Power of a Praying Wife, The

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Without wanting to be too critic of Omartian, I also found she was a little "look what my prayers did for this person". She would use an example of someone (usually her husband, of course!) who she prayed for regarding the particular topic and explain how her prayer was answered in the future. Of course that's possible, but I felt she was saying it was her prayer, not God's power, that made the difference. It's hard to explain what I meant without sounding like I think prayer is redundant, because I absolutely don't believe that! I just mean that the way the author wrote, made it sound like it was all about her. The above quote is in the context of a problem that's been worked through and changed, which is great, but then the below comment comes which is written in present tense, and you wonder if maybe her husband is still verbally abusive? My Husband Would Not Be Happy If I Wrote This (And - Taking Relationship Advice From That Friend Who Doesn't Have a Good Relationship):

New from bestselling author Stormie Omartian is a book close to her own heart—The Power of a Praying® Wife Devotional. Following up on the insights and prayers of The Power of a Praying® Wife (more than 3.5 million books sold) 100 brand-new devotions, prayers, and supporting Scriptures offer a praying wife fresh ways to pray for her husband, herself, and her marriage. I want to end off with saying that Stormie Omartian speaks of women like we are mere slaves to our man. That we are accessories. That God made it that way. I want to say that this mindset is toxic and silly. This book actively encourages old, ridiculous rules and standards of women. This book actively encourages you to be an emotional sponge for your man. For a man that you pray for, but doesn't need to pray for you. You are not just a slave for your husband. You are your own autonomous person with your own free will. If your husband is abusive to you, then you need to leave, regardless if God grieves or not. Not only that, this book only applies to a very narrow sector of married women in the world. It may be applicable if you are young, healthy and not disabled, and affluent. Chapter 3: "But your prayers will certainly help protect your husband from unnecessary struggle and loss. God's desire is to bless those who have obedient, grateful, and giving hearts, whose true treasure is the Lord." These easy-to-read devotions will increase any wife’s understanding, strength, and peace, as well as provide her with perspective on the situations and challenges she faces. And each prayer will help both husbands and wives be more attuned to the Holy Spirit so they can do what’s right without allowing negative emotions or unclear thinking to get in the way.

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For the first few chapters I was very impressed by this book, and I still think it's a brilliant idea, but I do think the author made some very troubling claims.

Begins with a challenge to seek God’s change in your own life before you start wanting Him to change your husband. There is a constant feeling in this book, a previously mentioned, that prayer is a special power you can tap into. She talks about what makes your prayers stronger or weaker, as if we have any control over God and how he responds to us. Indeed, the focus often isn't on God and what he can do, but what YOU can do through prayer, which is a totally wrong focus on things. It also constantly dips into the charismatic, prosperity gospel outlook that good things will come to you if you just pray. In Chapter 1 she says "I assume no woman would marry a man she didn't love." Which sounds nice in a perfect world, but there are many women who might marry to escape circumstances, because they feel like they don't have other options, or even have their marriages arranged. What about the middle aged and elderly couples who no longer desire or are able to be at the ready for sex on demand at all times? What about marriages where one person is disabled? I am disabled and so could not be the perfect wife (shame on me!). However, God has used this challenge to make my husband into a more gentle, patient, and less selfish person. And his patience with me has helped me to be grateful to him, and makes me love him more. I know this book is about praying, and so all the focus is on that. Which is great. But prayer isn't the only tool, and there seems to be an assumption in a lot of her example stories that husbands don't respond well to any bit of loving criticism or request (maybe due to the above anger issues of her own husband that's what she sees as the norm?)Lets just say that I found some red flags in the authors marriage that make me thankfully mine is nothing like hers. My husband would think I was slandering him if I tried to publish similar stories, and it's kinda hard to take her advice when I don't want to be in her shoes. Examples are: Trust in God; Trust in Jesus, both through prayer and the Word. That's the moral, and once you do everything falls into place including and especially marriage. Shallow. This could’ve been a great, deep book on prayer, but it was so shallow and poorly executed.