Ep. 176: Genee Francis on praying together.
What if one of the simplest ways to strengthen your marriage is also one of the easiest to overlook?
Prayer is more than a conversation about God—it’s an invitation to talk with God. On this episode of The MercyCast, Raleigh Sadler welcomes back Genee Francis, Assistant Director for Content and Programming at Winshape Marriage, to explore the power of praying together as a couple.
Genee shares how developing a daily rhythm of prayer with her husband helped them understand each other’s deepest thoughts, fears, hopes, and concerns. Together, Raleigh and Janae unpack why couples can struggle to pray together, how vulnerability and boundaries play a role, and why learning to rely on God can transform the way we communicate and connect.
From personal prayer time to praying as a couple, this conversation offers a practical reminder: you don’t have to be perfect at prayer—you just have to begin.
Key Takeaways
Prayer deepens intimacy. Praying together can strengthen emotional and spiritual connection between spouses.
Start small. You don’t need an hour-long prayer session. Genee encourages couples to begin with just seven minutes of prayer and devotion together.
Practice makes prayer easier. Like any habit, praying with others becomes more natural as you do it consistently.
Personal and shared prayer both matter. Couples can maintain individual time with God while also creating intentional time to pray together.
Healthy boundaries are important. Marriage doesn’t eliminate the need for a personal relationship with God.
Prayer changes your posture. Instead of trying to control or solve everything ourselves, prayer teaches us to trust and rely on God.
God belongs at the center. Like a three-stranded cord, a marriage strengthened by husband, wife, and God can withstand adversity.
Just try it. You don’t have to know the perfect words. Start the conversation and bring your real life to God.
Take the next step: If you’re married, set aside seven minutes today to pray with your spouse. And if praying together feels uncomfortable, remember: you don’t have to be good at it to begin. Remember, You are loved.
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For more conversations like this one, check out my book, Vulnerable: Rethinking Human Trafficking.