Binding Prayer

We don’t go “there” –too afraid we will get caught up in our stuff, drown in the our pain, be overtaken by the emotions that threaten to sweep us away and swallow us up. But the reality is — you live “there” – all that stuff, all that pain, all those emotions spinning and coloring your world. It taints every relationship, it clouds eyes that look into the mirror distorting the image before them, it finds evidence to support lies that swirl in the recesses.

You live “there” even though you don’t say it out loud!

But…you don’t have to live there!

The truth – you control your emotions, they don’t control you.

It is a choice you can make, a choice you must make to live free!

Do you want that??

Here, take my hand and I will lead you to the One who will hold it all in His hands for safe keeping as you work through your stuff, feel the pain, deal with the emotions, He can handle it all!

Close your eyes… imagine an object – maybe a basket, a snow globe, a drawer, a treasure chest, a diary with a key…let the Holy Spirit guide you to the perfect object and see it in your hands.

Now imagine binding up all your stuff, (the pain, the emotions, the memories) bind them up like rolling a ball of twine or folding a piece of paper or stacking neatly one on top of another, or squashing together like Play-doh in your palms, bind it all up for safe keeping and place it in the object you imagined. Give it to the Lord and let Him place it on a shelf in your heart. A contained place that is easily accessible but not bothersome. Place your “stuff” there as you pray, “Lord, I put this into your hands for safe keeping and ask that you shelf this so I can be physically and emotionally present with all those who cross my path today!”

This is you taking control of your stuff.

It cannot control you, you control it!

It can be purposefully stored away, not stuffed, denied of pushed down but rather placed until you and the Lord decide to open, revisit, and deal with it a little at a time until one day you realize your basket, globe, drawer or chest (whatever the object) is empty and your heart is healed!