Posted by: Bishop Mike Wagner
In this letter let us examine the emotional aspect of prayer. The soul is the centre of emotions that God gave humans when He first breathed life into man. I have a friend, who, many years ago, because of circumstances in life was given the advice to pray to his God. He struggled with this for a while and ended up seeking the guidance of a priest. After talking for an hour explaining why he could not bring himself to pray, the priest simply said, “Tom, just tell Him how you feel.”
Looking back through history, is that not how so many noble people found their way to happiness and success in life? They told God how they felt.
As parents. Hannah was despondent because she had no children. She opened up her heart to God out “of a sorrowful spirit” (1 Samuel 1: 12-18). She gave birth to a son—Samuel, the prophet. The prayer out of a mother’s heart for her child moved God’s hand. Our prayer for our child counts in their lives.
In sickness. When King Hezekiah was sick near death (Isaiah 38: 1-8), he poured out his heart in an honest manner and recounted his relationship with his God. God saw his tears and responded.
In isolation. After calling fire down from heaven, Elijah found himself alone in a cave. Crying out, he asked God to take his life (1 Kings 19: 1–8). God sent an angel who provided sustenance and reinvigorated him for the journey ahead. He does not abandon His own in their hour of need.
Coming to terms with God’s will in our lives. In the garden of Gethsemane, Christ struggled with His Father’s will—dying on the cross (Luke 22: 39–46). Did He pray, “Father not My will, but Yours, be done,” to convince His God? No, rather to convince Himself that He could fulfill the will of His Father. Sometimes we have to convince ourselves that we have it in us to do God’s will, to realize our own capabilities, and not give up.
It all begins with telling him how we feel.
Previous articles in the Prayer Life Series include
Adoration and Worship (Apostle Dzur Feb 1/20),
Thanks (Apostle Sobottka May 15/20), and
Petitions (Bishop Apfelbeck Aug 1/20).