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“The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16, ESV)

“He is so stubborn. Doesn’t he see what he’s doing to himself? Why does he refuse to eat healthy?”

Just some of the thoughts that were racing through my head as I tried to make sense of the lifestyle choices my husband was making – especially after having had a heart attack. The more I tried to encourage healthy choices the more frustrated he became with me and I with him.

After trying to “change” him on my own, I resorted to doing the thing I should have done in the first place. I started praying very specifically about his health. Asking God to give him a desire to eat healthier,  exercise more and take better care of his body. I quit saying anything to him about what he ate. I made healthy choices for myself and just prayed for him.

Then one day he asked me to purchase some workout clothes for him the next time I went to the store. He shared that he had decided to join the gym. He wanted to get in better shape. Did you catch that – he decided.

 “Thank you Holy Spirit, he thinks it’s his idea.”

That was a few years ago. There have been numerous lifestyle changes since. We love cooking and hosting things at our home. My husband enjoys finding healthy, new recipes for us to try. He’s even working to eliminate sugar completely.

As women it’s hard to watch people we love make bad decisions – especially our husbands or our children. We may feel like we “need” to step in and take control of the situation. However, that person is also God’s creation. As hard as it may be for us to believe, the truth is God loves them even more than we do. He desires the best for them.

We show God that we trust Him when we submit our loved ones to Him in prayer. Deciding to not take matters into our own hands and “work out a solution.” Our prayers become effective and powerful when we chose to wait on the Lord. While we are waiting, we continue to live righteously. Living by faith, fully trusting that the prayer will be answered in God’s timing.

Every year we set goals. When we were discussing our goals at the beginning of this year, my husband shared one he wanted us as a couple to focus on – he wants us to be able to bike ride a forty-mile trail this summer. The Holy Spirit can change the heart of a person better than we ever could dream or imagine. (Romans 8:26-27)

“Lord help us to be still and know that you are God. Remind us to pray over the things that hurt our hearts and trust you to answer in ways that exceed our expectations.”

For His Glory

Laura Holmes (www.ephraimministries.org)
TRBC Women’s Life