Drunk on Prayer

Think about a time you lost control of your emotions. Were you so sad that sobs rushed from your mouth? Were you so angry that you yelled at a friend for no particular reason? Were you so devastated your soul felt numb with grief?

Our emotions are powerful, are they not? And perhaps you’re thinking it’s hard to do as the Bible says and rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4)? If you are, take comfort in the knowledge that there is a path to rejoicing.

We can pour out our love to God in our grief as Hannah did; drunk not on wine but on prayer, this barren woman, whose rival tormented her about her closed womb, came before God in prayer (1 Samuel 1:6). It was not a calm prayer, but a prayer of anguish and grief from the depths of her soul.

This outpouring of emotion to God is a mighty expression of our love for God. By expressing the emotions that cause us to tremble, we tell God of our belief in his power to heal our broken heart and save our crushed spirit. Our expressions of mourning in prayer demonstrate our belief he will provide comfort. Above all, the flood of emotions from our heart to God’s reveals our belief of finding rest in him if we come to him.

Yes, our emotions weigh down our souls, but we can only walk on water when we have faith and reach out to God. So, today, I suggest you get drunk on prayer. Sit in a quiet place and pour out your feelings to God. He’ll give you comfort. He’ll give you rest. He’ll bring you to a place of perfect peace where you can rejoice.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the outlet of prayer when emotions run high. Lead me to a place of steadfast peace and rejoicing.

Throughout This Day: For any feeling today, turn to God in prayer to manage the emotion or to rejoice in it.