Strengthening Your Prayer Life

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. (1 Peter 3:7)
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​Prayer is one of the areas that most Christians struggle with.  Over the years I have spoken with countless believers who have admitted to struggling in their prayer life.  We read stories like George Muller and wonder how we can have that kind of prayer life?  Doubtless there are many different reasons for our weak prayers.  One may be a lack of faith.  Another may be a misunderstanding of what prayer is and how it works.  Another may simply be not making prayer time a priority in our busy schedules.  But one reason that is often overlooked by men who desire to have a more effective prayer life is the manner in which they treat and love their wives.  Notice carefully the words of Peter: “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”  Husbands need to be understanding with their wives and honor them as the weaker vessel.  Weaker, not in the sense that they are less intelligent or less valuable, but in the sense of understanding that God intended for men to be their protectors and shepherds.  Peter offers two reasons as to why this should be.  The first is because our wives are “heirs” with us.  Husbands should strive to be understanding toward their wives and honor them because they are, after all, fellow sisters in Christ who will inherit the kingdom of God with us.  Secondly, however, husbands should strive to be understanding toward their wives and honor them so that our prayers may not be hindered.  Why is that?  Quite simply, why should God honor our prayers when we fail to honor and cherish the most precious gift He has given us?  Husbands, if you want your prayer life to be strengthened and you wanted more of your prayers to be answered, “live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel.”