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Summary: Why the hype?
Review: I purchased this book BECAUSE of all the excitement and was quite disappointed. The Power of a Praying Wife is (at its best) a mediocre attempt at explaining the importance of praying for our husbands. Most of the time, Omartian sounds trite and superficial.
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Summary: We Have Power!
Review: I was truly blessed by this book. Stormie Omartian really brought this message in a way that any woman, of any walk of life would be able to embrace. This book was recommended to me by a friend. I am so grateful that I bought it. I have given it to family members. This book talks about alot of the aspects of your husbands life. From his sex life to his relationship with the Lord. It is awesome the effect we have on our husbands life just by praying for him in a specific way. I am sure if you are like me, you pray for your spouse anyway, but Stormie really helps you put things into perspective. She even gives you prayers at the end of each chapter to help you. IF YOU ARE MARRIED OR ENGAGED, PLEASE PICK UP THIS BOOK YOU WILL REFER TO IT TIME AND AGAIN EVEN AFTER YOU HAVE READ IT. BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!
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Summary: A Praying Wife Will Significantly Change Your Marriage
Review: No amount of marriage counseling can turn your marriage around the way this book can! A friend gave me the book and it has opened my eyes, my heart and my mind. It has literally transformed my marriage from a loveless, hopeless anchor to a hopeful, God-filled, God-blessed, loving relationship. Granted, the road to a better marriage is a hard road, requiring a lot of hard work, but with Stormie's insight and carefully constructed prayers which touch on every aspect of a man's life, the road is downhill. Thank you, Lord, for working through Stormie to bring your teachings to so many women struggling in their marriage!
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Summary: I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT !!!
Review: I don't agree with the previous critics. This is a very good book which is neither "potentially damaging" nor does Stormie Omartian treat God as a "magician". This is not a book just for wives whose marriages are in peril. Quite the contrary, it's for women who want to find peace and contentment in every situation. The only way I could perceive this to be potentially damaging is if someone were to use this book as the only means by which to find reconciliation in a troubled marriage - and I'm certain Mrs. Omartian would agree that this book SHOULD NOT replace christian marriage counseling. I don't believe the essence of the book was to pray that God would reshape the thinking of a tormented wife and conform her to what her husband would consider ideal...not even that any woman should try to CHANGE her husband through prayer, just because they differ in a variety of situations - even extreme. Anyone who gets that from the book, didn't read deep enough to get the protein. I am not a tormented wife and I have been happly married for 8 years and I was able to finish the book with a renewed outlook. Yes - there are things that even happily married, non-newlyweds can learn about marriage and how to make it better - even when it's already great. I'd be lying if I said I never asked God to change my husband. The truth is I have done that, but I was wrong. One of the many gems I received from the book was that when there are times when my husband and I don't agree on something that we both know we should agree on, it's much easier to get through it when I fall to my knees and ask God to help me see what my husband sees, but only through God's eyes - not through my husband's eyes. Even if the prayer is not immediately answered, prayer helps you get through it. For the women who have come away with the impression that Mrs. Omartian is teaching that women alone should be the ones willing to change because their husbands won't - your misinterpreting the message. This book is called "The Power of a Praying WIFE". It would probably be easier to swallow if Mr. Omartian would compose "The Power of a Praying Husband" too.
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Summary: Marriage Counselor in paper
Review: I purchased the book after reading a couple of the reviews. I looked at the table of contents I got turned off immediately. I decided to skim through a couple of pages and that convinced me; this book can help me, I made a right choice after all. The prayer that comes after each chapter was very helpful to me, it showed me how to prayer, I'm not one to prayer openly but this book help me decipher what I should prayer about, when one is in the heat of battle one cannot think straight much less pray the right prayer, where its said he/his/him meaning husband I changed that to me and found that I can prayer with faith and claim God's promises. This book was a marriage counsellor to me. If one is too proud to get counsel, read this book.
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Summary: Could potentially cause damage
Review: Evidently women are reading this book because they are unhappy in their marriages, and their husbands are doing something that bothers them. But as a Christian I find this book dangerous. It is more a call to inaction than a call for prayer. It seems to encourage women to accept any fault their husbands may have and put up with it while praying to God for help. Praying is a great thing but doesn't rule out action when necessary, as the Bible makes clear. If a man is verbally or physically abusive, or if he has committed adultery, he has broken the promises he made in the covenant of marriage, and needs to look within himself, with God's help, to find out why, and to *stop the behavior*. It isn't a Christian wife's job to just sit there praying to God while he does whatever he wants to her. Accepting someone as they are, and loving them for that, doesn't mean accepting anything they do without objection. This goes both ways and should apply equally to husband and wife. God meant for husband and wife to help each other, which includes taking responsibility for their own actions. A Christian woman needs to step forward at home, and outside the home, with all her talents and power, in fairness, prayer and action; she doesn't need to make herself into a "praying victim" to win her husband's favor, or to make him feel powerful, in hope that he'll stop bothering or hurting her. She also shouldn't be made to believe that she's selfish if she considers her own needs or well-being (it set off alarms for me when some reviewers said this book taught them not to be "selfish women"). Worst of all, this book subtly encourages women to use the excuse of "turning it over to God" to avoid the difficult questions they may need to answer, or to avoid discussions or conflict that could clear the air and improve the couple's understanding of each other as human beings and as Christians. God challenges us to see things as they truly are and to take appropriate action when we can, even when it's painful and uncomfortable. There are unfortunately a lot of unhappy people stuck in bad marriages, and wives desperately looking for ways to make things better, which accounts for the enormously high sales of this book. Sadly, it doesn't provide any real or lasting answers.
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Summary: A big disappointment!
Review: A friend recommended this book to me as having "changed her life." I suppose I came to it with great expectaions. I read through the first chapter and found that it was geared to women with serious marriage problems as the author states, "Wait! Before You Write Off the Marriage..." Though my husband and I are quite happily married, I proceeded reading, hoping to find tidbits that I could apply to my life. But they are few indeed. (Though I must admit that the Bible verses in each chapter are inspiring.) The author gives an example of how she handled this problem...Her husband REGULARLY said he would be home for dinner, then called at the last minute to tell her he would be working late and eating with co-workers. After praying, she decided to change HER attitude, "I prepared meals as if only I and the children would be eating them. If Michael was able to join us, it was a pleasant surprise. If Michael didn't, I could live with it." She goes on to say that her best advice to a new wife is not to go into a marriage with a lot of expectations. I do not agree that it is reasonable to accept this type of disrespectful behavior. Many examples like this cause me to believe she is leading the reader to find contentment in a bad situation. You can't change him so change your attitude. She also "uses" prayer as if it is magic. Pray and you will see "results"! She is quick to pat herself on the back for these results, some of which are from her petty and controlling efforts to get her husband to conform to what she judges to be "good" for him. For example, she spent two years praying for him to start his own prayer group. She takes the credit when he does. Yet if her prayers are not successful, she blames this on the influence of the "evil" one. Or her husband's bad choices. It seems she has the corner on good judgement and God's revelation of what is best for their marriage. Her view of male sexuality is immature. She explains that for a women, sex comes out of affection. For a man, "sex is pure need. His eyes, ears, brain, and emotions get clouded if he doesn't have that release. He has trouble hearing anything his wife says or seeing what she needs when that area is being neglected." She goes on to say you should make sure you minister to his sexual needs before you expect him to be able to listen to your concerns. GIVE ME A BREAK! We learned not to believe that lame excuse in junior high when they told us not to believe a guy who is putting pressure on a date to have sex because of his male need, "It hurts." Men are not heathens. They have control and can think, discuss, solve problems, be attentive, etc. I agree that you should not withold sex out of revenge or punishment, but once again she asks the wife to settle for less repect and love than she deserves in order to solve her marriage problems. Somewhere into the second or third chapter, I began to wonder who this author is. What gives her the expertise to lead thousands of women into delusion that they can actually change their mate through secret prayers? She nearly guarantees it with lines like "Shut up and pray," and her talk of "results".(And I do believe in the power of prayer. But remember that even when the Son of God begged the Father for His "cup" of suffering to be taken away, God did not do as He was asked. We may not know His plan. He is not at our beck and call as a personal magician to make everything better.) Another example is when The author's husband and child were in a terrible car accident. She believes they were spared by the power of her prayers. But what of our loved ones who die? Aren't our prayers good enough? Let us not forget the lessons in the Book of Job. It may be interesting to note that the author also has written a book that "tells of her traumatic childhood that led her into the occult and drugs." I have yet to find a note of her background in psychology or counseling. This explains the authors adolescent and selfish perspective. A reader looking for real help with a troubled marriage would do better to get a referral to a well respected marriage counselor. Prayer is a gift from God that deserves reverence. It can work miracles, but it is not to be used like magic.
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Summary: Believe Me When I Say Prayer Makes A Difference
Review: If your marriage is on shaky ground - read this book! If your marriage is happy and healthy - read this book! If you are planning on getting married -that's right, READ THIS BOOK! We women may think we know and understand our husbands but believe me when I say, "We don't." Stormie will drop you to your knees in prayer to meet each challenge our husbands' face and it's so very different from what we face as women. My husband and I separated 8 months ago after being together for 19 years. I was devastated when I learned that he was seeing another woman. I have read many inspirational books during the past months, but all are pale in comparison to "The Power of the Praying Wife". A christian friend gave me this book and simply said, "Read it. It will make a difference in your life." She wasn't kidding. Any of you who have gone through a tumultuous experience like I have understand the pain, grief and deep sadness it stirs within you. I find as I read each chapter, I feel as though God is lifting each layer of sadness from my heart. I feel as though the dark clouds of hopelessness are vanishing, and I feel a sense of inner peace that I thought I'd never regain - return! Stormie, you have made me realize that I must change first through prayer before I can ask God to enter my husband's heart to change him. I also understand that what ever happens is God's will not my own for he knows what's best for both of us. It's been 2 weeks since I first started reading this book, but I have to honestly say I see a tremendous change in ME and subsequently my husband is feeling this difference. He's showing subtle changes as well. As Stormie says we must let God do his work. His will be done through prayer and patience - that I do believe with all my heart. Buy this book! It will be the best investment you ever made.
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Summary: God's Power works through our prayers!
Review: Thank you Stormie for this wonderful book that helps us as wives to get the focus off trying to change our husbands and asking God to work in his life instead. God does such a better job than we ever could. We've had some VERY serious problems in our marriage over the years and most recently, my husband and I were contemplating a divorce. His whole attitude (and mine)has changed dramatically. Not overnight, mind you, but day-to-day little things keep adding up and, before you know it, your a thousand miles away from your problems and heading in the right direction. This book also helps you to pray and focus on the things that need to be worked on in yourself and in him. Sometimes our anger and resentment get in the way so we either don't pray or pray with very little focus. This book concentrates our thoughts and attitudes to where we should be and soon we find our attitudes changing too. What a blessing this has been in my marriage & life. Again, thank you Stormie for your faithfulness & insight.
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Summary: have a question
Review: Having a bible study with your book and wondered if you could explain on page 28 bottom. Emotional and physical danger remove yourself.Some of the woman felt this meant to another room, I don't f eel that is what you meant. Could you explain??? God can work great miracles through absence if we are desiring restoration and not divorce. What do you think.
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