I pray daily. My prayers typically include gratefulness for my life, family, gifts and my career. I ask for forgiveness of my sins and for God to cover my children, husband, my other loved ones and those less fortunate. I couldn’t imagine my life without my daily prayers. I feel like if I don’t, those areas might suffer.

I know I am not alone in wanting the absolute best for my life and those I love. Healthy marriages, children and a life filled with purpose are most people’s desired goals.

I wonder how often we get specific about the things we pray for in our marriage? What about the things we thank God for?

Yes, I am grateful for a healthy marriage. But when I break that down even further, here’s what I’m really thankful for, and yes intimacy is on my list:

A spouse who listens and has taken the time to truly get to know me. He sometimes really surprises me with just how much he knows.

A husband who puts me first and ensures my needs are met.

A partner who makes me feel like I’m the sexiest woman alive, even when I’m not quite feeling it.

And finally, although it might seem inappropriate to some, I am thankful for the physical intimacy I have with my husband. In the beginning of my marriage, I felt a little bit guilty in giving thanks for physical pleasures. As I matured personally, I recognized that if my marriage didn’t possess a healthy dose of intimacy there could be serious challenges and consequences. As I grew as a Christian, I became even more aware of God’s goal for marriage.

Marriage is designed by God and being intimate is an important element of marriage. When it suffers, everything else is affected. So to all those who have built and consistently maintain a healthy sex life with your spouse, be grateful and give thanks for it. For those who don’t; pray and ask God to heal the part of your marriage that affects the desire to be more intimate. God intended for the intimacy shared between spouses to be powerful, just like our communication, finances, level of commitment and every other area of the relationship.

BMWK, should we thank God and pray for the physical intimacy in our marriage?