Praying through Every Emotion
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Praise for When You Need to Move a Mountain
“Got a mountain? Want to see it move? Prayer! Our beloved prayer expert, Linda Evans Shepherd, helps us learn to dig deep for the best spiritual excavation in When You Need to Move a Mountain: Keys to Praying with Power. We can make a difference through the power of Christ—a difference in the lives of our families and friends, a difference in this world we live in, a God-powered, God-ordained difference even in our own hearts. This book. It’s like a manual for glorious faith landscaping!”
Rhonda Rhea, TV personality, humor columnist, and author of 14 books, including Messy to Meaningful, Fix Her Upper, and the award-winning Turtles in the Road
“Have you ever had a prayer request so big you were convinced there was no hope for a positive outcome? In When You Need to Move a Mountain, Linda Evans Shepherd reveals the secrets of intercessory prayer. She’ll teach you how to break strongholds, how to win personal battles, how to protect your family through powerful prayer strategies, and what to do when God says no. This book will transform your life.”
Carol Kent, speaker and author, He Holds My Hand
“Linda Evans Shepherd is a powerful prayer warrior, so it’s no surprise to me that she has written such a power-packed book on prayer! When You Need to Move a Mountain is grounded in Scripture and filled with practical suggestions to make your prayer life more effective. If ever there was a time in history when we need prayer warriors to rise up, it is now! May God use this book in your life to compel you to your knees.”
Becky Harling, international speaker, leadership coach, and bestselling author, How to Listen So People Will Talk and Who Do You Say That I Am?
“With the wisdom of a Jedi warrior and heart of a mother, Linda Evans Shepherd guides and equips even the novice to understand and persevere in intercessory prayer. Hands-on and practical, When You Need to Move a Mountain is part training manual and part motivation to engage in prayers that literally change everything. I wish I’d had this when I was a new believer!”
Julie K. Gillies, author, From Hot Mess to Blessed and Prayers for a Woman’s Soul
“Everyone faces times in their life when their life circumstances feel like an insurmountable mountain that only a miracle of God can move. Linda has provided a handbook on prayer to help us live in cooperation with God’s plans. If you desire to see a God-sized answer or gain guidance from God’s Word as you pray, keep this book with your Bible as you hit your knees in prayer.”
Pam Farrel, author of 46 books, including bestselling Discovering Hope in the Psalms: A Creative Bible Study Experience and A Couple’s Journey with God
“An expression has been circulating in the Christian community: ‘pray small.’ Personally, I think God wants us to pray BIG. Jesus healed people of diseases, and he brought people back to life. Our God knows how to give good gifts—and his Son encouraged us to pray prayers that would move mountains. In her newest book on prayer, Linda Shepherd challenges us to pray those mountain-moving prayers, and I highly recommend that you read it and put those big prayers into practice.”
Janet Holm McHenry, award-winning speaker and author of 24 books, including the bestselling PrayerWalk and her newest, The Complete Guide to the Prayers of Jesus
“This book is for everybody who needs to move a mountain. The keys to praying with power will simplify the complicated and fuel your heart with faith to pray so that the mountain is moved. Be ready for an adventure and to see that mountain move.”
Monica Schmelter, general manager, WHTN Christian Television Network
“Just when my prayer life seems a little lackluster and routine, I read Linda’s book, When You Need to Move a Mountain. It’s a fresh breath of the Holy Spirit to reenergize your prayer life. She reminds us of many ways to pray and the supernatural power of our almighty miracle-working God to answer prayers. She also shares about types of pray-ers who are called to pray in different ways with different focuses. She provides great tools to energize our prayers. Identifying prayer blockers to overcome, such as sin problems, lack of faith, and forgiveness issues allows readers to address those issues and become effective prayer warriors.”
Karen Whiting, author, international speaker, former TV host, and Bible study teacher
Books by Linda Evans Shepherd
Praying God’s Promises
Empowered for Purpose: Winning Your Daily Spiritual Battles
Called to Pray: Astounding Stories of Answered Prayer
How to Pray in Times of Stress
When You Don’t Know What to Pray: How to Talk to God about Anything
How to Pray When You Need a Miracle
Experiencing God’s Presence: Learning to Listen While You Pray
When You Need to Move a Mountain: Keys to Praying with Power
Praying through Hard Times: Finding Strength in God’s Presence
Novels
The Potluck Club
The Potluck Club—Trouble’s Brewing
The Potluck Club—Takes the Cake
The Secret’s in the Sauce
A Taste of Fame
Bake Until Golden
© 2021 by Linda Evans Shepherd
Published by Revell
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Ebook edition created 2021
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ISBN 978-1-4934-2895-3
Scripture quotations labeled ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2016
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For my readers
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Galatians 5:22–23 NLT
Contents
Cover 1
Praise for When You Need to Move a Mountain 2
Half Title Page 3
Books by Linda Evans Shepherd 4
Title Page 5
Copyright Page 6
Dedication 7
Epigraph 9
Introduction 13
Addicted 16
Angry 18
Annoyed 20
Anxious 22
Betrayed 24
Bitter 26
Blessed 28
Bold 30
Broken 32
Burdened 34
Compassionate 36
Confident 38
Confused 40
Content 42
Cynical 44
Depressed 46
Devoted 48
Disappointed 50
Discouraged 52
Disillusioned 54
Distressed 56
Doubtful 58
Empty 60
Exhausted 62
Faith 64
Fear 66
Foolish 68
Free 70
Give Up 72
God’s Presence 74
Grace 76
Grief 78
Guilt 80
Harassed 82
Hate 84
Hope 86
Hurt 88
Impatience 90
Jealous 92
Joy 94
Lonely 96
Loss 98
Love 100
Lust 102
Offended 104
Oppressed 106
Overwhelmed 108
Pain 110
Peace 112
Perplexed 114
Powerless 116
Prayerful 118
Regret 120
Remorse 122
Sad 124
Self-Conscious 126
Selfish 128
Shamed 130
Shocked 132
Stressed 134
Strife 136
Strong 138
Suffering 140
Suicidal 142
Tempted 144
Troubled 146
Trusting 148
Unworthy 150
Victorious 152
Wayward 154
Weak 156
Worried 158
Worshipful 160
Conclusion 163
Acknowledgments 165
About the Author 167
Back Ads 169
Back Cover 174
Introduction
The LORD is near to everyone who prays to him,
to every faithful person who prays to him.
He fills the needs of those who fear him.
He hears their cries for help and saves them.
The LORD protects everyone who loves him.
Psalm 145:18–20 GW
It had been a difficult day.
Well, a difficult week.
Let’s make that a hard month.
To be truthful, it had been a crazy, unrelenting year—a year in which I had taken a ride on the roller coaster of angst and ridden a whirlwind of anxiety. I had experienced stress, disappointments, betrayals, worries, grief, isolation, and family trauma. It was a year that had left me sinking into the muck of this world.
But this particular day had been extra difficult. It was as if I had experienced an emotional hurricane triggered by the swell of exciting news, followed by news that shocked and angered me, followed by news that left me stressed and bewildered.
By the end of the day, I felt like a storm had raged through my heart, leaving behind a high-water mark of frustration. Where was my peace? Where was my joy? But beyond that, where was my quiet trust in God?
Can you relate?
If so, you’ve come to the right place, because I am about to share the prayer that brought me back to peace:
Dear Lord,
My emotions are twisted in so many knots that I can’t even process all that’s happened today. So even though this doesn’t seem to be a fair exchange, I’m asking You to trade my emotional turmoil for Your peace that passes understanding.
Thank You!
In the name of Jesus, amen.
I took a deep breath and began to let go, giving it all to God. I felt the cares of the world drain off my mind and my soul. I knew God was with me, and His Spirit began to flow peace into my spirit. And I knew everything would be all right, maybe not according to my timeline but definitely according to His.
I was back to peace.
Finding peace is the aim when praying through emotions. It’s not about learning how to control your circumstances; it’s about learning how to release your circumstances to the One who loves you, the One you can trust.
So join me in this prayer adventure as I share with you some of my favorite prayers for praying through emotions so that you can push into the peace that passes understanding.
May His peace be with you.
Love,
Linda Evans Shepherd
P.S. There are many ways you can use this book. You can read it straight through as a devotional, or you can consult the contents page to find prayers you need for your life right now.
As you pray, you’ll discover that the prayers are a reflection or a paraphrase of the accompanying Scripture passages. This was by design, because God loves it when we pray His Word to Him. His Word is alive and filled with power; it strengthens our souls and brings peace to our emotions. Praying God’s Word also gives us the confidence that we are not only praying in His will but also agreeing with and activating His promises to us.
Be sure to linger over the Scripture passages that go with each prayer, because God’s Word is the source of transforming power. When you find a Scripture passage that speaks to you, read it again. Then use that passage to craft a prayer of your own back to the Lord. This is a way not only to continue praying but also to experience and rest in God’s presence.
When you find a prayer that has deep meaning to you, pray the prayer often. Consider meditating on and even memorizing the Scripture passages that accompany it so that you can recall them whenever you need them.
And don’t be afraid to read prayers that concern emotions you don’t relate to right now, because the moment may come when you will need the peace those prayers will provide. Also, seek out and enjoy the inspirational prayers, like the prayers concerning victory, worship, and faith, for those prayers were created for you to grow in your fellowship with the God who loves you.
Be sure to keep an extra copy of Praying through Every Emotion on hand so you always have one to give to a friend or loved one.
God bless you, and let your prayer adventure begin.
Addicted
Dear Lord,
You did not create me to be a slave to addiction. So when addiction’s tentacles pull me beneath the waves, give me Your name as a lifeline so I can break free from my tug-of-war with death.
Even now, Your gaze is steady on my face as I focus on Y
ou. We walk arm in arm as You lead me from the lure of temptation and deliver me from evil.
Others have escaped these same temptations because of Your faithfulness. You are also faithful to me! You show me how to endure when temptations call me to go under.
I will no longer be drunk with wine, because You, O Lord, are filling my cup with Your very presence. I am no longer empty, craving what would destroy me, for I am now filled with Your power. Fill me even more with Your power and help me to be sober and on alert to the enemy’s attacks.
Through Your power, I say no to the call of addiction and yes to You. Lord, Your grace calls me to experience Your glory in Christ. Yes, I have suffered, but You are continually restoring me to Yourself, and now I am strong, firm, and steadfast, all because of You. I turn to You as I step away from the things that formerly held me captive and declare my freedom through the power of the blood of Jesus.
In the name of Jesus, amen.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1 NIV
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
Matthew 6:13 NIV
God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT
Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18 NLT
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
1 Peter 5:8–10 NIV
Angry
Dear Lord,
I’m angry, outraged, and I want to use my words to punch someone hard.
If I’m the one in the right and my opponent is in the wrong, how can I justify stupidity or unjust opposition?