Healing from trauma is a journey that requires intentionality and the right tools. In this post, we will explore three practical tools that can help address and heal trauma: REAL Prayer, Immanuel Prayer, and Emotional Maturity and Relational Skills. These tools are designed to bring healing, build emotional resilience, and restore joy in your life.
REAL Prayer
Definition: REAL Prayer, developed by Marcus Warner, stands for Remember, Evaluate, Ask God for Healing, and Listen for His response. This structured approach helps individuals invite God into their healing process.
Steps:
Remember/Recognize:
Ask the Lord to bring to mind any memories He wants to heal. Example prayer: “Lord, are there memories You want to heal today? If so, would You bring to my mind the first one You want me to remember?”
Explore/Evaluate:
Engage both the right and left brain in processing the memory. For the right brain: “Lord, will you bring to mind anything I need to remember about this memory to help me connect with it emotionally?” For the left brain: “Father, would you show me any lies that the devil succeeded in planting in my heart because of this memory? Where are You in this memory?”
Ask God for Healing:
Pray for Jesus to heal the memory. Example prayer: “I ask you, Lord Jesus, to do whatever you need to do to heal this memory.”
Listen:
Pay attention to any new emotions, thoughts, or images that come to mind. If things get worse, there may be spiritual warfare, and it might be necessary to bind the enemy’s influence. Example prayer: “Lord, please bind any enemy influence; I lean on my authority in Christ.”
Immanuel Prayer
Definition: Immanuel Prayer, developed by Jim Wilder, focuses on connecting with the presence of Jesus (Immanuel, meaning "God with us") in the midst of painful memories to allow His healing touch.
Steps:
Joyful Memory:
Start by asking the Lord to bring to mind a joyful memory. Relive this memory vividly and give thanks for it. Example prayer: “Lord, please bring to mind a joyful memory. Thank you for this beautiful moment.”
Painful Memory:
Once you feel peace from the joyful memory, ask the Lord to bring to mind a painful memory He wants to heal. When the memory comes to mind, ask Jesus where He is in the memory and what He wants to do to heal it. Example prayer: “Lord, please bring to mind a painful memory that you want to heal. Where are you in this memory? Please do what you need to do to heal this memory.”
Listen and Watch:
Listen and observe what Jesus does in the memory. If it becomes too painful, return to the joyful memory as a safety net. Engage in spiritual warfare if necessary.
Emotional Maturity and Relational Skills
Definition: These skills, developed by Chris Coursey, focus on building emotional resilience and relational capacity, which are essential for healthy relationships and overcoming trauma.
Key Skills:
Return to Joy:
Practice returning to joy from negative emotions by reflecting on joyful memories. Example exercise: Have a few joyful memories ready to recall when feeling down.
Synchronized Joy:
Cultivate shared joy experiences with others. Example exercise: Relive joyful moments with friends or family to build shared joy.
Quieting:
Learn to calm oneself and enter peaceful states. Example exercise: Practice deep breathing or meditation techniques to reduce stress.
Appreciation:
Develop a habit of gratitude and appreciation. Example exercise: Engage in interactive gratitude by asking the Lord to bring to mind a joyful memory, writing it down in detail, and reflecting on it.
Practical Exercises:
Daily Gratitude Journaling: Write down things you are grateful for each day.
Calming Techniques: Practice deep breathing and meditation regularly.
Joyful Activities: Engage in activities that bring you joy and share them with others.
Conclusion
Healing from trauma is possible with the right tools and a commitment to the process. REAL Prayer, Immanuel Prayer, and Emotional Maturity and Relational Skills are powerful methods to help you address and heal trauma, build emotional resilience, and restore joy in your life.
Dr. Justin Tilghman is a board-certified master life and mental health coach and certified NeuroMindfuless® Practitioner who specializes in helping clients live purposeful, meaningful, fulfilling, and balanced lives that make the most of their God-given potential.
Comments