Rating: 
Summary: A Counselor's Recommendation
Review: As a happily married counselor and minister, I (foolishly) didn't really think I needed this book when it was first given to me. But I was professionally surprised and personally comforted when I went ahead and gave it a go. Omartian's writing is warm, open, honest, biblical, and right on about the common problems today's wives and marriages face. She provides a tangible solution that moves beyond the complaining and manipulation that desperation often leads to. She shows that no woman has to live in frustration, even if her husband is sometimes, well, shall we say, less than a knight in shining armor? I feel sorry for the new bride who wrote in thinking she didn't need this book because 'only women on the verge of divorce' have days when they don't really "like" their husbands. That is exactly the kind of idealistic thinking that leads to divorce once real life hits, and the kind of thinking this book will help any woman, newly married, tried and true, or packing her bags, to move beyond so she can go do something constructive to keep her marriage healthy. No one can change another human being (unfortunately), but this book helps you learn how to ask God to change the both of you for a better, peaceful marriage. As for one reviewer's claims that the author advocates abuse, that is a tragic and surprising misreading. This book is clearly aimed at the average, salvageable marriage where 2 people make mistakes and let their own selfishness get in the way of a peaceful relationship. Sound familiar, anyone? It is NOT an encouragement for an abused woman to martyr herself at the hands of a dangerous man. Read "The Power of a Praying Husband" to see how the Omartians believe women should be treated. This, coupled with the above mentioned book for husbands, is a wonderful, wise, and effective tool in any marriage, young or old. If more people read this book, I would have a lot more free time. I highly recommend it, professionally and personally. (:
Rating:
Summary: What a great help!
Review: I bought this book after being married for six months. Unfortunately, I didn't read it then. Three years later, I am separated and I feel strongly that things would have been different in my marriage had I just read the book!
Nevertheless, I started praying the prayers in the book (I am still a wife, after all). In doing so, I saw a change in my husband. I also saw a change in myself and my attitudes toward what we were both going through.
Keep in mind that our prayers for another are not for our personal gain. In this instance praying for your husband (and in essence for yourself) is for your marriage.
Any resource, including this book that keeps us praying is a GREAT resource to have. And this book brings to mind so many areas of our lives that we may have forgotten.
Rating: 
Summary: Terrible advice! Save your money and sanity!
Review: I couldn't finish a chapter without feeling outraged by this woman's mis-informed mind. While we as women should change ourselves to be more Christ-like, it doesn't mean giving up our lives for the sake of pleasing our husband's.
Early in the book, Omartian says that separation or divorce is not an option. God does not expect women (or men for that matter) to stay in an unhealthy marriage and sometimes separation is necessary for the life and safety of the woman and her children. By saying that women need to stay in abusive relationships further propels domestic abuse.
Later in the chapter she says not to pray with your partner because it will fail! How stupid! Praying with your partner doesn't have to be spilling your soul out to him, silent prayers, or structured prayers could be used. Praying with your spouse can bring much harmony to the marriage.
Omartian's chapter on sexuality is so skewed, I'm not sure why the editor didn't object to have it removed. Telling women that men's sexuality is a need is grossly wrong and disturbing to the mind. No wonder there are so many men out there who think women are sex-objects! She encourages it! Especially sad is when she says "if your husband desires sex more frequently....change your ways." What the heck?! For the person with a sexually additive husband this does NOTHING to help with the problem only gives more fuel to the fire!! Men are NOT ANIMALS! THEY HAVE SELF-CONTROL!
I could go on, but I won't. Don't spend the money on this book.
I recommend Woman of Grace, A Bible Study for married women, by Michaelann Martin a lovely women's study that I've enjoyed reading. Beautiful for the Catholic wife, or wife-to-be.
Rating:
Summary: Challenging to the Christian wife
Review: I found this book to be very down to earth. I have read this book when I was enaged and after I got married. I wanted to get as much insight as I could on how to overcome differences in a marriage and make it work. This book seeks to give a biblical guide to wives that want to make their marriage work, but just don't know how. This book helped me to be less prideful, to see past anger and emotion and to step up to the plate as a Christian wife, which is not at all wimpy, but strong and controlled. It does not encouarage staying in abusive relationships at all. The point is not to teach submissivenes so much as it is to provide spiritual focus for a frustrated wife. If arguing and fussing was the key to resolving conflicts then this book would seem to teach wimpiness. That is not the key, those that critisize this book must not understand the depths and the power of prayer and how it changes hearts, minds, perspectives and ultimately marriage.
Rating:
Summary: Challenging to the Christian wife
Review: I found this book to be very down to earth. I have read this book when I was enaged and after I got married. I wanted to get as much insight as I could on how to overcome differences in a marriage and make it work. This book seeks to give a biblical guide to wives that want to make their marriage work, but just don't know how. This book helped me to be less prideful, to see past anger and emotion and to step up to the plate as a Christian wife, which is not at all wimpy, but strong and controlled. It does not encouarage staying in abusive relationships at all. The point is not to teach submissivenes so much as it is to provide spiritual focus for a frustrated wife. If arguing and fussing was the key to resolving conflicts then this book would seem to teach wimpiness. That is not the key, those that critisize this book must not understand the depths and the power of prayer and how it changes hearts, minds, perspectives and ultimately marriage.
Rating: 
Summary: Powerful book, Powerful Prayer
Review: I got this book thinking it would help my marriage, make me feel like a better wife. In reality, it helped me to focus on me, what I needed and what I needed to turn over to God, what I needed to change in me, and once I did that, the changes I saw in my family life, things I had prayed for for years, were suddenly happening when i changed me.
It was a wonderful book, and I have read it through a number of times. I do the prayers for a month, then I wil lgo back a month or two later and start it again, espically when I feel that I am not "doing it right". i have also went back over specific chapets and prayed them over and over abotu certain areas that were important.
It is great. I recommend it for every wife!
Rating:
Summary: Need to read further...
Review: I only gave the book 4 stars because I have only read the first couple of chapters thoroughly, although I have skimmed through all of the other chapters. I just wanted to address the fact that some readers felt that this book is only for divorcing women-especially the new bride who wrote that once she saw the caption "I don't even like him-how can I pray for him?" she decided that this was not the book for her. On the contrary, this book, like ANY book, has parts that may apply to you and others that may not. It is between you and God to decide which is which. My marriage is FAR from falling apart. However, if you read just the chapter TITLES you will see that this book addresses many areas in which everyone, not just men, often struggles and seeks to help you learn how to pray more effectively for those areas-for example, his work. Additionally, some women see this book as advocating abuse. However, my take on it from what I have read is that Mrs. Omartian does not feel that women should stay in dangerous situations-in fact, she says if you are in emotional or physical danger, you should get yourself and your children away to a safe place and pray from there. Hopefully this prayer will help him to change. She doesn't say it always works or that you should not consider divorce even if it doesn't change. She simply says that prayer, not divorce, should be our first line of defense. And in defense of her assertion that we should be willing to change first, I believe that she is merely saying that many women pray for change that is UNNECESSARY just because they don't agree with something that is not necessarily ungodly but just not what they want. In those cases, we do need to be willing to change. Women are not ALWAYS right, but God is.
Rating:
Summary: The Power of a Praying Wife
Review: I ordered the Afrikaans version of this book in the latter half of last year. Before even having received the book my husband told me he was moving out. I received the book two weeks later and even though we had started divorce proceedings, I started reading the book as I loved my husband dearly. Every chapter was very moving, inspiring and so focused on the real issues. It translates into words so many feelings which I so often found difficult to put into words. My husband came to me six weeks later and said we must try again. I truly believe that the "Power of a Praying Wife" is what gave me the hope to focus on what I believed in (that God meant for us to be together). I believe the book showed me a new way of 'living' my belief to the extent that my husband's eyes and heart were opened! Thank you Stormie for your courage to express what your heart knows to be true. I am buying each of my best friends a copy for Christmas.
Rating:
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.
Rating:
Summary: Average advise and lacks depth
Review: Ok so this isn't a book for or written by a rocket scientist. The reason I got it was simply because the title had been on a list of books I had made which I wanted to read. I make a list of 20 books that I make an effort to buy and read and then I pass the so so ones on to the local library or their book sale. As I often note I read all kinds of literature except romance novels (yuck!) and make an effort to read books I say I won't like. Or books that I think are to sappy or lacking in depth. And..... when I first read it I disliked it. But it's an OK book.
Actually it is a book of 30 short stories and the authors opinion on what works as far as praying for ones spouse. Each "chapter" is title "HIS." and they are as follows: HIS: Wife Work Finances Sexuality Affection Temptations Mind Fears Purpose Choices health Protection Trials Integrity Reputation Priorities Relationships Fatherhood Past Attitude Marriage Emotions Walk Talk Repentance Deliverance Obedience Self-Image Faith and Failure. I also have been married since 1966 and know that one element she and many people leave out is marrying someone who is your "equal." In Christianity so many become Christians after marriage so the "un-equally yoked" vs equal oxen pulling the team is lacking. She doesn't seem to grasp page 14 Praying for your husband is not the same as praying for a child because you are not your husbands mother. We have authority over our children that is given to us by the Lord or misunderstands that as women we have the power to pray in an equal way for our spouse as we do our children since it is about seeking God wisdom and allowing God to move in a situation, and not us. But I also understand that when one prays for their partner that it does alter how we pray since we are dealing with another adult whom we probably are more intimate mentally and spiritually with. On page 25 she notes "The hard part about being a praying wife, other than the sacrifice of time, is maintaining a pure heart. It must be clean before God in order for you to see good results." I disagree. First anyone who knows Torah-Bible knows that anyone who sees praying as a chore or sacrifice is going about prayer ALL wrong. In my opinion having a pure heart may help but God knows your heart and your intention. In my opinion he will listen when you pray and he will move as he sees fit. Oh and under her Finance blurb she notes on page 56 when discussing tithes and living in downward economic times that " "to be sure there are wealthy people who do not give. But if you were to check closely into their lives, you'd find that they are missing many of the Lords blessings". I wish she had said SOME wealthy and not made it sound like such a blanket statement. First off statistically the truly wealthy folks do give and they give big time. Wannabe wealthy people I don't know about. The wealthy also give and we do not know it. as Bill Gates Sr notes, wealthy people love to give and it serves both a human need as well as a tax relief need for many, since you can only wear so many pairs of shoes etc etc. Her Sex blurb isn't even worth the read since she does what soooooo many Christians authors do when discussing SEX. She talks around SEX and not about real sex. Read KOSHER SEX to better understand what the Torah and what Christ would have said about sex. She also misses the part in # 6 His Temptations. She assumes that adultery is about sex. And as such she ignores BIG TIME the wife's obligation to provide for her husband what he is getting outside marriage. Did you know that according to the Mayflower Madame and many high priced call girls that men may get sex outside marriage but it is the attention and being listened to that they also crave, and is what they get when they pay for sex? His choices in # 10 is another oddity of sorts. Again it gets back to being equally married. Most Jewish-Christian men seek bright, educated women who are also feminine and sexy and as such are able to equate with them when they are dealing with business pressures and decision making. Being in an equal marriage you give and take and ask and accept advise from each other. In my own marriage my husband has often asked me to read contracts and even do some research on an issue because he knows I have a keen sense of things and can see things he may miss, just as he sees things I may miss and as such I need and want his opinions. His Health. She admits she used to nag and push and learned to hush up. But she seems to think that prayer was the answer, when logic might suggest that hushing up was. Fact is most men I know who lack the will to exercise etc wisely and to have the needed prostate etc tests do so often for a variety of reasons that simply becoming more organized about can help. First off, encourage your spouse to shoot baskets with friends, play golf etc etc. Women who nag and complain when their husband plays golf etc should give thanks, since this is just the activity they should be doing. Also realize that eating wisely means making sure you have plenty of good man friendly foods in the house. Her # 18 Fatherhood piece is Ok but again she misses a big piece if the puzzle. Most men who are Fathers want to be GREAT Fathers, and yet if you listen to them you will hear that the biggest problem they have is with their wife allowing them to BE Fathers. To often women try and tell a Dad how to be a Dad. That dressing the kid has to be done in a certain way etc etc. If you want a man to be a GREAT Dad, then allow him to parent his way even if it means the babies diaper is put on backwards, banana splits are breakfast food and passing gas is a topic of humor! The best memories of a Dad are the ones where Dad has been allowed to be Dad and give his kids the dreams he has, and not just the dreams Mom has! I also was troubled by her chapter 21 where she noted she didn't want a husband who liked/loved sports. I can see not wanting a husband who was a couch potato sports fan, but I think a husband can be godly and still have a favorite sports team etc. Read C. S. Lewis, Francis Schaeffer and the Rebbe's book Toward a Meaningful Life which speaks bout what marriage can and should be.
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