Praying through Every Emotion
Page 6
Proverbs 8:13 NLV
Hate starts quarrels,
but love covers every wrong.
Proverbs 10:12 GW
Whoever hates his brother is not in the light but lives in darkness. He does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
1 John 2:11 NLV
But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.
Luke 6:27–28 NLT
If the world hates you, realize that it hated me before it hated you. If you had anything in common with the world, the world would love you as one of its own. But you don’t have anything in common with the world. I chose you from the world, and that’s why the world hates you.
John 15:18–19 GW
Hope
Dear Lord,
I praise You, the God and Father of my Lord Jesus Christ!
How wonderful that Christ, in His great mercy, has given me new birth and a living hope through His resurrection from the dead. I now have the gift of not only walking with You but the joy of spending eternity with You.
Your unfailing love is with me. Even as I put my hope in You, I know that my hope is also your gift to me. You continue to fill me with joy and peace as I trust in You. Help me to trust You more so that my joy and peace may increase. Help my hope to grow even stronger by the power of the Holy Spirit.
You, Lord, have not abandoned me to the wiles of this world. In fact, You have plans for me. Your plans include my well-being, not trouble. You want to give me a future and a hope.
How amazing that though this is not heaven, You are making a way for me to thrive with purpose. Lead me to Your purpose every day of my life.
I love You, Lord, and I thank You for renewing my strength. I will soar on wings like eagles, I will run and not grow weary, I will walk and not faint.
When I look to You, the darkness flees and hope lights my way.
In the name of Jesus, amen.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
1 Peter 1:3 NIV
May your unfailing love be with us, LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.
Psalm 33:22 NIV
Our hope comes from God. May He fill you with joy and peace because of your trust in Him. May your hope grow stronger by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 NLV
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord, “plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NLV
But those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31 NIV
Hurt
Dear Lord,
What is Your remedy for hurt feelings, wounded pride, unjust treatment, and smashed toes? I want to know because I’m hurting and I have a few scars that remind me of the wrongs committed against me. Just when I come up with the perfect retort, You whisper to my heart that I should love my enemies. You even suggest I pray for those who torment and persecute me—because I belong to You.
I was throwing a pity party, but when I invited You, You asked me to lay down my offenses and forgive those who hurt me, just as You have forgiven me.
You are telling me it’s not my place to take revenge. You want me to leave my complaints in Your hands because Scripture reminds me that if I don’t make the mistake of taking justice into my own hands, You will act in my behalf.
It’s hard to bear the pain of my wounds, until I remember that You will fight for me. All I have to do is stay calm.
Watch over me, Lord, and make sure I don’t miss the revelation of Your grace. Help me to uproot bitterness so that my heart will not be full of poison. Fill my heart instead with Your love so that I can heal and overcome my wounds and love those who wounded me.
In the name of Jesus, amen.
But I tell you this: love your enemies. Pray for those who torment you and persecute you—in so doing, you become children of your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:44–45 VOICE
Put up with each other, and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Colossians 3:13 GW
Beloved, don’t be obsessed with taking revenge, but leave that to God’s righteous justice. For the Scriptures say:
“If you don’t take justice in your own hands,
I will release justice for you,” says the Lord.
Romans 12:19 TPT
The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.
Exodus 14:14 NLT
Watch over each other to make sure that no one misses the revelation of God’s grace. And make sure no one lives with a root of bitterness sprouting within them which will only cause trouble and poison the hearts of many.
Hebrews 12:15 TPT
Impatience
Dear Lord,
It’s hard to be patient. It’s hard to look forward to something I’m waiting to have or hope will happen. But patience is how You call me to live. You call me to practice patience with confidence.
As I wait, I learn to trust You more. Trusting You gives me the strength to be brave and courageous because what I am really waiting for is You. I don’t need to worry because I know Your timing is perfect, and even when You wait till the last minute, You are always on time.
Help me to be still in Your presence and to experience Your peace as I wait for You to move. As I wait, I have no need to worry about evil people who prosper; neither do I need to fret about their wicked schemes.
I wait in confidence of Your love for me. As I experience Your love, I begin to see that love itself is patient and kind. It is never jealous, and it never sings its own praises because it isn’t arrogant. I will wait in Your love, knowing that You are not tormenting me but strengthening me.
As I wait, I will answer Your call to do good. Help me to put on Your patience so I do not tire from acts of kindness. You will harvest the good I’ve planted when I don’t give up and quit.
In the name of Jesus, amen.
But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.
Romans 8:25 NLT
Wait patiently for the LORD.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.
Psalm 27:14 NLT
Be still in the presence of the LORD,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.
Psalm 37:7 NLT
Love is patient. Love is kind. Love isn’t jealous. It doesn’t sing its own praises. It isn’t arrogant.
1 Corinthians 13:4 GW
So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.
Galatians 6:9–10 MSG
Jealous
Dear Lord,
You ask me to guard my heart so that I will be true to You. You ask that I not worship other gods, including my own selfishness. You ask this of me not because You are controlling but because You are trying to protect me from the destructive power of false gods birthed from my selfishness, misjudgments, or folly.
When my head is turned to other gods, including wealth, status, and power, bitterness creeps into my life. This root of bitterness comes from being jealous of others, and jealousy has the destructive power to rot my bones. Jealousy causes selfish ambitions powered not by the Holy Spirit but by the demonic powers of this world
. Envy can cause disorder and results in vile practices. It is even more dangerous than cruel anger.
Help me to serve You alone and to have a heart of peace that gives life to my body. Help me to do nothing out of jealousy but instead to base my actions on love. Love never gives up. Love is kind. Love is not jealous. Love does not put itself up as being important. Love has no pride.
Lord, forgive me of my jealousy. I repent and turn away from such dangerous business. Restore my heart to love, and set me free from my selfish ambitions as I determine to trust You with my life.
In the name of Jesus, amen.
Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
Exodus 34:14 NIV
A heart at peace gives life to the body,
but envy rots the bones.
Proverbs 14:30 NIV
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
James 3:14–16 ESV
Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood,
but jealousy is even more dangerous.
Proverbs 27:4 NLT
Love does not give up. Love is kind. Love is not jealous. Love does not put itself up as being important. Love has no pride.
1 Corinthians 13:4 NLV
Joy
Dear Lord,
When my anxiety builds, it’s time to trust You more. When I do so, You replace my anxiety with joy, and my mood remarkably improves.
Help me to remain joyful as I continually reach out to You in prayer, thanking You for all the good things You give to me. When I remember to count my blessings, I am counted blessed.
No matter what happens, I have learned that I can count it all joy, even when I am in the midst of difficult trials; for trials help test my faith. These faith tests teach me how to remain steadfast in my relationship with You, and by remaining steadfast, I am made perfect and complete in You, lacking nothing.
As I follow after joy, I will make room for more of Your Holy Spirit’s presence in my life, for the Spirit’s presence gives me more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, traits no one can condemn.
Lord, You love me and show me the way to live. You bring me joy. You give me happiness forevermore.
I have decided to count this day as joyful, for this is the day you have made for me to share with You, which is all the more reason to rejoice and be glad.
In the name of Jesus, amen.
When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought me joy.
Psalm 94:19 NIV
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God’s will in Christ Jesus that you do this.
1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 GW
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2–4 ESV
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
You will show me the way of life. Being with You is to be full of joy. In Your right hand there is happiness forever.
Psalm 16:11 NLV
This is the day the LORD has made.
Let’s rejoice and be glad today!
Psalm 118:24 GW
Lonely
Dear Lord,
In the times I feel most alone, I remember that You are with me. You have promised that You will never leave me. Because You are here, You hear my cries for help. You encourage me through my loneliness, reminding me of your presence.
I know You are with me because Your Holy Spirit lives inside of me. This truth gives me the confidence to know that I belong to You.
Not only are You with me, You promise to help by leading me out of trouble.
Even when I lose those I love to death and feel the loneliness of their absence, You are near. You are there to walk with me through this dark valley. You are there to carry me through my grief. You protect me from harm with Your rod and staff. You honor me in front of my enemies, and You anoint me with Your loving presence so that my cup overflows.
When the enemy tells me that You have abandoned me, help me to recognize his words are lies! May the sound of those lies signal me to reach out to You, the one who loves me. Your presence will shatter his lies because You are always by my side, even unto the end of time.
You always hear my cry because You are near, and nearer still. Thank You that You will never abandon me. My cup overflows with gratitude.
In the name of Jesus, amen.
You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.
Romans 8:9 NIV
Even though I walk through the dark valley of death,
because you are with me, I fear no harm.
Your rod and your staff give me courage.
You prepare a banquet for me while my enemies watch.
You anoint my head with oil.
My cup overflows.
Psalm 23:4–5 GW
And remember that I am always with you until the end of time.
Matthew 28:20 GW
God has said, “I will never abandon you or leave you.” So we can confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper.
I will not be afraid.”
Hebrews 13:5–6 GW
Loss
Dear Lord,
Though the shock of my loss breaks my heart, You are the God who comforts me and heals my shattered spirit.
I come to You, crying out with all my heart, and You hear and rescue me. You draw near when I am crushed with pain. You use Your miraculous power to restore my life. When bad things happen to me or to those I love, You save me and will not allow me to be defeated.
This is not yet heaven, but one day when You call me to Yourself in the eternal, You will wipe every tear from my eyes, and loss will be no more. There will be no cancer, illness, divorce, unemployment, rejection, betrayal, difficulties, death, sorrow, tears, pandemic, or pain. They will not exist.
My loss is not a sign that You have turned from me. In fact, You hold me close. You have heard my cry and have not hidden Your face from me.
Lord, I open my broken heart to You. Restore me so that I can feel Your grace, love, and comfort. Take me through this valley with a song of praise on my lips, for I know that You are not the author of my pain. It is the enemy who steals, kills, and destroys, not You. You are my healer, and I choose to trust You no matter what I face. You will use each valley to make me stronger and draw me closer.
In the name of Jesus, amen.
He heals the wounds of every shattered heart.
Psalm 147:3 TPT
Yet when holy lovers of God cry out
to him with all their hearts,
the Lord will hear them and come to rescue them
from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to all whose hearts are crushed by pain,
and he is always ready to restore the repentant one.
Even when bad things happen to the good and godly ones,
the Lord will save them and not let them be defeated
by what they face.
Psalm 34:17–19 TPT
He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.
Revelation 21:4 NLT
For He has not turned away from the suffering of the one in pain or
trouble. He has not hidden His face from him. But He has heard his cry for help.
Psalm 22:24 NLV
Love
Dear Lord,
Because of Your love for me, I love You and the people You have put in my life.
If I could speak all the languages of the earth and the languages of angels but didn’t love others, my efforts would be nothing more than a clang of a bell.
If I had a supernatural gift of prophecy and understood all Your secret plans, if I possessed all knowledge, and if I had the faith to pray and see the mountains move but didn’t love others, I would be of no value.
If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body but didn’t love others, I could not boast because my sacrifice would have gained nothing.
Help me to be patient and kind and not jealous or rude, demanding my own way. Help me to love others more, for love never gives up. Love never loses faith and is always hopeful. Love endures through every circumstance.
Keep me aware of Your love so that I will not be irritable or keep a record of wrongs. When I have more of Your love, am aware of Your love, and learn to flow in Your love, I become like a river pouring from the throne of heaven, anointing others.
Help me to endure through every circumstance so that Your river of love will flow from Your heart to my heart, then from my heart to the world.
In the name of Jesus, amen.
If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.