a strong flavor that the problems in a marriage are up to the woman to fix, and that she is to totally sacrifice herself to met her husbands every whim. That is just plain unbiblical. Ephesians 5 says that the husband and wife are to mutually submit to each other. The husband is also to love and protect and sacrifice himself for the wife, just as Christ did for the church. This book is very unbalanced in placing all the responsibility for the marriage on the wife. There is a sick perverted view of wifely submission in certain Christian fundamentalist subcultures that this book seems to perpetuate. The gospel message is so simple. Believe on and trust in the atoning death of Jesus on the cross and you will be saved. Also make Jesus and His kingdom first and all these things shall be added to you. If we walk in the Spirit and truly submit to Jesus, then being a good spouse will naturally flow out of us, and the spirit will enable us to love and serve our spouse. And what this means on a practical level is unique to each couple, as no two marriage relationships are alike. I actually read the chapter on sex to my husband and he found it offensive. I feel this book promotes a lot of stereotypes of men and women. He was offended at the idea that sex is the biggest need for men.
The bottom line is, this book is man centered and not God centered. It caters to the world's idea of a good marriage. It seems like a primarily humanistic book cloaked in religion and scriptures. A lot of the advice feels like a legalistic burden being placed upon me. Jesus said "come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest". This book does the opposite. I find it to be very legalistic and works oriented. We are saved by grace. And our marriages should be grace based, not works based.
Not only that, this book only applies to a very narrow sector of married women in the world. It may be applicable if you are young, healthy and not disabled, and affluent.
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 have a disability called autistic spectrum disorder, which is a real disability. It gives me continuous and multiple daily challenges. It is literally impossible for me to meet the extremely high expectations that this book puts forth. All I wanted was some prayers to read and pray for my husband, but unfortunately, if came packaged with this sexist advice to be the perfect wife at all times, and to pander to my husbands whims, no matter how ludicrous and unreasonable.
I’m to be sexy, a good cook, keep a clean house at all times, be a great mother, and make sure we are never out of ligh bulbs or batteries? REALLY??? Where in the bible does it say a woman is to be an unpaid slave to her husband? That is totally alien to the gospel. And if my husband calls me one day and demands a specific chicken dish, I’m to scramble to buy the ingredients, fix it for him, and then when he comes home and says I don’t want chicken I want lamb chops, I’m to just grin and bear it? Really????? That is utterly dysfunctional. I think what the authors husband really needed was a good swift kick in the back side. He sounds like a narcissistic jerk. And for a wife to allow this behavior only enables his selfish attitude. Wow!!
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.
The most tragic thing is, what about the many women in abusive marriage? Unfortunately this book has a strong flavor that the problems in a marriage are up to the woman to fix, and that she is to totally sacrifice herself to met her husbands every whim. That is just plain unbiblical. Ephesians 5 says that the husband and wife are to mutually submit to each other. The husband is also to love and protect and sacrifice himself for the wife, just as Christ did for the church. This book is very unbalanced in placing all the responsibility for the marriage on the wife. There is a sick perverted view of wifely submission in certain Christian fundamentalist subcultures that this book seems to perpetuate. The gospel message is so simple. Believe on and trust in the atoning death of Jesus on the cross and you will be saved. Also make Jesus and His kingdom first and all these things shall be added to you. If we walk in the Spirit and truly submit to Jesus, then being a good spouse will naturally flow out of us, and the spirit will enable us to love and serve our spouse. And what this means on a practical level is unique to each couple, as no two marriage relationships are alike. I actually read the chapter on sex to my husband and he found it offensive. I feel this book promotes a lot of stereotypes of men and women. He was offended at the idea that sex is the biggest need for men.
The bottom line is, this book is man centered and not God centered. It caters to the world's idea of a good marriage. It seems like a primarily humanistic book cloaked in religion and scriptures. A lot of the advice feels like a legalistic burden being placed upon me. Jesus said "come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest". This book does the opposite. I find it to be very legalistic and works oriented. We are saved by grace. And our marriages should be grace based, not works based.
September 2, 2008
This book is exactly the same setup as the power of a woman, and I am sure it's the same setup as power of a praying parent too. Good thing though the chapters are short so I don't have to try and keep my attention span for long. I just don't get this book. Talking about how if your husband is a stay at home Dad how men aren't wired to clean and you might still have to clean and it's our job to keep the house in order and make it a home, blahh, blahh blahh, I am sorry but my husband is a stay at home Dad, his job is to take care of the house, to include the rearing of the children their baths, the houshold chores, etc! I am not a slave, I will not work my butt off all day long come home to a dirty house, and then throw on some langerie and try to romance my husband because he is the man of my house, hog wash! If he doesn't want to clean or take care of the house, which is what I did when I stayed at home, and would do if I would stay at home again. (I should only be helping where needed) Anyway if he doesn't want to do that than he needs to go get a fulltime job to support us both like I did and I will stay at home! Come on people this is the year 2008. It says "spiritual" head of the household. Not head of everything in the world. I do not believe God intended men to be the head of the house, the CEO, the president everything just because he's a MAN. Yes, I am a christian but I also feel there needs to be boundaries, and a balance in a marriage. It should be a joint discussion of who is going to stay at home and who is going to work and the chores should mostly fall on the one who is staying at home and 50/50 if you are going to both work, saying that men are not capable of cleaning is a copout and not making them responsible for their own actions, if they can remember to take a shower on their own. Go to college and know how to do their job, then they should be capable of taking care of the home. It's not that difficult!
March 28, 2021
Let me put a huge disclaimer on this and say, if any of the lovely women who did this with me for a prayer group see this, I was so encouraged and uplifted by our discussions and prayers, and I believe we got some good things out of this book. My critique of this book is in no way a critique of our group or the talks we had, and I was so happy to do it with you all. There is some good stuff in this book, and I've rethought how I pray for my husband through it. But enough of the content worries me that I'd hesitate to recommend it to anyone.
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.
Beautiful Generalities:
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.
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.
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.
In the introduction she says "A wife's prayer's for her husband have a far greater effect on him than anyone else's, even his mom." But can you give me any Bible verse that backs this up? That says anyone has more powerful or less powerful prayers? I'll circle back on related book struggles in my "Prayer is not Magic" section, but the book is filled with a general feeling that prayer will work in x scenario or wont work if y, and it's a frustratingly Prosperity Gospel sentiment to come across.
My Husband Would Not Be Happy If I Wrote This (And - Taking Relationship Advice From That Friend Who Doesn't Have a Good Relationship):
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:
Introduction: "The biggest problem I faced in our marriage was my husband's temper. The only ones who were ever the object of his anger were me and the children. He used words like weapons that left me crippled or paralyzed."
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?
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."
Chapter 21: "If the Chicago Bears lost, so, ultimately, did the rest of the family.
Continuing with relational red-flags, the below story frustrates me to no end:
Chapter 1 "Shortly after we were married, my husband called from work and said he wanted me to prepare a certain chicken dish for dinner. I went to the store, got the food, prepared the dish, and when he came home, he walked to the door and said bluntly, "I don't feel like chicken tonight. I want lamb chops... This was not an isolated incident. Similar ones happened far too frequently. I can't count the number of times Michael promised to be home for dinner and called ten minutes after dinner was ready to say he was going to work late and would eat out with his coworkers. I realized it was healthier for both of us if I rearranged my expectations. From then on, I prepared meals as if only I and the children would be eating them. If Michael was able to join us, it was a pleasant surprise. If he didn't, I could live with it...Things could be a lot worse, so I won't complain about whether he's home for dinner or not." (This is in a section of managing expectations. Which is a good idea, like, if I'm frustrated my husband leaves his socks lying around. But if he's being inconsiderate of my schedule, time, and efforts, flaking out on what most consider important family time of dinner to the extent its's better to just not expect him to attend, that's something you talk about and work on together. Some expectations are healthy!)
Perhaps some of it is that A. the author rarely has any truly negative stories about herself, which makes her come across as a praying saint. B. She might occasionally say "My husband is really God focused." Or "He's a wonderful xyz" but we don't get any stories of him being a great husband, so all I remember looking back is that he seems like a verbally abusive, inconsiderate man child.
For the Love of Everything Please TALK WITH YOUR SPOUSE! Relationships Aren't One Sided:
I know this book is about praying, and so all the focus is on that. Which is great. But prayer isn't the only tool, and there seems to be an assumption in a lot of her example stories that husbands don't respond well to any bit of loving criticism or request (maybe due to the above anger issues of her own husband that's what she sees as the norm?)
In the opening introduction she says "You can ask him [to pray for you], and you can pray for him to pray for you, but you can't demand it of him. Regardless whether he does or doesn't is not your concern, it's God's. So release him from that obligation." You should expect your Christian husband to be trying to build you up spiritually. I feel like that's not an obligation you place on him, but one that God does. Which means you have no right to release him from it.
"Look to God as the source of all you want to see happen in your marriage, and don't worry about how it will happen." How is sometimes a good question to ask. Is counselling a helpful answer to you? God might be leading you to that. Is better communication what you need? How do you work toward that? Relationships take work and prayer.
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 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.
To her credit there is a final chapter in the book which has been added in later additions about how a wife needs communication, but it feels too little too late.
Prayer is Not Magic:
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.
Introduction: "Fasting will make your prayers more effective."
Chapter 1: "The hard part about being a praying wife, other than the sacrifice of time, is maintaining a pure heart. It must be clean before God in order for you to see good results."
"Sometimes wives sabotage their own prayers because they don't pray them from a right heart."
"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.
Chapter 3: "But your prayers will certainly help protect your husband from unnecessary struggle and loss. God's desire is to bless those who have obedient, grateful, and giving hearts, whose true treasure is the Lord."
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.
Is This Sexism?
Chapter 4: "For a wife, sex comes out of affection... But for a husband, sex is pure need... He has trouble hearing anything his wife says or seeing what she needs when that area of his life is being neglected." Guess what, a husband can have sex for affection. And a wife can have sex out of need. This is a very generalized statement that tries to boil down the individual sex lives of couples into outdated tropes.
Chapter 1: "I don't care how liberated you are, when you are married there will always be two areas that will ultimately be your responsibility: home and children. Even if you are the only one working and your husband stays home to keep the house and tend the kids, you will still be expected to see that the heart of your home is a peaceful sanctuary- a source of contentment, acceptance, rejuvenation, nurturing, rest, and love for your family. On top of this, you will also be expected to be sexually appealing, a good cook, a great mother, and physically, emotionally, and spiritually fit." Even if you're the breadwinner these are the expectations that she's placing on you. She's saying EVEN IF YOU HAVE A STAY AT HOME HUSBAND, you're supposed to do all this. And I can't for the life of me find the quote in her book about how husbands just aren't as good as cleaning, but I could have sworn I read something about that in there. And also, men can be in charge of the cooking, it's not a gender based thing.
I Don't Think That's Biblical...
There's obviously things in the prior sections I disagree with on a scriptural level. But I won't go back over them, I'll just add a last but not least or comprehensively final one here:
Chapter 6: "God wants us to get through temptation because He wants to bless us. But He needs to see if we can be trusted to choose His ways over our fleshly desires." Let me state this clearly. God is infinite, perfect, all knowing, and all powerful. He doesn't need to see anything about us, he already knows. He does not need anything from us.
In Conclusion
Look, there were portions of this book I underlined because I did agree with them and found them convicting or edifying. I got a lot of good out of the conversations I had about it with Christian women. But taking it all into consideration, there is so much red flag in there that I'd have a hard time recommending it to anyone for fear they'll learn the wrong things from it. It's got too much wrong to be able to right it.
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.
Beautiful Generalities:
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.
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.
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.
In the introduction she says "A wife's prayer's for her husband have a far greater effect on him than anyone else's, even his mom." But can you give me any Bible verse that backs this up? That says anyone has more powerful or less powerful prayers? I'll circle back on related book struggles in my "Prayer is not Magic" section, but the book is filled with a general feeling that prayer will work in x scenario or wont work if y, and it's a frustratingly Prosperity Gospel sentiment to come across.
My Husband Would Not Be Happy If I Wrote This (And - Taking Relationship Advice From That Friend Who Doesn't Have a Good Relationship):
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:
Introduction: "The biggest problem I faced in our marriage was my husband's temper. The only ones who were ever the object of his anger were me and the children. He used words like weapons that left me crippled or paralyzed."
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?
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."
Chapter 21: "If the Chicago Bears lost, so, ultimately, did the rest of the family.
Continuing with relational red-flags, the below story frustrates me to no end:
Chapter 1 "Shortly after we were married, my husband called from work and said he wanted me to prepare a certain chicken dish for dinner. I went to the store, got the food, prepared the dish, and when he came home, he walked to the door and said bluntly, "I don't feel like chicken tonight. I want lamb chops... This was not an isolated incident. Similar ones happened far too frequently. I can't count the number of times Michael promised to be home for dinner and called ten minutes after dinner was ready to say he was going to work late and would eat out with his coworkers. I realized it was healthier for both of us if I rearranged my expectations. From then on, I prepared meals as if only I and the children would be eating them. If Michael was able to join us, it was a pleasant surprise. If he didn't, I could live with it...Things could be a lot worse, so I won't complain about whether he's home for dinner or not." (This is in a section of managing expectations. Which is a good idea, like, if I'm frustrated my husband leaves his socks lying around. But if he's being inconsiderate of my schedule, time, and efforts, flaking out on what most consider important family time of dinner to the extent its's better to just not expect him to attend, that's something you talk about and work on together. Some expectations are healthy!)
Perhaps some of it is that A. the author rarely has any truly negative stories about herself, which makes her come across as a praying saint. B. She might occasionally say "My husband is really God focused." Or "He's a wonderful xyz" but we don't get any stories of him being a great husband, so all I remember looking back is that he seems like a verbally abusive, inconsiderate man child.
For the Love of Everything Please TALK WITH YOUR SPOUSE! Relationships Aren't One Sided:
I know this book is about praying, and so all the focus is on that. Which is great. But prayer isn't the only tool, and there seems to be an assumption in a lot of her example stories that husbands don't respond well to any bit of loving criticism or request (maybe due to the above anger issues of her own husband that's what she sees as the norm?)
In the opening introduction she says "You can ask him [to pray for you], and you can pray for him to pray for you, but you can't demand it of him. Regardless whether he does or doesn't is not your concern, it's God's. So release him from that obligation." You should expect your Christian husband to be trying to build you up spiritually. I feel like that's not an obligation you place on him, but one that God does. Which means you have no right to release him from it.
"Look to God as the source of all you want to see happen in your marriage, and don't worry about how it will happen." How is sometimes a good question to ask. Is counselling a helpful answer to you? God might be leading you to that. Is better communication what you need? How do you work toward that? Relationships take work and prayer.
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 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.
To her credit there is a final chapter in the book which has been added in later additions about how a wife needs communication, but it feels too little too late.
Prayer is Not Magic:
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.
Introduction: "Fasting will make your prayers more effective."
Chapter 1: "The hard part about being a praying wife, other than the sacrifice of time, is maintaining a pure heart. It must be clean before God in order for you to see good results."
"Sometimes wives sabotage their own prayers because they don't pray them from a right heart."
"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.
Chapter 3: "But your prayers will certainly help protect your husband from unnecessary struggle and loss. God's desire is to bless those who have obedient, grateful, and giving hearts, whose true treasure is the Lord."
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.
Is This Sexism?
Chapter 4: "For a wife, sex comes out of affection... But for a husband, sex is pure need... He has trouble hearing anything his wife says or seeing what she needs when that area of his life is being neglected." Guess what, a husband can have sex for affection. And a wife can have sex out of need. This is a very generalized statement that tries to boil down the individual sex lives of couples into outdated tropes.
Chapter 1: "I don't care how liberated you are, when you are married there will always be two areas that will ultimately be your responsibility: home and children. Even if you are the only one working and your husband stays home to keep the house and tend the kids, you will still be expected to see that the heart of your home is a peaceful sanctuary- a source of contentment, acceptance, rejuvenation, nurturing, rest, and love for your family. On top of this, you will also be expected to be sexually appealing, a good cook, a great mother, and physically, emotionally, and spiritually fit." Even if you're the breadwinner these are the expectations that she's placing on you. She's saying EVEN IF YOU HAVE A STAY AT HOME HUSBAND, you're supposed to do all this. And I can't for the life of me find the quote in her book about how husbands just aren't as good as cleaning, but I could have sworn I read something about that in there. And also, men can be in charge of the cooking, it's not a gender based thing.
I Don't Think That's Biblical...
There's obviously things in the prior sections I disagree with on a scriptural level. But I won't go back over them, I'll just add a last but not least or comprehensively final one here:
Chapter 6: "God wants us to get through temptation because He wants to bless us. But He needs to see if we can be trusted to choose His ways over our fleshly desires." Let me state this clearly. God is infinite, perfect, all knowing, and all powerful. He doesn't need to see anything about us, he already knows. He does not need anything from us.
In Conclusion
Look, there were portions of this book I underlined because I did agree with them and found them convicting or edifying. I got a lot of good out of the conversations I had about it with Christian women. But taking it all into consideration, there is so much red flag in there that I'd have a hard time recommending it to anyone for fear they'll learn the wrong things from it. It's got too much wrong to be able to right it.
January 8, 2017
Highly unfortunate that this is a book that was recommended to me by a pastor. Ladies, if your husband is treating you in the same manner the author reports, you certainly need to pray, but please do so in a safe place while seeking professional counsel for your marriage. That sort of behavior is abuse. I find it bewildering that this is a bestseller that has been recommended by Christian leaders for years, and I feel very strongly about making sure people are aware of the dangerous messages in this book. While I agree with praying for marriage relationships, I absolutely do not recommend this book.
September 10, 2011
Probably the best book to help a marriage with God's blessing.
January 17, 2015
Nope. Condescending, condemning and awful. I did not find the heart of God within these pages.
Read
January 7, 2016I'm reviewing one chapter every Wednesday on my blog. Check back each week for a link to the latest chapter:
Introduction: The Power
Chapter 1: His Wife
Chapter 2: His Work
Chapter 3: His Finances
Chapter 4: His Sexuality
Chapter 5: His Affection
Chapter 6: His Temptation
Chapter 7: His Mind
Chapter 8: His Fears
Chapter 9: His Purpose
Chapter 10: His Choices
Chapter 11: His Health
Chapter 12: His Protection
Chapter 13: His Trials
Introduction: The Power
Chapter 1: His Wife
Chapter 2: His Work
Chapter 3: His Finances
Chapter 4: His Sexuality
Chapter 5: His Affection
Chapter 6: His Temptation
Chapter 7: His Mind
Chapter 8: His Fears
Chapter 9: His Purpose
Chapter 10: His Choices
Chapter 11: His Health
Chapter 12: His Protection
Chapter 13: His Trials
September 23, 2013
This book serves as a wonderful resource book. I've read it from cover to cover. I've read it several times. And, I've referenced it several times. The title pretty much sums it up. In my personal experience, I can definitely serve as witness to the POWER of a Praying Wife. In a nutshell, the theme of the book encourages the reader to allow God to handle your marriage. In letting go of trying to make your spouse change, YOU will be changed. Any improvements you witness in your husband's life (from his health to his job and spiritual life) will come from God, alone! This book reminds me that the best witness to anyone (not just your spouse) is modeling after Jesus. He spoke to His heavenly father on our behalf and demonstrated love, patience, forgiveness, and faith.
June 18, 2010
"Praying Wife" was different to what I was expecting and at first I found it hard to relate to the topics as they didn't seem relevant to where my husband is in his journey with Christ. However, I realised that I could just use the topics as a starting point for my prayers for my husband. The prayers were quite specific, so it was hard to find them personal for our situations/circumstances, but I would like to go through the headings again and write up my own prayers for my husband, based on those. The author got me thinking about things to pray about for my husband, that I had never thought of before in regard to topics, not substance.
I found the author used quotes/verses from the Bible a little too often (if that's possible!). It seemed she was just using verses to make up sentences, so firstly it was a little hard to follow at times and secondly, because the verses were so short, they could easily be taken out of context... without looking up each individual verse, you don't know what the writer (of the verse) was really saying, in depth. It seemed the author looked at the topical index/concordance at the back of the Bible and where the topic word was mentioned, she quoted. Am I being too harsh?! Perhaps, but I'm being honest about how I felt!
Without wanting to be too critic of Omartian, I also found she was a little "look what my prayers did for this person". She would use an example of someone (usually her husband, of course!) who she prayed for regarding the particular topic and explain how her prayer was answered in the future. Of course that's possible, but I felt she was saying it was her prayer, not God's power, that made the difference. It's hard to explain what I meant without sounding like I think prayer is redundant, because I absolutely don't believe that! I just mean that the way the author wrote, made it sound like it was all about her.
Anyway, to end on a positive note, the book has given me some wonderful topics to pray for my husband about, that I had never considered before.
I found the author used quotes/verses from the Bible a little too often (if that's possible!). It seemed she was just using verses to make up sentences, so firstly it was a little hard to follow at times and secondly, because the verses were so short, they could easily be taken out of context... without looking up each individual verse, you don't know what the writer (of the verse) was really saying, in depth. It seemed the author looked at the topical index/concordance at the back of the Bible and where the topic word was mentioned, she quoted. Am I being too harsh?! Perhaps, but I'm being honest about how I felt!
Without wanting to be too critic of Omartian, I also found she was a little "look what my prayers did for this person". She would use an example of someone (usually her husband, of course!) who she prayed for regarding the particular topic and explain how her prayer was answered in the future. Of course that's possible, but I felt she was saying it was her prayer, not God's power, that made the difference. It's hard to explain what I meant without sounding like I think prayer is redundant, because I absolutely don't believe that! I just mean that the way the author wrote, made it sound like it was all about her.
Anyway, to end on a positive note, the book has given me some wonderful topics to pray for my husband about, that I had never considered before.
August 16, 2016
I've owned this book for years. I've read it a few times, but it truly was not until this third time around that the words actually pierced my spirit and renewed my soul. I received a new revelation, as it was a different time in my life and my marriage now than the other times I've read it. If you've read the book and find it to be so-so, hold onto it and be obedient for when your spirit man tells you to pull it out again. Stormie is truly ministering in this book. She's being very transparent. Sometimes I read scriptures in the Bible that, at the time, don't necessarily move me or I don't even understand at some points. But a year or two later I can go back and read that same scripture and it will have me shouting out praises as well as, "I get it now! Thank you, Jesus!" This is an "I get it now! Thank you, Jesus" book.
October 15, 2011
I think I may have found this book at Wal-Mart, which is good because that means it can hit a wider base if people than if it were just sold at B&N, for example. Anyway, Mrs. Omartian divides the book into 30 chapters, each with an aspect of a Christian man's life, from sexuality to faith to fatherhood. Actually, that is one of the best things about it, its holistic approach to protection through faith.
The Power of a Praying wife is a great guide for women who love God and love their husbands, and who want to help them through prayer. The book is also a good lesson in relinquishing control and an exercise in faith that God will listen and respond to prayers, making this method more effective (and less frustrating) than arguing or nagging.
Critics of The Power of a Praying Wife suggest that the book is backwards in terms of gender roles, but this perspective misses the mark. Mrs. Omartian never suggests that women be doormats, but reinforces that wives attempting to make husbands more content and at-peace strengthens both the marriage and the family. In particular, the book suggests making love even if you feel too tired. Women who read the book tend to get up in arms about this because their body is their own and they can do what they want with it. Yes, that's true, but how often do women regret making love versus not making love? Making that extra effort is often life-affirming and positive, not oppressive.
Trust in God; Trust in Jesus, both through prayer and the Word. That's the moral, and once you do everything falls into place including and especially marriage.
Amen.
The Power of a Praying wife is a great guide for women who love God and love their husbands, and who want to help them through prayer. The book is also a good lesson in relinquishing control and an exercise in faith that God will listen and respond to prayers, making this method more effective (and less frustrating) than arguing or nagging.
Critics of The Power of a Praying Wife suggest that the book is backwards in terms of gender roles, but this perspective misses the mark. Mrs. Omartian never suggests that women be doormats, but reinforces that wives attempting to make husbands more content and at-peace strengthens both the marriage and the family. In particular, the book suggests making love even if you feel too tired. Women who read the book tend to get up in arms about this because their body is their own and they can do what they want with it. Yes, that's true, but how often do women regret making love versus not making love? Making that extra effort is often life-affirming and positive, not oppressive.
Trust in God; Trust in Jesus, both through prayer and the Word. That's the moral, and once you do everything falls into place including and especially marriage.
Amen.
January 27, 2018
This book seemed extremely sexist. Being a prayerful, loving wife does not mean you need to act like a doormat. The prayer examples also felt a bit childish after a while in that the author claimed to pray for certain issues and then her prayers were clearly answered (just seemed too good to be true quite honestly). The examples of answered prayer almost felt like a candy machine; put in some money and you get what you want.
September 3, 2011
MY REVIEW:
I truly appreciate the concept of this book - having devotionals and prayers coming from the three perspectives of "I", "He", and "We" and all focused on a godly marriage. However, while there is truth in the pages, it is presented together with a very weak focus on the gospel and way too much focus on the act of prayer being the magic act needed for change. I believe there is power in prayer and I am not here to bash prayer in anyway, but I do not agree with phrases like: "The more you pray for your husband this way, the more his heart will become sensitive to the Holy Spirit's promptings." [In reference to an unsaved husband.] While I don't disagree with that being possible, I do disagree with the presentation that it will happen if you just pray these prayers. The focus on this book is heavily on our part in prayer rather than praying from a heart overwhelmed with Christ and the gospel.
Again, I appreciate the idea of this book, but I personally think it's lacking in a gospel centered focus and if you choose to read it I highly recommend reading with great discernment.
BOOK OVERVIEW:
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.
These easy-to-read devotions will increase any wife’s understanding, strength, and peace, as well as provide her with perspective on the situations and challenges she faces. And each prayer will help both husbands and wives be more attuned to the Holy Spirit so they can do what’s right without allowing negative emotions or unclear thinking to get in the way.
A must-have for anyone wanting God’s best for this most important relationship.
* * * * *
This review copy was provided by NetGalley along with Harvest House Publishers but the opinion expresses is my own.
I truly appreciate the concept of this book - having devotionals and prayers coming from the three perspectives of "I", "He", and "We" and all focused on a godly marriage. However, while there is truth in the pages, it is presented together with a very weak focus on the gospel and way too much focus on the act of prayer being the magic act needed for change. I believe there is power in prayer and I am not here to bash prayer in anyway, but I do not agree with phrases like: "The more you pray for your husband this way, the more his heart will become sensitive to the Holy Spirit's promptings." [In reference to an unsaved husband.] While I don't disagree with that being possible, I do disagree with the presentation that it will happen if you just pray these prayers. The focus on this book is heavily on our part in prayer rather than praying from a heart overwhelmed with Christ and the gospel.
Again, I appreciate the idea of this book, but I personally think it's lacking in a gospel centered focus and if you choose to read it I highly recommend reading with great discernment.
BOOK OVERVIEW:
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.
These easy-to-read devotions will increase any wife’s understanding, strength, and peace, as well as provide her with perspective on the situations and challenges she faces. And each prayer will help both husbands and wives be more attuned to the Holy Spirit so they can do what’s right without allowing negative emotions or unclear thinking to get in the way.
A must-have for anyone wanting God’s best for this most important relationship.
* * * * *
This review copy was provided by NetGalley along with Harvest House Publishers but the opinion expresses is my own.
March 2, 2021
I loved reading this and being active in the prayers for my husband. After 16 years marriage is such a hard job that I feel like I work every single day to make better and be better myself. I know prayers can't cure everything but I sure feel better within myself to pray for him, for us, for our kids. The prayers were nice and easy and full of love and encouragement. It gave me perspective on what he might be feeling and what might be lacking for him as a man and husband and a hard worker. I know what I feel as a woman, a mother, housewife etc but to know his daily pressures as the breadwinner and society's view of a man gave me more clarity and more understanding in what I can do to say things differently and not be snappy when I don't get my way or he's not listening.
I would recommend this book to any woman that feels lost or needs self discovery in her marriage. It's just nice to pray with a whole goodness of heart and let Jesus know how you feel and want something changed. I feel that with COVID my faith and patience is being tested but I know what I want for my life. Clarity, calm, faith and goodness.
I would recommend this book to any woman that feels lost or needs self discovery in her marriage. It's just nice to pray with a whole goodness of heart and let Jesus know how you feel and want something changed. I feel that with COVID my faith and patience is being tested but I know what I want for my life. Clarity, calm, faith and goodness.
May 31, 2018
It gets two stars because, yes, you should pray for your husband. Other than that, she makes a LOT of assumptions about what women are like, what men are like, and what a marriage should look like. Also about how prayer works. I’m surprised this book is so popular.
Read
July 10, 20234 ½.
I enjoyed this book. I didn’t realize that prayers for you husband needed to be so specific. This book go into 30 different areas of prayer for your husband. I am not married but if I ever got married, I will pick this book up again.
I enjoyed this book. I didn’t realize that prayers for you husband needed to be so specific. This book go into 30 different areas of prayer for your husband. I am not married but if I ever got married, I will pick this book up again.
March 18, 2022
I have heard some really great things about this book so I had high hopes for sure. But MAN. This was rough. It took a lot of will power to make myself finish it. So disheartening.
I found myself making “eh” notes every other page at points where I felt her theology wasn’t right-on biblically speaking. While the Bible is black and white about most things, there’s a lot where you really have to search and study to come to an understanding of how it was written and what was meant by it. I’m always leery about taking author’s interpretations and opinions as fact and truth without first checking what the Bible says.
It can be dangerous to make claims without doing a deep theological dive into what the Bible REALLY says. I was disappointed that I felt Stormie did make some claims that could lead some wives down a road of discouragement and self judgement where I don’t believe the Bible aligns with.
The thing that was particularly frustrating for me was that while there was some truth sprinkled in, it lost credibility by the good portion of audacity that outshined the truth. Mad making for me personally.
Prayer is power. There’s no question about that. Praying for your Husband is 1000% the best way to support him and this book did a great job of outlining the different ways we can pray for our husbands. Again, I just can’t stress enough that if something doesn’t feel like it comes from God Himself, study the Word to gain clarity on whether it’s just the authors opinion and interpretation before treating it as Truth.
We have a beautiful duty to our husbands to be a prayerful wife. I do believe strongly that God has given us gifts that make us unique partners for our husbands. We have a beautiful role: we get to be powerful, talented, encouraging, loving, helpful, beautiful women - the heart of the family. And I agree, the man is called to be the head of the family and that’s by God’s design for a reason.
The biggest thing that got under my skin is when the author spoke of how we are to take care of ourselves physically as wives. My husband finds me attractive today, in sweats, no makeup, 20 pounds heavier than our wedding day, and I am confident that wouldn’t change. And if it did? I hope I wouldn’t take that on as a failure on my part.
I am beautiful. If Gods love for me doesn’t change with the wind, my husbands love for me shouldn’t either.
The idea that we are in control of ensuring our husbands find us attractive, worthy of affection, etc? Off putting.
The Bible speaks to taking care of yourself because your body is a temple but That’s about it! It surely does not droan on and on about dolling yourself up constantly when you’re exhausted just to please your husband.
It just made me feel the pressure that Stormie must feel as a wife. To feel like she has to be put together, keep the house at a 10 at all times, keep her standards and expectations low to avoid disappointment, it just made me sad for her.
I just hope for any women reading this book, you know that your worth is found only in Christ. I hope you know that marriage is a beautiful equal gift and I do hope you experience and know the importance and power of prayer as a wife.
With all that said, for me, this book missed the mark majorly.
I found myself making “eh” notes every other page at points where I felt her theology wasn’t right-on biblically speaking. While the Bible is black and white about most things, there’s a lot where you really have to search and study to come to an understanding of how it was written and what was meant by it. I’m always leery about taking author’s interpretations and opinions as fact and truth without first checking what the Bible says.
It can be dangerous to make claims without doing a deep theological dive into what the Bible REALLY says. I was disappointed that I felt Stormie did make some claims that could lead some wives down a road of discouragement and self judgement where I don’t believe the Bible aligns with.
The thing that was particularly frustrating for me was that while there was some truth sprinkled in, it lost credibility by the good portion of audacity that outshined the truth. Mad making for me personally.
Prayer is power. There’s no question about that. Praying for your Husband is 1000% the best way to support him and this book did a great job of outlining the different ways we can pray for our husbands. Again, I just can’t stress enough that if something doesn’t feel like it comes from God Himself, study the Word to gain clarity on whether it’s just the authors opinion and interpretation before treating it as Truth.
We have a beautiful duty to our husbands to be a prayerful wife. I do believe strongly that God has given us gifts that make us unique partners for our husbands. We have a beautiful role: we get to be powerful, talented, encouraging, loving, helpful, beautiful women - the heart of the family. And I agree, the man is called to be the head of the family and that’s by God’s design for a reason.
The biggest thing that got under my skin is when the author spoke of how we are to take care of ourselves physically as wives. My husband finds me attractive today, in sweats, no makeup, 20 pounds heavier than our wedding day, and I am confident that wouldn’t change. And if it did? I hope I wouldn’t take that on as a failure on my part.
I am beautiful. If Gods love for me doesn’t change with the wind, my husbands love for me shouldn’t either.
The idea that we are in control of ensuring our husbands find us attractive, worthy of affection, etc? Off putting.
The Bible speaks to taking care of yourself because your body is a temple but That’s about it! It surely does not droan on and on about dolling yourself up constantly when you’re exhausted just to please your husband.
It just made me feel the pressure that Stormie must feel as a wife. To feel like she has to be put together, keep the house at a 10 at all times, keep her standards and expectations low to avoid disappointment, it just made me sad for her.
I just hope for any women reading this book, you know that your worth is found only in Christ. I hope you know that marriage is a beautiful equal gift and I do hope you experience and know the importance and power of prayer as a wife.
With all that said, for me, this book missed the mark majorly.
November 29, 2007
This book is broken down into 30 one-day aspects of a man's life (i.e. his work, his relationships, his reputation). There are some thoughts from the author based on scripture, and a prayer at the end of each day's selection which comes directly from the Bible so that the reader is praying the scripture verses. It's very powerful stuff.
I found this to be a tremendously helpful tool in my marriage as I focus, not on myself, but on my husband and tha challenges he faces each day. (Incidentally, there is also a book entitled The Power of a Praying Husband, and The Power of a Praying Parent)
I found this to be a tremendously helpful tool in my marriage as I focus, not on myself, but on my husband and tha challenges he faces each day. (Incidentally, there is also a book entitled The Power of a Praying Husband, and The Power of a Praying Parent)
March 27, 2009
I tried to be open-minded with this, reading it to participate in a weekly discussion on the chapters. But in the end, as I feared, I was usually more incensed by each chapter than I was bettered. Surely I could have gotten more out of it only were I the type of woman who believes the husband necessarily is the head of the household and the wife's role is to serve and uphold him, the children, and the house. I'm just not that kind of Christian - or person - and couldn't get over her antiquated view of the husband and wife relationship. Uck.
February 16, 2015
While reading this I found my head nodding quite often, and while it's comforting to know not every marriage is perfect and others struggle with the same difficulties, having a prayer and scripture at hand is THE biggest comfort. Definitely a book I will purchase, keep by my bedside, and reference often. And it may show up in a few people's Christmas stockings....
August 20, 2018
This book and other Stormie Omartian books have been a huge influence in my life, in how I pray for my family.
October 15, 2009
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.
The first problem is that she assumes the husband is Christian too. Praying for your husband is even more important if he isn't saved, and Stormie Ormatian seemed to forget that aspect, which made me feel like I wasn't part of the target group.
The second thing I took issue with is in the chapter of praying for his sexuality. I have no problems with that, and agree with the importance of it, but Stormie claimed that if a wife didn't feel like having sex, she should just 'suck it up' (paraphrased), and if a husband didn't feel like having sex, there was a fundamental problem and they should seek counseling!!!
So a man is always a sex-fiend, and if he's not, there's something wrong with the marriage??? What a way to ruin a wife's self-esteem!
That said, praying daily for your husband (or wife) is not only a good idea, it's a necessity, and I liked Stomie's way of approaching it, by taking specific issues, specific aspects of his life and focusing on those. That's definitely something I'll continue to try to practice.
The first problem is that she assumes the husband is Christian too. Praying for your husband is even more important if he isn't saved, and Stormie Ormatian seemed to forget that aspect, which made me feel like I wasn't part of the target group.
The second thing I took issue with is in the chapter of praying for his sexuality. I have no problems with that, and agree with the importance of it, but Stormie claimed that if a wife didn't feel like having sex, she should just 'suck it up' (paraphrased), and if a husband didn't feel like having sex, there was a fundamental problem and they should seek counseling!!!
So a man is always a sex-fiend, and if he's not, there's something wrong with the marriage??? What a way to ruin a wife's self-esteem!
That said, praying daily for your husband (or wife) is not only a good idea, it's a necessity, and I liked Stomie's way of approaching it, by taking specific issues, specific aspects of his life and focusing on those. That's definitely something I'll continue to try to practice.
April 8, 2021
I truly enjoyed this book. I went with my gut on this rating. The stories, the scriptures were really good, and the prayers were AMAZING! I read some reviews and prior to rating it for myself, so I wanted to touch on this one point. There were 31 stories in this book and all 31 stories ended with answered prayers. I would be missing the point of this book if I ACTUALLY THOUGHT, she only prayed 31 times in her entire marriage and God answered each of those prayers.
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.
Praying for your husband and your marriage is one of the toughest things we must do as a wife. Stormie shares the details of events that have taken place in her life and the strategies she put in place to receive the change she needed not only from her husband, but also herself to better their marriage and relationship with one other.
Do I recommend this book, yes. Especially, for the prayers and scriptures, they were phenomenal. The stories were good too.😉
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.
Praying for your husband and your marriage is one of the toughest things we must do as a wife. Stormie shares the details of events that have taken place in her life and the strategies she put in place to receive the change she needed not only from her husband, but also herself to better their marriage and relationship with one other.
Do I recommend this book, yes. Especially, for the prayers and scriptures, they were phenomenal. The stories were good too.😉
March 26, 2022
I read this book more than ten years ago, early in my marriage, and didn’t remember liking it but I decided to skim it before getting rid of it while cleaning out some books. Some of the chapters are okay but the introduction and first chapter are so bad that I couldn’t recommend it to anyone.
The introduction section is really dangerous for women in abusive marriages. The author doesn’t ignore abusive marriages but the way she addresses them is almost worse than ignoring them—abusiveness is written in the same list as being irritating or hurting your feelings, just as another thing husbands might do, which minimizes how much more serious and life-destroying abusiveness is than the minor irritations and conflicts of married life.
Some of this may be due to her own experience, which sounds like she’s dealt with a fair amount of explosiveness at home but doesn’t seem to identify what happened to her as being abnormal. In the introduction, Omartian talks about how her husband used “words like weapons” against her and the kids, but then says “I am sure I was as much to blame as he.” This feeds into the narrative that abused women somehow provoked their husbands or deserved what happened to them. In the first chapter, she says “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.” She’s using this as an illustration of why she prays before asking him to do things, but honestly, I’m just appalled. It sounds to me like she’s still walking on eggshells around a volatile man.
Also in the first chapter, she says:
“This whole requirement is especially hard when you feel your husband has sinned against you with unkindness, lack of respect, indifference, irresponsibility, infidelity, abandonment, cruelty, or abuse. But God considers the sins of unforgiveness, anger, hatred, self-pity, lovelessness, and revenge to be just as bad as any others.” I strongly disagree with that because it’s making a vulnerable woman who wonders how she got to this place or who no longer feels love for her husband or who struggles to understand how to forgive someone who persistently refuses to reconcile feel, on top of that, guilt that her supposed sin is as bad as her husband’s abuse that put her there.
Back in the introduction, she wrote, “In every broken marriage, there is at least one person whose heart is hard against God.” You’d think this would be the abusive angry spouse; however, she goes on to identify it as the hurt spouse—adding guilt to the hurt already experienced by abused women. Omartian says YOU have to decide if you want your marriage to work; the only problem is that a wife can’t make her marriage work if her husband doesn’t agree! It takes two. Women are not equally responsible for the abuse they suffer and they are not able to single-handedly make a living breathing marriage. When abuse is involved, trying to keep women in the marriages can be dangerous to both them and the children in those families.
The introduction section is really dangerous for women in abusive marriages. The author doesn’t ignore abusive marriages but the way she addresses them is almost worse than ignoring them—abusiveness is written in the same list as being irritating or hurting your feelings, just as another thing husbands might do, which minimizes how much more serious and life-destroying abusiveness is than the minor irritations and conflicts of married life.
Some of this may be due to her own experience, which sounds like she’s dealt with a fair amount of explosiveness at home but doesn’t seem to identify what happened to her as being abnormal. In the introduction, Omartian talks about how her husband used “words like weapons” against her and the kids, but then says “I am sure I was as much to blame as he.” This feeds into the narrative that abused women somehow provoked their husbands or deserved what happened to them. In the first chapter, she says “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.” She’s using this as an illustration of why she prays before asking him to do things, but honestly, I’m just appalled. It sounds to me like she’s still walking on eggshells around a volatile man.
Also in the first chapter, she says:
“This whole requirement is especially hard when you feel your husband has sinned against you with unkindness, lack of respect, indifference, irresponsibility, infidelity, abandonment, cruelty, or abuse. But God considers the sins of unforgiveness, anger, hatred, self-pity, lovelessness, and revenge to be just as bad as any others.” I strongly disagree with that because it’s making a vulnerable woman who wonders how she got to this place or who no longer feels love for her husband or who struggles to understand how to forgive someone who persistently refuses to reconcile feel, on top of that, guilt that her supposed sin is as bad as her husband’s abuse that put her there.
Back in the introduction, she wrote, “In every broken marriage, there is at least one person whose heart is hard against God.” You’d think this would be the abusive angry spouse; however, she goes on to identify it as the hurt spouse—adding guilt to the hurt already experienced by abused women. Omartian says YOU have to decide if you want your marriage to work; the only problem is that a wife can’t make her marriage work if her husband doesn’t agree! It takes two. Women are not equally responsible for the abuse they suffer and they are not able to single-handedly make a living breathing marriage. When abuse is involved, trying to keep women in the marriages can be dangerous to both them and the children in those families.
December 7, 2017
Positives:
•Great concept! Wives need to pray for their husbands, and can be their husbands best prayer warrior. There are many aspects of your husband’s life to cover in prayer, and I think this book points out some great ones! It definitely motivated me to start actively praying more deeply for my husband every day.
•Lots of KJV!
•Begins with a challenge to seek God’s change in your own life before you start wanting Him to change your husband.
Negatives: Oh boy. Where to start... •Omartian puts too much of an emphasis on WHO is praying and not enough on who you pray TO. The power of prayer isn’t in prayer itself, but in the God who hears and answers.
•A little Charismatic Mumbo-jumbo going on here and there.
•Scripture mis-interpreted a number of times.
•If she said that prayer was “cheaper than a divorce” one more time, I was gonna throw my book at the wall!!!!
•Shallow. This could’ve been a great, deep book on prayer, but it was so shallow and poorly executed.
•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.
2 stars because it was a good idea, and it DID motivate me to pray for my husband more. But I just couldn’t even finish. Quit at page 159.
•Great concept! Wives need to pray for their husbands, and can be their husbands best prayer warrior. There are many aspects of your husband’s life to cover in prayer, and I think this book points out some great ones! It definitely motivated me to start actively praying more deeply for my husband every day.
•Lots of KJV!
•Begins with a challenge to seek God’s change in your own life before you start wanting Him to change your husband.
Negatives: Oh boy. Where to start... •Omartian puts too much of an emphasis on WHO is praying and not enough on who you pray TO. The power of prayer isn’t in prayer itself, but in the God who hears and answers.
•A little Charismatic Mumbo-jumbo going on here and there.
•Scripture mis-interpreted a number of times.
•If she said that prayer was “cheaper than a divorce” one more time, I was gonna throw my book at the wall!!!!
•Shallow. This could’ve been a great, deep book on prayer, but it was so shallow and poorly executed.
•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.
2 stars because it was a good idea, and it DID motivate me to pray for my husband more. But I just couldn’t even finish. Quit at page 159.
April 3, 2009
I've read and used this book as a hand book to my marriage (next to the Bible of course). Stormie really hits on the truth , and the truth you find out about yourself when you read this is life altering. Great book to read if you've ever thought to yourself or cried out in the night..."Somethings got to change"! I've grown soo much from using the prayers in this hidden "treasure" given to me by a friend who loved me enough to show me the light. It's about keeping your eyes on the true lover of my soul and let G-d be the saviour of the love of my life. It really enabled me to let go and direct my gaze where it belongs. On Messiah.
February 8, 2017
I read this book when my husband to be gave it to me 10 yrs ago. After being married now for 10 years, many pages have fallen out & been put back but I still use this powerful resource almost every day to fight for my husband. Everyone is under attack from the enemy. I'm so glad i've learned how to fight through prayer & not to fight my husband anymore.
July 9, 2009
I love this book it has truly helped me in my prayers for my hubby. He has truly come along way God is awesome and has done great things in his life and is still at work thats to being a praying wife.
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