Alternative to Prayer? Faith and the Inner Self

Alternative to Prayer?

Faith and the Inner Self

Country Devotional 6/28/2020

In our desire to pursue inner peace and wholeness many times we seek to find answers outside of God’s spiritual serenity.  As a result, we find ourselves, following different theories within the field of psychology.   The study of psychology has its own merits but is limited in teaching about our inner spirit.  Psychology begins with a basic premise, if we ask enough questions of the client, they will find the answer within themselves.   

God’s approach is to give the answers “Call unto me and I will answer thee and show you great and mighty things which you cannot even comprehend” Jeremiah 33:3 “

While teaching college psychology I learned some interesting theories about human behavior.  There were times however, some therapeutic strategies made little or no sense.  One of them is the empty chair therapy a technique of Gestalt therapy.  It was a method in which the client confronts their feelings towards someone who has hurt, shamed, criticized, or angered them.   He or she is asked to imagine that someone (such as a boss, spouse, child, or relative), are sitting in the empty chair. They speak openly to the empty chair releasing their feelings of anger, disgust, shame, or bitterness.  This tension releasing experience is supposed to help the client with issues such as anxiety, depression, self-esteem, relationship difficulties, and even physical ones like migraine headaches, ulcerative colitis, and back spasms.  Look at God’s approach to finding hope and inner peace, which goes beyond an empty chair and into an open heart.

Galatians 6:1 Share one another’s burden’s… Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. ² Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ

While Gestalt (empty chair therapy) may be unique, wouldn’t be easier to pray to God then scream at an empty chair?   Prayer is the positive energy which comes from God, Prayer is the place where I can learn to forgive, heal and find hope.

Christians have a wonderful experience when following God’s concept rather than man’s notions.  The book of Ephesians says “Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new (inner) self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger”    

Psychology probes the weakness of the inner self such fear, frustration and anxiety and tries force the individual to confront these feelings.   God probes the strength of the inner being and offers solutions and a promise of strength and courage.    Grab the Bible today it may surprise you what answers God has in store for you  

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” Romans 15:33   

  Pastor Al