Welcome to The Noble Marriage, where we bring real, relatable, and raw conversations all about life and marriage! In Episode 20, Travis and Adelle share a powerful and deeply personal story of God's intervention through the power of specific prayer, building on last week's discussion about spiritual warfare.
Before diving into the main topic, Travis expresses his gratitude for Adelle's concern for his health and spiritual walk, acknowledging her encouragement to exercise and eat healthy with him. Adelle, in turn, praises Travis as a leader in their home, community, and in her life, particularly his inspiring role in pouring into other men.
A Desperate Prayer in the Darkness Adelle sets the scene, recounting a pivotal moment nine years ago after their first-ever marriage retreat. They were struggling, especially with communication, and the retreat's "confession time" left Adelle deeply disturbed by Travis's profound, unexplainable tears. Confused and desperate, that night in her hotel room, Adelle penned a prayer in her journal, a raw cry for God's intervention in their marriage and in Travis's life.
Adelle then shares this deeply personal prayer from 2015: "Lord, bring the right people into our lives that have wisdom and knowledge in marriage and business. Lead us in the right path and away from any harm that could come to us. Please be with Travis, please heal him, draw him closer to you, help him be an extraordinary leader at home first and to others second. Please rid him of his demons that he lives with from his past. Please give me a complete understanding of him. Please give me wisdom, bring godly women into my life to help me navigate through this. Show me the right scriptures to read so that I will understand better how to be the best wife I can be. I love him and I know he loves me. Please bless our marriage abundantly. I believe you will. Please give me extra compassion for him when he needs it. God, You are amazing and I am so thankful for all the many blessings You have given me and our family. Thank You for the work already being done and for the work You will do. I love You and want to be more like You."
Adelle notes this was her first recorded prayer for Travis, and looking back, God has answered every single bit of it, 100-fold.
Key Insights on Prayer:
Specificity is Key: Adelle reveals she counted 14 specific requests in that nine-year-old prayer, and all have been answered. She emphasizes that "what I leave out of my prayers is left out of my life." God desires specific prayers because He wants to provide specific answers, especially when they align with His will.
Praying with God's Will: Understanding God's Word and His promises is crucial to aligning our prayers with His will, rather than our own desires, which might not be in line with His greater plan (James 4:2-3).
The Difficulty of Praying in Despair: Adelle admits how incredibly difficult it was to pray back then, especially given her despair, lack of a deep relationship with God, and her blame towards Travis. The prayer, though desperate, came from a place of humility, a stark contrast to her previous attempts to control and "fix" Travis. It was the beginning of her surrender to God.
The Honor and Influence of Prayer Now: Travis and Adelle now find it an honor and privilege to pray for each other. Adelle highlights that her prayers have "no borders, no time limits," drawing parallels to biblical figures like David, whose prayers for his lineage had a thousand-year impact.
Prayer as a Supernatural Weapon: Prayer is not tangible; it is a supernatural, faith-based belief that, when offered within God's will, will be done. It's a way to "fight for you, not with you," taking spiritual authority over challenges rather than engaging in worldly arguments or control.
Praying What God Wills: Adelle shares how she now asks God how to pray for specific situations, like parenting challenges. Instead of praying against negative symptoms, she prays for God's character to magnify and for anything not of Him to fall away. This aligns with God's higher ways and plans.
Timing of Answers: While God desires to answer prayers that align with His will, His timing is His own. Adelle's 2015 prayer didn't show significant results until early 2018, emphasizing the need for patience and persistent faith.
Documenting Prayers, Growing Faith: Writing down prayers and later seeing God's undeniable answers incredibly builds faith – not just for the individual, but for those around them who witness God's divine intervention.
The "Why" of God's Glory: Travis clarifies that God seeking "glory" from answered prayers is not narcissism. It's because when prayers are answered according to His will, it showcases His goodness, righteousness, and superior ways compared to the chaos of evil.
Praying with Belief, Not Doubt: Both Travis and Adelle emphasize that prayer must be offered with belief, not doubt. Adelle specifically wrote "I believe you will" in her prayer to counter her internal doubt, demonstrating the active choice of faith.
Just Start Praying: For those who don't know how to pray, Adelle encourages them to simply start. The Holy Spirit, our helper, intercedes for us even when we don't know what to say, and through consistent practice, we will grow in understanding God's will and how to pray effectively.
Categories for Praying Specifically for Your Spouse: Travis and Adelle provide practical categories and examples for how to pray specifically for your spouse:
Spiritual Health: Increased faith and trust in God. Strengthened identity in God. Deeper connection to God's Word. Open eyes to spiritual warfare and areas needing protection. Wisdom and discernment (James 1:5-6).
Personal Growth: Overcoming challenges and struggles (e.g., health, job, career decisions). Magnification of God's character and removal of ungodly traits. Healing of emotional wounds and past traumas. Walking in their God-given purpose (to love God and others).
Marriage and Relationships: Wisdom in conflict resolution and unity. Aligned hearts in parenting, decision-making, and all areas of life. Shared vision for the future. Protection over schedules and prioritizing the marriage. Purity of heart against worldly influences and temptation.
Career: Fulfillment and purpose in their work. Financial stability. Wisdom in career decisions.
Physical Health: Overall well-being. Inspiration to make good choices regarding diet and exercise. Protection from illness or healing from existing conditions.
Call to Action: What specific prayer for your spouse (or yourself) would you write down today after hearing this episode? We'd love for you to share in the comments, or simply make it a personal prayer to God.
Check out our series on prayer on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_qjPvk2kzznkeClnZg6zXwHXqN7Zgdvx
