EMOTIONAL PRAYERS

What’s the first thing that crosses your mind when you hear the words, Emotional Prayers?

Some would say this type of prayer is purely performative based. Likely prayed by a person who is just attempting to boost their own self-esteem, or maybe they’re simply pretending to be virtuous for appearances' sake.

Others might say they’re manipulative, futile, childish or naïve prayers.

What if I told you that line of thinking is incorrect? Let me show you.

Often, we’ve grown accustomed to praying by memory or script recitals that we’ve heard are on the “approved list of prayers.”

God doesn’t want emotionless, rehearsed or unauthentic prayers! He wants our heartfelt honest prayers, whatever place they come from.

Gods focus is not as much on the words, as it is on the heart. He wants to hear the truth from your heart/soul! Deeply passionate and unscripted.

God likes emotions, He’s emotional, He made us emotional, like him.

When was the last time you poured out your soul to God? We should pray soul prayers all the time, not only when things seem desperate.

Emotional prayers like any prayer can either be honest or dishonest.

One can either pray Emotional Prayers of Manipulation or Emotional Prayers for Manifestation.

Emotional Prayers of Manipulation go something like this:

·         God all I get is bad breaks, why don’t you do something?

·         Life keeps Lifeing me while you remain silent. Don’t you care?

·         When will it be my time? Others are getting blessed all around me.

·         God, I can’t wait until you deal with my boss. Vengeance is yours.

In these prayer examples, emotions are being used to manipulate God to do what we want him to do. Trying to shame or tempt God into action.

Here are examples of Emotional Prayers requesting Gods Manifestation:

·         God I’m struggling in this relationship, please change my outlook.

·         Lord, I want to be better, but I need your help.

·         God I never have any money, show me where I need to change.

·         Father, I don’t feel like doing this, but THY WILL BE DONE

That last one seems familiar because that was Jesus’ Emotional Prayer.

Jesus didn’t want to be crucified, so he requested Gods manifestation to help him through the times ahead. Nevertheless, THY WILL BE DONE!

Emotional Prayers of Manipulation lead to Frustration. Nothing changes.

Emotional Prayers for Manifestation lead to Transformation. We change

Jesus was Transformed. He was changed.

The question we must ask ourselves is: What kind of Emotional Prayers am I praying? Am I asking for the situation to change or to be changed?

Transformation isn’t always pretty. Jesus had to wrestle his emotions into submission through tears of blood. He wanted Gods way, not his.

I have an example of another person who was transformed by an Emotional Prayer. He too had to wrestle with his emotions.

Jacob had been a trickster all his life. He tricked his father, his brother, and countless others. One day he decided he would return home.

While traveling back, he stopped to pray. Jacob asked God to stop his brother Essau from harming him for all the evil he had done to him.

He reminded God that he said he was going to take care of him if he went back home. Jacob prayed, an Emotional Prayer of Manipulation.

Can you see the manipulation? Jacob didn’t repent; he tried to shame God into doing what he wanted him to do. He even promised to give Essau plenty of livestock and riches in exchange for his immunity.

Jacob spent the night wrestling—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. In the morning, once he saw himself and not others, he was transformed.

God transformed him from Jacob (the deceiver) to Israel (the one who wrestles with God and overcomes). Transformation brings Restoration.

Wrestling with his emotions wasn’t the problem. Wrestling with his emotions was the path to purpose, which is transformation.

During his transformation he sustained a limp that reflected his vulnerability and honesty because of his Emotional Prayer for Manifestation. His limp slowed him down enough to see himself first and then God.

God wants us to be open and vulnerable not closed and pretentious.

Emotionless prayers are pretentious prayers. We act like we have it all together, but we know we don’t. God keeps track of all our tears.

Good Emotional Prayers seek Purpose not Pleasure! His will/not my will

Can we pray, “Lord God, lead us all on the path that will manifest your will for us in Kairos timing. Even if our emotions don’t want to go. Even if the circumstances feel difficult, we will still trust you to carry us through and bring us to purpose. This is our Emotional Prayer” Amen

 
This is a Thompson Truth