Devotions and praying as a couple?

[Eluzai]

Is it right to pray together and do devotions as a couple? Is it too much temptation when you are both praying to gether in your room should you only do it in public places? Do you realy need to pray together anyway?

I'm just asking cause I'm thinking about trying to do a bit of Bible reading and prayer with my gf on a weekly basis. (This isn't for lack of ministry, she even already has a one-to-one partner that she tries to see each week).

Any thoughts or guidelines?

 

[fluffy_rainbow]

Why don't you have it in a public place? If you feel it would be too great a temptation for you two to meet at your house then go to a quiet coffee house or diner for prayer and Bible study.

 

[Eluzai]

Well we haven't done one really yet so... I can't say about the temptation problem.

 

[Oscar The Grouch]

I think prayer is important and essential for any married couple, or one that is approaching such a serious commitment.

I dont think that it is necessary for a dating couple, but I do think that it doesnt hurt. I am all for praying with my gf, but that doesnt mean that i think it is necessary and that we arent doing it the right way if we dont.

I don't buy into the whole temptation deal, but thats cause for me its not an issue at all.

 

[cc_suro]

hi...i think it is essential. However as it is a very intimate and personal time there is room for all of us to be tempted especially after an awesome time with God. So pick a public place where you are not disturbed but can be seen. One way to find out if you are spiritually compatible is praying together, and doing a bible study. This is one of the most important parts of a relationship.

 

[plum]

awesome question

prayer is essential.

my SO and I are convinced that we have a three-person relationship: him, me, and God. We need to spend time nurturing all sides of that relationship.

I suppose I haven't felt temptation in prayerful situations. Perhaps this is because of the intention of the prayer time? It takes the focus off of my SO and I and puts it on God.
I do think that if your relationship is not as a point where spiritual intimacy would be comfortable, or if you're in a new relationship, boundaries of intimacy and closeness can be reached a little too fast if you're not careful (let's just say i've done this before). Let the spiritual relationship grow right along with your emotional and physical relationships. The levels of the three should be just about even with each other. A sharp increase in one and not the others (like a huge growth in emotional intimacy, but no growth spiritually and physically) can be a cause for imbalance and the relationship could topple.

I respect your desire to spend this special time with your girlfriend. That is so wonderful and important. I'm sorry I don't have real concrete lines or anything fun like that for you, but I applaud your search for spiritual growth. God bless!

 

[Sascha Fitzpatrick]

Hmmm...

Personally, I've never felt temptation after having devotions with my bf - and we've had devotions in our lounge, in his room, in my room - pretty much anywhere you could have devotions (apart from the bathroom, of course!) The time I feel MOST tempted is when I'm NOT focussing on God.

However, if you feel you ARE getting tempted after a great time together doing devotions, then by all means, go somewhere public and non-temptational. Coffee shops are great, as are ice cream parlours!

Don't let the risk of being tempted EVER take you away from praying and doing devotions together. If you can't expose your spiritual walk to your future spouse, then why on earth are you considering getting married?

Sasch

 

[flounder7786]

i think its a GREAT thing to pray and have a devo with your SO...i mean, i think it helps to center God in your relationship, and create a love within Him. My boyfriend and i, we are going through the book of James together...over the phone, cause we...for now...are in a LD relationship...blah...but it really helps us grow, and not only are we growing separately, but we are growing together in the Lord...we though, are at the point where we are looking at marriage within the next two years, and maybe that isnt where you guys are...but i know that i think we need to spend this time in the Word together...so that our marriage starts off strong as ever.

 

[MagicStar723]

My bf and I pray together, I think it has really strenghting our relationship.
I haven't ever felt tempted in that situation and you shouldn't if your motives are right. You should be focused on God and if you truly are there isn't room for temptation.

 

[SoulFly51]

My girlfreind and I do not go behind closed doors. This has been a good rule for us and kept us from sinning many times.