Like so many in our community, my wife and I have been quite busy lately and the need for a change of scenery was becoming increasingly apparent to me.  With her back in school and me involved in a lot of things, leaving town for an extended length of time was not a reasonable option right now so we did the next best thing—we took a one day trip.  In reality it was not even a full day away, but at least we borrowed a few hours from the day to spend some time together.  We rode to the coast and spent time by the seaside enjoying the scenery on one of the most beautiful days we have had in a long time.  Not only was the weather fantastic, but we had a beautiful time with each other.

As we spent time sitting by the water listening to the gentle splashing of the waves and watching the coastal birds, it proved to be most relaxing as well as an escape from tarped roofs, twisted metal, and mangled limbs.  And it was a wonderful time just to sit down and talk.  Our conversation was not for the purpose of correcting any particular problem or trying to reconcile differences, but simply to have the pleasure of hearing each other’s heart.  Just to be able to sit down and have a talk is a refreshing and strength building opportunity that every couple should employ as often as possible.

Not only should we regularly sit down and have a conversation with our spouse, but we should also have frequent talks with God.  A Biblical example of this taking place is found in the Old Testament of the Bible.  In one of the prayers recorded in the Bible we are told: “Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:  ‘Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that You have brought me this far?’” (2 Samuel 7:18, New International Version).

King David’s sitting before the Lord and expressing his heart to God paints a picture of the personal nature of his relationship with God.  He did not view God as a far removed, impersonal deity that was not involved in his day-to-day affairs.  Instead, his walk with God was personal and real.  He acknowledged God’s supremacy, yet he exercised the opportunity to approach God as One in Whom he had confidence.  He knew that God was available to him and had great concern about the things that concerned him.  How wonderful it is that God is just as concerned about your needs and mine as He was about King David’s so many centuries ago!

Healthy conversation is not a one way discourse, but communication that is shared between both parties.  As Gale and I talked in the car and as we sat by the beautiful blue water and conversed together, it allowed us both to hear each other deeply and become enriched by each other’s thoughts. 

It is easy for us to think about prayer as simply spewing out to God what we want Him to do for us.  Making our requests to God is certainly a real part of prayer that we are invited to exercise, but it is much more.  It is allowing God to speak deeply into our hearts and remind us of how much He cares about us and that He desires for us to grow in love for Him.

Be careful not to allow the pressures of life to keep you from sitting down and having an enriching talk with your husband or wife.  And also remember the great need to sit down with God and commune with Him.  Listen to what He says to you, acknowledge His care for you, and remember His unconditional love for you.