Scripture is very clear on the power of the tongue. Proverbs 18:21 sums it up pretty well when it says, “The tongue has the power of life and death.” Our words truly hold weight, particularly when it comes to our relationships. How often do you speak to your husband? I assume the answer for most is a lot! Whether in person, on the phone, or texting, most couples are connecting through words quite a bit. That communication is part of what builds the foundations and structures of your relationship. Now, ask yourself the question: how do I speak to my husband?

I didn’t grow up in a family where intentional prayers for one another were a regular practice. Praying was considered deeply personal rather than public. While both personal and public forms of prayer hold value, the art of praying for others remained an uncharted territory for me. The fear of judgment and the pressure of saying the "right" words in an encouraging manner kept me from praying out loud in front of others. However, as I grew more spiritually mature in my relationship with Jesus, he taught me that powerful prayers stem from the heart, not using eloquent lofty words but with sincerity and filled with scripture! When I got engaged to my now husband, I wanted to take praying for him seriously.

Just kidding! Relationships and marriage are complicated… I prayed for a man that would be my prince charming…yes I am in love with the idea of a knight in shining armor who would ride in on his white horse and rescue me. Stop laughing…we’ve all been there, and ya know what?! That’s totally OK! Years ago, I was in a terrible, I mean an awful relationship with someone where I experienced a constant temptation to do what was unpleasing in the Lord’s eyes. I absolutely knew I was not living a godly lifestyle, but I was scared to break off the relationship for fear of being alone.

“Jesus loves me – this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” I remember hearing this hymn a great deal growing up. We would sing it during Sunday school class, and my mom sang it with my sister and me at home. So thankfully, as a child, I was no stranger to the fact that God loved me.

The first verse I memorized as a child was John 3:16. I attended a youth Bible study hosted by Awanas, a Christian non-profit organization, to help young people grow in their faith. One of the challenges they gave us was to memorize a verse weekly. Since then, my love for God’s word has grown, and I’ve continued memorizing verses. Yet, my first memory verse will always have a special meaning in my heart.