How to Pray Together as a Married Couple

Building Spiritual Intimacy in Your Marriage Through Prayer

Prayer is one of the most intimate and powerful things a couple can do together. It’s more than just talking to God—it’s about deepening your relationship with each other by inviting God into your marriage. In a Christian, traditional marriage, praying together helps align your hearts with God’s will, strengthens your bond, and creates a sense of spiritual intimacy that carries you through the ups and downs of life.

But praying together can sometimes feel a little awkward, especially if it’s new to you or your spouse. You may wonder where to start, how to make it meaningful, or even feel a little vulnerable about praying out loud. Don’t worry! Prayer is a journey, and learning to pray together is something that can transform your relationship over time.

In this article, we’ll explore practical ways to pray together as a couple, how to make it a regular part of your marriage, and why it’s such a powerful tool for spiritual growth and unity.

1. Start Small and Consistent

If you’re new to praying together as a couple, the key is to start small and be consistent. You don’t have to begin with long, complicated prayers. Instead, begin with short, simple prayers where you thank God for the day, ask for His guidance, or pray for each other’s needs. It’s more about the consistency than the length or complexity of the prayer.

Setting a regular time to pray together—whether it’s in the morning, before bed, or at dinner—helps make prayer a natural part of your routine. The more consistent you are, the more natural it will feel.

Tip: Start with a simple prayer of gratitude or blessing. For example, you can take turns thanking God for one thing each day, building comfort in praying out loud.

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2. Be Honest and Vulnerable in Your Prayers

One of the most powerful aspects of praying together as a couple is the vulnerability it creates. Prayer allows you to be honest not only with God but also with each other. You’re sharing your hopes, fears, worries, and desires in a way that deepens your connection. Don’t be afraid to pray openly and honestly with your spouse. It’s okay to admit when you’re struggling, to ask for help, or to express gratitude for the ways God is working in your life.

When both partners are vulnerable in prayer, it brings a new level of intimacy to the relationship. You’ll find that praying together makes it easier to support each other through challenges because you understand what your spouse is going through on a spiritual level.

Tip: Take turns praying for each other’s specific needs. Ask your spouse what they’d like you to pray for, and be open about your own prayer requests as well.

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3. Pray for Each Other’s Growth

As a married couple, you’re both on individual spiritual journeys, but those journeys are meant to complement each other. Praying for your spouse’s spiritual growth is a beautiful way to support and encourage them in their walk with God. Ask God to strengthen your spouse’s faith, give them wisdom in their decisions, and help them grow in their relationship with Christ.

When you make it a habit to pray for each other’s growth, you’ll begin to see your spouse in a new light—not just as your partner in life, but as someone who is deeply loved and guided by God. This creates a sense of respect and admiration that strengthens your bond.

Tip: Set aside time each week to specifically pray for each other’s personal growth in faith. Ask your spouse how you can support them spiritually.

4. Pray Scripture Over Your Marriage

The Bible is full of powerful prayers that can be used to strengthen your marriage. Praying scripture together brings the Word of God directly into your relationship. Choose specific verses that speak to your current season of life or challenges you’re facing. Whether it’s asking for wisdom, guidance, peace, or protection, God’s Word provides a solid foundation for your prayers.

For example, Ephesians 4:2-3 says, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Praying verses like this over your marriage reminds both you and your spouse of the values that should guide your relationship.

Tip: Choose a verse of the week to pray over your marriage together. Write it down and keep it somewhere visible as a reminder.

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5. Make Prayer a Part of Big Decisions

Big life decisions—whether it’s buying a home, starting a family, or making career changes—can feel overwhelming. But when you bring those decisions to God in prayer as a couple, you invite Him to guide your path. Praying together about big decisions ensures that both of you are seeking God’s will, not just relying on your own understanding.

When you pray together before making decisions, it not only gives you clarity but also brings peace, knowing that you’re aligning your lives with God’s plan. This kind of spiritual unity makes it easier to move forward with confidence, even when the future feels uncertain.

Tip: When you’re facing a big decision, take time to pray separately and then come together to pray as a couple. This allows you to reflect individually and then seek God’s guidance as a team.

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6. Keep Prayers Focused on Gratitude

While it’s important to bring your needs and concerns to God, don’t forget the power of gratitude in prayer. Thanking God for the blessings in your marriage, the ways He’s provided, and the growth you’ve experienced helps shift your focus from what’s lacking to what’s abundant. Gratitude deepens your trust in God’s provision and strengthens your bond as a couple.

By consistently thanking God for each other and the blessings in your lives, you’ll find that your perspective on challenges begins to shift. Gratitude builds a foundation of joy and contentment, even in difficult seasons.

Tip: Begin every prayer with something you’re grateful for, no matter how small. Gratitude invites God’s presence and sets the tone for a positive, faith-filled relationship.

7. Pray Through Conflict

Every marriage has its moments of disagreement and conflict. But instead of letting those conflicts drive a wedge between you, bring them to God in prayer. Praying together during or after a conflict allows you to seek reconciliation through God’s grace. It helps soften hearts, promote forgiveness, and remind both partners of the love and patience that marriage requires.

When emotions are high, it can be difficult to pray together, but it’s one of the most powerful things you can do. Ask God to help you communicate with kindness, to forgive quickly, and to seek peace over being “right.” Over time, you’ll find that prayer becomes a natural response to conflict, bringing healing and restoration.

Tip: When you’re in the middle of a disagreement, take a pause and pray together, even if it’s just a short prayer asking God to guide your hearts toward peace. Learning each other’s love languages and how to speak respectfully even during conflicts will really help with this step.

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8. Create a Prayer Routine

Like anything in life, prayer takes practice. Establishing a prayer routine helps make praying together a consistent and cherished part of your marriage. You don’t have to follow the same routine every day, but creating time in your schedule to pray as a couple helps make it a priority.

Whether it’s praying together every morning, at bedtime, or before meals, building a prayer routine brings rhythm and peace to your relationship. Over time, it becomes a natural and joyful part of your day, something you both look forward to as you connect with God and each other.

Tip: Find a time that works best for both of you and stick to it. You can start small, with just a few minutes of prayer each day, and build from there.

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9. Don’t Use Prayer as a Dagger

Prayer is meant to uplift, strengthen, and bring you closer as a couple—not to be used as a weapon. It’s easy to fall into the trap of using prayer to passive-aggressively bring up frustrations or highlight your spouse’s faults. In Christian circles, there’s even an old joke about Southern folks adding someone to the prayer list as a way to gossip or throw shade. While this might get a laugh, in reality, using prayer in this way can hurt your relationship.

When you pray together, focus on building each other up. Instead of using prayer to point out areas where your spouse might be struggling, ask God to give you both the strength to overcome challenges and to grow in love and grace. Let your prayers be a safe space, not a subtle form of criticism.

Tip: If you catch yourself slipping into the habit of using prayer to indirectly address issues, take a step back. Pray instead for wisdom, patience, and understanding—for yourself and for your spouse.

The Takeaway

Praying together as a couple is one of the most powerful ways to build spiritual intimacy and strengthen your marriage. Whether you’re new to it or already in the habit of praying together, each moment spent in prayer brings you closer to God and to each other. Through prayer, you can navigate life’s challenges with grace, grow spiritually, and foster a marriage rooted in faith.

By starting small, staying consistent, and being open and honest in your prayers, you’ll experience the beauty of inviting God into every corner of your relationship. Whether you’re praying for each other’s growth, seeking God’s will in big decisions, or simply giving thanks for the blessings in your life, prayer is the key to a Christ-centered, deeply connected marriage.

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As always, I’d love to hear from you – let us know in the comments below your tips on how to use prayer to strengthen your marriage!

Last update on 2025-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API