By Bill Gaultiere © 2012

I’d like to share with you the benediction I wrote to go with my sermon on Matthew 6:25-34, “Be God’s Wildflower — Be Worry Free.” A benediction is a blessing from God that is pronounced by one person over another.

This benediction is inspired by Jesus’ words: “Why do you worry about how you look? See how the wildflowers grow. They do not strive or strain to impress. They bloom where they are planted because God has clothed them in his splendor. If that is how God clothes the grass will he not much more clothe you?” (Matthew 6:28-30, PAR).

As Jesus spoke these words he was probably pointing out bright red poppies on the hills of Galilee (like those pictured above). What a beautiful scene! The Lord shines his glory on us when we take our place in his kingdom of the heavens.

Receive God’s Blessing

May this benediction help you to smile a prayer of thanks to the Prince of Peace.

Hear the blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ:

“Do not worry. You are God’s precious wildflower.”

May you receive God’s words like rain

And sink your roots into the the Father’s love.

May you soak up the sunshine of Jesus’ smile

As you dance with joy in Spirit breezes.

“Do not worry. You are God’s precious wildflower.”

So bloom where you are planted for the glory of the Lord.

More Soul Shepherding

“Be a Wildflower for God (You’re Not Inadequate)” tells the story of a time I was feeling inadequate until God showed me a single wildflower, seeming lost in a field of color. I experienced a little bit of heaven in the words he whispered to my heart. I appreciated anew that my sufficiency is not in my achievements but in the beholding the Lord’s smile.

“Soul Shepherding is for you and your ministry.” Contact us if we can help you.

Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. & Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ SoulShepherding.org

By Bill Gaultiere © 2011

Listen! God is speaking.

Sunshine after a rain. It reminds me that when we slow down and look up to God his bright thoughts can enter our minds to help us walk in his bright ways (Isaiah 55:9, paraphrase). Listening to God makes everything better—even if we at the time we don’t hear specific words—because the very act of listening opens our hearts to the delightful, shining reality that the Lord is truly with us.

“Shoot Up” an Arrow Prayer

But most us of struggle with listening to God and need help to direct our attention on God. Many times each day we come across situations in which we especially need God’s grace and guidance and if we’re already in an attitude of listening to him it helps us in our time of special need to hear the promptings of his Spirit.

Here’s a little “Arrow Prayer” I wrote that is inspired by Psalm 50:1-2 that can help you to pause and pay attention to the Lord in your midst as you go about your day. It’ll help you cultivate the disposition of being continually attentive to God. Like an archer, you can point your bow up to the heavens and “shoot up” this prayer: “The Lord speaks and shines from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.”

It’s true. The words of the Lord are like a light that shines. Like the sun rays the voice of God gives and sustains all life. (Psalm 19 teaches this.)

One Breath, One Prayer

To help me absorb the sunlight of God’s voice I especially like to Pray Psalm 50:1-2 as a simple Breath Prayer. Try it in this rhythm:

• (Wait to breath): “The Lord speaks and shines…”
• (Breathe in): “From the rising of the sun…”
• (Breathe out): “To the place where it sets.”

When I put my body into a prayer like this it helps me engage my mind with God’s thoughts. Then as God’s thoughts become my thoughts I use them to engage my heart (will). This helps me whole soul to flow with God’s abundant life and to overflow with this to whoever is in my social circle at the time.

It’s fun over the course of a day to see how many times can I remember to take a breather with God and shoot up a little arrow prayer that helps me to listen to what God might want to say to me.

What a sweet delight it is to practice God’s presence! Everything is richer and more wonderful when you appreciate that the Spirit of Christ is with you, living and breathing in you and through you, infusing your mind with heavenly thoughts, forming your heart to be more like Jesus.

O Prince of Peace we love your shining face! We rejoice in the brightness of your words that warm our hearts!

Be Blessed to be a Blessing

Try shooting up your arrow prayer for people the Lord puts on your heart. Offer a secret little prayer as you listen to someone. You can even pray for a stranger you see on the street or in the store: “The Lord speaks and shines to ________, from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.”

More Soul Shepherding

Everyday many ministry leaders and other Christ-followers visit SoulShepherding.org to learn how to use Breath Prayers from the Bible.

Did you notice the parts of the person I referenced as being effected by prayer? These come from Jesus’ Greatest Commandment (Mark 12:30-31). “Seeking God with Each Part of the Person” will help you to engage your whole self in prayer and in God’s life!

Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. & Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ http://www.soulshepherding.org

It’s ironic that the more we long for Jesus—to know him intimately and love him fully—the more we are deeply satisfied. Most things in life don’t work that way. If you cultivate a craving for chocolate you’re likely to keep eating it and gain weight or get sick to your stomach!

Craving becomes a big problem if you’re longing is for acceptance or self-worth and you keep striving to achieve it. You can never accomplish enough. Never be attractive enough. Never keep people happy with you. Many addictions and much unhappiness come out of craving for things other than Jesus.

Is the Lord your Portion?

Many times the Psalmist says, “The Lord is my portion.” For instance, he prays, “Whom have I in heaven but you, Lord, and earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26-26).

In other words, “Lord Jesus, I wouldn’t even want to be in heaven if you weren’t there and this earth has nothing that satisfies me except you. My own strength and abilities often fail, but with you living in my heart I have all the power I need and more joy than I can contain.”

What if this prayer were really true of you and I? What would it be like to be the kind of person who continually thirsted for Jesus and found delight in him? Imagine if the way you do your work, relate to people, spend your free time, and even the things you think about were an expression of your love for Jesus. I’m not talking about perfection, but growing towards it, by God’s grace, little-by-little.

You Can Find More Joy in Jesus!

To live by the words “The Lord is my portion” requires abandoning other pursuits and desires, including good ones. It also requires soul training. Longing for Jesus is the only way to participate in and naturally share with others “the life that is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:19).

A wonderful way to cultivate this devotion to the Lord is to pray the Psalms. We can “take heart” from the Psalmist, praying his prayers to absorb his whole-hearted love for God.

More Soul Shepherding

If you live in Orange County, CA we invite you to join us at Thirst! We’ll help you to delight in Jesus as your portion.

Learn how you can “Pray the Psalms with Jesus.”

Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. & Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ http://www.soulshepherding.org

Jesus finds the lost sheep!

By Bill Gaultiere © 2011

Have you ever been lost? It’s frightening!

But how sweet it is to be found and to see the smile of the one you love.

Being Lost

One time I got lost leading my 11-year old son on a hike up a mountain. We were coming down the peak and got lost. The sun was going down and it was very cold. We were hiking through snow, far from help, shivering and trembling with fear. Just in the nick of time God brought us some other hikers who knew the way back down the mountain.

Another time my precious little four-year old girl got lost at Disneyland. We searched and searched for her and couldn’t find her. We went told the park officials and they were looking for her. We were so scared that she’d been kidnapped. We prayed and prayed and kept searching frantically. Then all of a sudden she appeared!

I’ve talked with many people who have been lost spiritually. Some are lost in sin and haven’t trusted in Jesus Christ to forgive them. Others are Christians, but struggling with an addiction and far from God. Still others “know” all the right Christian answers but yet they feel distant from God.

The Good Shepherd in Psalm 28

One day five years ago I was praying Psalm 28 in solitude and I came across these lines:

“Praise be to the Lord for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song… Be [our] shepherd and carry [us] forever” (verses 6-7, 9).

I was reminded of Jesus saying that he is a shepherd who looks high and low for lost sheep and rejoices to find them and bring them all the way home into God’s grace (Luke 15:1-7).

At the time I was longing to draw closer to Jesus. I felt compelled to go and pray at the “Lost is Found” statue that depicts what Jesus described. This is at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, CA.

Be Captivated by Jesus!

As I meditated on Psalm 28 and the statue depicting Jesus’ story I found myself captivated by the Shepherd’s smiling face cuddled up to the lamb he had on his shoulders.

The it hit me: I am that lamb! Jesus has found me and is singing his love over me! I was lost and now I am found.

My spirit sang and danced with my Lord, the children, and all the sheep as I appreciated his love for me—and not just for me, but also for the people in my life who I might help to be found by the Good Shepherd.

It was a close moment for me, a joyful embrace in Jesus’ love. To express my feelings and remember the experience I wrote this prayer poem:

His Smile is All we Need

Good Shepherd found me!

My heart leaps for joy

In songs of thanksgiving.

My Shepherd carries me forever.

~

His smile is all I need.

He put me atop his shoulders

And still holds me securely there

As we snuggle cheek to cheek.

~

I heard my Shepherd calling for me

And he heard my cry for help.

He rejoiced and sang over me

And I joined the angels in his song.

~

People gathered all around,

Lambs and rams skipped with delight,

Boys and girls danced in joyful song—

His smile is all we need.

More Soul Shepherding

Psalm 23 means so much to me and I love to share it with others. “My Soul Shepherding Psalm” helps our hearts to be found by Jesus.

One of the ministries of Soul Shepherding is to show ministry leaders and other Christ-followers how to meditate on Scripture in ways that facilitate intimacy with our Lord and soul transformation.

Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. & Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ http://www.soulshepherding.org

It happens to most of us every day: we don’t finish all that we set out to accomplish for that day.

Often we have more work, projects, errands, people to meet, or ministry to do then there is time. Or we schedule our day without margin. So we hurry! hurry!! hurry!!!

Hurry!

Hurry is not just moving fast, it’s also an attitude of pressuring yourself to do more in less time. When you’re rushing you’re believing that what you are trying to accomplish is more important than anything else — including the people around you and the Lord in your midst.

Hurry is rooted in pride.

Did you ever notice that Jesus was never in a hurry?

Hurry Hurts

Hurry is the enemy of our souls. When we hurry we’re not enjoying the moment, we’re not likely to be patient and kind with people, and we rarely hear God’s voice.

Furthermore, hurry damages our bodies. Have you ever heard of “hurry sickness”? Doctors have found it relates to heart disease and other diseases. People who live in a hurry are likely to develop adrenaline dependence and although it feels great to be keyed up all the time it is also is very damaging to our health.

A Prayer from Psalm 37

Praying my “Do Not Hurry Prayer” from Psalm 37 has helped me to slow down, refocus on the Lord with me, and adjust my attitude. The mindset of David in this prayer is the antidote for hurry! (To learn more about this read my short article, ”Negative Emotions.”)

So I’ve memorized this prayer.  I’ve spent hours meditating on it. It’s one of the things that has helped me, little-by-little, over time, to live at a more relaxed pace, stay within my limitations, and submit to my Sovereign Lord in all things. (Being “Type A” by nature I’m still learning!)

What peace it brings to feed on the heavenly manna in Psalm 37! I invite you to pray with me:

Do not hurry…

Trust in the Lord and do good;

Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;

Trust in him and he will do this: he will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;

Do not hurry… Do not hurry.

(Psalm 37:1-8, NIV 1984; I replaced “fret” with “hurry”).

Were you able to pray from your heart? I hope you didn’t hurry through the prayer —- that’s easy to do when you’re on your computer or smart phone. Perhaps you need to take this prayer with you to a quiet place for awhile?

More Soul Shepherding

Praying Psalm 37 can be powerfully transformational to help you overcome hurry or other emotional struggles. I explain this in “Negative Emotions,” one of my most requested articles which I have freshly updated.

Are you relying too much on adrenaline? Find out by reading “Hurry Up and Be Still! Freedom from Adrenaline Dependence.”

My new book, You Can Live in Jesus’ Easy Yoke, is all about helping you to live in the peace of Christ. It is full of insights and simple, refreshing prayers from Scripture.

Pastors and other ministry leaders are especially prone to hurry. The ministry never ends. There are more and more people to help, programs to plan and lead, events to attend, funds to raise. Through counseling and spiritual direction we help pastors with stress-related problems. And we facilitate the intimacy with Jesus and rest of soul that they long for.

Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. & Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ http://www.soulshepherding.org

When you’re reading the Bible do you ever just stop mid sentence to pray because your heart is warmed with appreciation for Jesus?

This morning I was reading Psalm 95 and I stopped at the first word: “Come!” The Lord is inviting me to come to him! He’s smiling, his arms are open, his heart is open — all for me and for you!

Do you believe this? Or maybe it is an unfamiliar experience for you to be chosen and delighted in? Maybe you feel insecure or unworthy?

Embrace Jesus

Come. Come to Jesus. Oh to embrace our Lord — right now. Oh to live more and more in his embrace. Nothing is sweeter. You yearn for this love and so does everyone around you.

Nothing is more important for our lives than to respond to Jesus’ invitation: “Come! Come! Come!” Three times in Psalm 95 the Lord invites us to come closer. Again and again and again in the Gospels the Lord Jesus Christ invites us to come to him:

• “Come and see how I live” (John 1:39, par)
• “Come to me and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28)
• “Come and follow me to fish for souls” (Matthew 4:19, par)

Meditate on Scripture

We come to Jesus when we let the Scripture warm our hearts for prayer. Praying the Scripture — that’s what it means to meditate.

We need to keep reminding ourselves that more important than getting through our Bible reading is getting our Bible reading through us. When the Word of God descends from your mind into your heart to begin forming you more into the image of Christ it has done its work — just rest in the loving hands of the Potter and smile your love to him.

Then take the Word that’s in your heart into whatever you’ll be doing that day. That’s the real test of your Bible reading: daily life. As you do your work do it with Jesus and for his honor. As you’re with people rely on the Word to help you love. As listen to people shoot up a little prayer.

Keep praying. As you’re waiting on someone or walking, as you’re brushing your teeth or taking out the trash, or as you lay in bed and can’t sleep recall the Scripture to your mind and let it lead you in prayer.

A Jesus Prayer for You, for Others

Here’s a little Jesus Prayer I wrote from Psalm 95. It’s easy to memorize and pray as you go about your day. Come to Jesus with me now:

Lord Jesus Christ

Today I listen for your voice

Today I soften my heart to you

Today I walk in your way

It helps to pray these words with your body. Put your hands on your ears and pray to listen. Put your hands on your heart to soften it to God. Extend your hands out to dedicate your steps to follow him.

You might try applying God’s Word to your life by praying about specific situations or events: “Dear Lord, today as I ______ I seek to hear your voice, soften my heart, and follow your way.”

You can “abide” in this prayer for others by name: “Lord Jesus, may ______ listen to your voice, soften her heart, and walk in your ways.”

More Soul Shepherding

Do you know the original “Jesus Prayer” and the heart-warming story behind it? “The Jesus Prayer and the Anonymous Pilgrim’s Story” has done so much to help me and others that I give spiritual direction to. It’ll inspire you too!

Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. & Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ http://www.soulshepherding.org

No matter what happens you have control over your thoughts.

Your mind is the battleground of your life. It is because of your thinking that you may become depressed or anxious, give over control of your life to a demanding person or to alcohol, or be oppressed by Satan and his demons.

We talk with ministry leaders and Christ-followers of all kinds who without realizing it open the door of their heart (which is their thinking) to Satan, who is the father of lies (John 8:44) and the accuser of God’s people (Revelation 12:10). They need to learn how to put on the helmet of salvation.

Do you wear the helmet of salvation as you go about your daily life? Do you keep your mind renewed in God’s words?

Renewing your mind in Scripture is like breathing. You have to do it continually to stay alive! Memorizing Scripture and turning it over and over in your mind is fundamental to living in the abundant life of God that Jesus brings.

Spiritual Warfare

The word of God is your sword for battle against demonic powers and all kinds of enemies, including the critic who lives in your head. It’s the only offensive weapon you need to overcome darkness. When Jesus was tempted by Satan to act on his own without depending the Father he pushed Satan back by quoting Scripture (Matthew 4:1-11).

Spiritual warfare is an essential type of prayer. It’s what we’re doing when we pray with Jesus, “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13). It’s what when we pray the precious and powerful name of the Lord Jesus Christ because, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and they are safe” (Proverbs 18:10).

The Psalmist shows us the importance of spiritual warfare and how to do it. Psalm 140 is an example. It begins: “Rescue me, O Lord, from evil people…”

Inspired by Psalm 140:6-7 I wrote a little “Helmet of Salvation Prayer” that has helped me. As you pray it visualize yourself putting on a helmet that Jesus hands to you:

Helmet of Salvation Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ
Shield my head in battle;
I fix my thoughts on your mercy and strength.¹

Lord Jesus Christ
Put on me your helmet of salvation;
I live uprightly before you.²

Lord Jesus Christ
Form my mind with your words;
I capture every thought to obey you.³

Pray for Deliverance

Try using the Helmet of Salvation Prayer as you pray about a specific struggle you are dealing with. Use it to “watch and pray” with Jesus in order to prevail in a trial or temptation.

How are you under attack? What do you need to be delivered from? Maybe someone has said judgmental things about you that you’re believing. Or you’re feeling lonely and wanting to comfort yourself with food. Or you’re angry and prone to say or do something you’d regret.

Imagine yourself in that situation and that pray for God’s deliverance.

(You can do the same thing for someone that God puts on your heart to intercede for.)

More Soul Shepherding

“Renew your Mind and Life through Romans 8” shows you how you can use this powerful chapter of the Bible to be free to live in God’s grace.

Learn more about the value of Scripture Memory.

The words of God and the name of the Lord Jesus Christ are the foundation Soul Shepherding.

Footnotes:

Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. & Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ http://www.soulshepherding.org

Jesus hung on the cross, naked and disfigured from beatings, bleeding and suffocating to death. He cried out Psalm 22:1 for all to hear, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

It was the darkest night ever (Matthew 27:45). Jesus felt abandoned by his Father. Many theologians say that because he took our sin on himself he was abandoned by God. In either case, he was enduring a Dark Night of the Soul. He felt God’s absence. He felt forsaken.

I’ve felt abandoned by God. Probably you have too. I talk with pastors, ministry leaders, and all kinds of Christ-followers who feel that God has left their side. It hurts! It’s disorienting!

The worst part of a time of spiritual darkness and dryness is when you feel like it’s your fault.

Discovering the Inner Light

In a Dark Night of the Soul you are not being punished for your sins. Nor has God actually abandoned you.

Of course, when we do sin we’re rejecting God and when this is our lifestyle then we will experience separation from God. God continually extends his grace to all of us sinners, but if we continually reject him, if our hearts our hard and dead to his kindness, then eventually he will discipline us in love to wake us up to our opportunity to be reconciled to him through Christ. There are negative consequences to sin.

But this is not what is going on in a Dark Night of the Soul.

In a Dark Night God has in love withheld certain blessings and withdrawn your felt sense of his presence. In love? What’s loving about feeling distant from God? God is teaching you to trust that he is good to you even when you can’t see or feel his goodness. Your love for God (and ultimately for other people too) is being tested — just as it was for Jesus on the cross.

If in the midst or your trial you continue to trust in God through Christ, stay out of shame, listen, and look for God deep in your heart (which biblically speaking is your will, not your emotions) then eventually you can tap into the reality that the Holy Spirit is within you interceding earnestly for you, “Abba Father! Jesus is Lord!” (Galatians 4:6, 1 Corinthians 12:3).

Psalm 23 and the Cross

The way that Jesus tapped into this spiritual reality as he was suffering on the cross was by praying Scripture, probably including Psalm 23. I bet you’ve never thought of this: the Lamb of God on the cross finding comfort in the Father as his Good Shepherd!

That’s a nice thought, but what gives you that idea Bill?

By quoting the first verse of Psalm 22 Jesus was using a common Jewish rabbinical teaching method of the day called a “remez.” He was invoking the whole passage that followed which for the jews included not only all of Psalm 22, but also Psalms 23 and 24, which were always connected.

The Jews memorized whole Psalms and other long passages of Scripture. So when Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” observant Jews could finish the rest of Psalm 22, 23, and 24,ⁱ including these words:

For [the Lord] has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help…

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want… Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me (Psalm 22:24, 23:1, 4).

“Abba!”

Think of Jesus on the cross meditating on these Scriptures. Think of him crying out to God just like he did a few hours earlier in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Abba! Abba! Abba!” (Mark 14:36). In other words, as the cross is holding him up to be crucified Jesus is praying, “Papa! Hold me!”

Jesus went to the cross and endured the Dark Night of the Soul so that in our dark nights we would know that we are not in fact alone: Jesus is embracing us in Abba’s love.

The Lamb of God found comfort in Abba as his Good Shepherd.

The Lamb of God is our Good Shepherd.

More Soul Shepherding

“Jesus and Abba at the Cross” includes more discussion of Jesus’ use of Psalm 22 on the cross and a heart warming icon of Abba embracing Jesus on the cross.

We have other articles on the Dark Night of the Soul including, “In the Dark Night Remember God.”

Try My New Devotional on the Cross

God has brought me deep healing and great encouragement through the Stations of the Cross. For nine years I’ve been sharing these with other people who also have had powerful encounters with Christ. I have put my meditations and prayers from the Biblical scenes of Christ’s passion into a 32-page e-book that I can send you. Read more…

Spiritual direction is a Soul Shepherding ministry that helps leaders and others who are going through a Dark Night of the Soul to find God.

As Christians today we talk a lot about the love and grace of God, but we don’t talk much about him being the holy Judge — that seems scary or harsh to us. And yet repeatedly the Psalmist rejoices that the Lord is the Judge. He approaches God’s judgment seat not with fear or shame, but with eager confidence, trusting that the Lord will accept him and set everything right.

From the Psalmist I have learned to rely on the Lord as the Righteous Judge so that I don’t fear the criticisms and condemnations of people. I’ve also learned from the Psalmist that when I feel angry over being mistreated in some way that instead of defending myself, striking back, or getting resentful I can approach the Lord on his throne, be honest about how I feel, and count on his judgments prevailing.

Psalms 96 to 99 are prayers in which the Psalmist joins all of creation in rejoicing that the Lord is the Judge. I have found that I appreciate these Psalms more when I am being misjudged or mistreated in some way!

“Rejoice! The Lord is Judge” is a prayer poem I wrote inspired by Psalms 96 to 99. I wrote it to help me pray when I was feeling angry. I had served the Lord in a difficult situation and was repeatedly slandered, insulted, and financially mistreated. With the Psalmist I found peace — and the strength to pray for those who persecuted me as Jesus taught us to do (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27-28).

Rejoice! The Lord is Judge

Sing to the Lord a new song!

He has done marvelous things;

His right hand and his holy arm

Have worked salvation for him.

~

The heavens shine forth his righteousness

And all the people see his glory.

The fields are jubilant with harvest;

The Lord gives food to the hungry.

~

The trees of the forest sing for joy,

The rivers clap their applause,

The seas resound with waves of praise,

For the Lord judges the world in righteousness.

~

The mountains stand in honor;

All creation is a chorus of worship.

The Lord is the righteous Judge

And he speaks from the clouds above.

~

Fear not the judgments of people;

Call on the Lord and listen.

Love the Lord and hate revenge

For he guards the lives of his faithful ones.

(Inspired by Psalm 96-99)

Does Jesus’ teaching on “Turn the other cheek” confuse or trouble you? Many people I talk to have difficulty with this so I wrote “Jesus Jujitsu: the Power to Turn the Other Cheek.”

What does Jesus teach about dealing with anger? Read the examples I researched in the Bible: “Jesus’ Way of Dealing with Anger.”

With Christ we shepherd the souls of the shepherds. Ministry leaders and Christian caregivers need the specialized care that we can give as psychotherapists and spiritual directors, but often they cannot afford it. Soul Shepherding is funded by donations, fees for services, and honorariums.

Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. & Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ http://www.soulshepherding.org

Negative emotions. We all have them. We all have struggled with how to deal with emotions like worry, anger, depression, shame, ambition, lust, and jealousy—even a psychologist like me who has devoted 24 years to helping people overcome emotional problems.

Of course, having an emotion isn’t a problem—it’s normal. But how do we respond to troubling emotions? That’s the issue.

Emotions become “negative” when they are internalized or acted on in ways that harm yourself or others. Many of the ministry leaders and other Christ followers that we talk to struggle with negative emotions.

Learn from the Psalmist

“Do not worry… Do not worry… Do not worry…” the Psalmist repeats his counsel three times in Psalm 37 (verses 1, 7, 8). Just like Jesus did in Matthew 6 (verses 25, 31, 34).

“Do not worry.” This is not empty reassurance. The Psalmist understands our emotional problems and he shows us the way to work through them in prayer so that not only can we have peace with God, but also we can have the peace of God.

The way of the Psalmist—God’s wisdom—runs counter to the way of the world. Our culture tells us that the way to be free of negative emotions is to “get them out” by venting. That’s not true. Expressing our emotions in a loving way (toward others and self) does help us to be more aware of them which is part of the answer because it can facilitate receiving empathy so we know that we’re not alone and we have help to carry our burdens. But there is more.

The Psalmist does more than just vent his emotions to God — he is growing in his understanding of himself and his life, taking responsibility to deal with his situation, and reaching out in faith for the comfort and guidance from God that he needs.

He demonstrates that there are reasons why we struggle with emotions like anger and these reasons need to be understood and resolved if we’re going to make good decisions and become a better person.

Emotions and the Kingdom of God

One of the reasons why we struggle with negative emotions is when in a given situation we are not fully submitted to God and his kingdom.

I want my way. I want things to work out fairly. I want to be happy. I want to feel in control. I want people to be happy with me. I want, I want, I want!

It’s natural to have wants, but if our desires aren’t submitted to God and if we don’t find the Lord himself to be our portion then those desires will wreck havoc in our lives.

Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and all that you need will be provided for you in due time” (Matthew 6:33, paraphrase). When you or I are overtaken by an emotion or reacting to it in an unloving way we can be sure that in that situation (and probably in the underlying psychological dynamics) we have not yet learned to be fully submitted to the Lord.

Pray Psalm 37

David’s prayer in Psalm 37 helps us learn to submit to God — to trust our Good Shepherd, to focus on our responsibility to do what is good and right (no matter how it feels), to wait for God’s provision and guidance, and, most of all, to find delight in what is most precious — knowing the Lord!

Do not worry…

Trust in the Lord and do good;

Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;

Trust in him and he will do this: he will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;

Do not worry… Do not worry (Psalm 37:1-8).

Which Emotion do you Need to Pray About?

Try praying this passage by substituting for the word “worry” whatever negative emotions you struggle with. One at a time focus on your emotional struggles to submit to God. Pray, “Do not _______ …”

Perhaps you need to pray, “Do not fear / hurry / envy / be angry / be ambitious / be competitive / lust / be greedy / be ashamed / criticize yourself / feel inadequate / feel insecure.”

Pray that God would help you learn to become the kind of person David is describing: someone who finds such delight in knowing the Lord and doing his will that he or she can be at peace when circumstances are not good.

More Soul Shepherding

Learn more about growing in submission to the Lord.

Learn how to pray as a Breath Prayer Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (This will make you smile with Jesus!)

Pastors, pastor’s wives, missionaries, and other Christian leaders may struggle with negative emotions too. In our Soul Shepherding ministry we help them to overcome these issues through counseling or spiritual mentoring.

Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. & Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ http://www.soulshepherding.org