How does the 52-week structure work in practice?

Each week follows the same sequence: a marriage-focused devotion, a Scripture passage, discussion questions, and a brief prayer. That repetition is the point—so you can build shared rhythm even when you’re tired or irritated.

What does Parrott mean by “spiritual intimacy” for a marriage?

He treats it as shared spiritual practice: discussing needs, using Scripture to frame the conversation, and praying in response to what you learned. It’s less about having the right feelings and more about consistent alignment.

Are the discussion questions actually usable for couples?

Yes, because they target concrete issues and invite both partners to speak, then connect that talk to prayer. The questions are meant to prevent prayer from becoming a separate activity from the real conversation.

Do the “soul mates” stories help or feel like filler?

They help because they model the habits the devotions are teaching, like how couples handle needs and conflict through prayer and conversation. Without them, the book might read like generic advice; with them, it feels grounded.

How does this compare to Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts?

Both come from the Parrotts’ marriage-focused devotional approach, but Becoming Soul Mates narrows in on shared spiritual life rather than pre-emptive troubleshooting. If you liked the earlier material’s faith-based tone, this one will feel like the next step.

Is it worth reading if we can only do one weekly session?

If you can only manage one week at a time, the book still functions because each devotion is self-contained. Just don’t expect it to replace ongoing conversation—Parrott’s questions are the engine.

Does Becoming Soul Mates address prayer as habit, not inspiration?

Exactly. The book repeatedly pushes you to remember each other’s needs during the week and then bring them into a shared prayer. That turns prayer into maintenance, not a once-in-a-while event.

What should I do if my spouse won’t engage with the questions?

Start smaller: read the devotion and Scripture together, then pick just one question to answer. Parrott’s framework assumes participation, but you can still use the prayer closure to keep the spiritual routine alive.

Becoming Soul Mates by Les Parrott — book cover

Parenting & Family

Becoming Soul Mates — Book Summary & Review

Name: Becoming Soul Mates
Author: Les Parrott
ISBN: 9780310200147

by Les Parrott

Last updated: September 2026

4 min read 240 pages Published 1995 Zondervan

Christianity Devotional calendars English Marriage Prayer-books and devotions Religious aspects

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Becoming Soul Mates Summary

In Becoming Soul Mates, Les Parrott builds the whole book around 52 weekly devotions that pair a marriage-focused passage, Scripture, discussion questions, and a short prayer—so your “spiritual intimacy” has a routine, not vague inspiration. The structure is consistent enough that you and your spouse can actually live inside it: each week starts with a devotion, then moves into a keyed Bible reading, then ends with questions you can answer together before you pray. One section I kept circling back to is the book’s recurring emphasis on praying “remembering needs in prayer during the week,” which Parrott treats as a discipline rather than a mood. The Parrotts also sprinkle in real couples’ stories—like Pat and Shirley Boone and Bill and Vonette Bright—to show what the prayers and conversations look like when they’re not working in theory. That matters because the book is less interested in romantic feelings than in habits: naming what hurts, asking better questions, and bringing God into the middle of conflict. If you’re expecting a fresh theological argument, you won’t get it; the payoff is practical spiritual choreography. I especially liked how the questions keep you from turning prayer into a monologue. You’re prompted to discuss concrete needs, then you close with a prayer that matches what you just said, which prevents the “we prayed, but nothing changed” pattern. Honest limitation: Becoming Soul Mates is tailored to Christian couples who already accept the Bible-and-devotion format; it won’t satisfy people who want secular relationship tools or a deeper academic treatment of marriage spirituality. Also, if you hate structured weekly assignments, the repetition will feel like homework rather than comfort.

Key Takeaways from Becoming Soul Mates

1
52 Weekly Devotions: A fixed rhythm of devotion, Scripture, discussion questions, and a closing prayer for shared spiritual practice.
2
Scripture + Questions Pairing: Parrott uses Bible passages as conversation triggers, so prayer follows real dialogue, not guesswork.
3
Remembering Needs in Prayer: Each week nudges couples to track specific desires and hurts, then pray them by name.
4
Real-Life “Soul Mates” Stories: Examples from couples like the Boone and Bright pairs make the spiritual habits feel less theoretical.
5
Brief Prayer Closure: The short end-of-session prayer is designed to summarize what you discussed and convert talk into intention.

Who Should Read This

If you and your spouse feel emotionally close at times but spiritually disconnected most weeks, this gives you a repeatable way to pray together. Someone who keeps starting devotionals and stopping after a week or two will likely appreciate Parrott’s strict weekly format and built-in discussion prompts.

Who Shouldn't Read This

If you want modern, research-heavy marriage advice or a secular framework, Becoming Soul Mates will feel narrow and overly devotional. If you dislike structured assignments, the 52-week repetition and question sets will probably irritate you more than they help.

Editor's Verdict

The best part of Becoming Soul Mates is its disciplined weekly layout—devotion, Scripture, questions, then a closing prayer—so Les Parrott turns “spiritual intimacy” into something you can practice, not just desire. The real limitation is that it offers no alternate approach for non-Christian couples or anyone wanting a deeper, less devotional theology of marriage. This book hits hardest for Christian couples who are stuck in the “we mean well, but conflict and distance keep winning” loop and need a weekly structure to break it.

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Becoming Soul Mates — Frequently Asked Questions

About Les Parrott

Les Parrott is an author and relationship educator known for work on marriage and communication. They are credible on the topic through long-standing involvement in helping couples build healthier relationships and through writing that draws on research and practical guidance. Les Parrott is the coauthor of Becoming Soul Mates. Other notable works include The Marriage Builder and Love Is a Choice.

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