A PRAYER STRATEGY FOR DEALING WITH
EMOTIONAL AND CHEMICAL IMBALANCES
In the mid 1980’s, I ministered on staff in a men’s mission and shelter. Our clients were homeless men, about 30 % of whom were also struggling with an addiction to alcohol or drugs, about 10 % were in a relationship crisis such as physical or sexual abuse and thus needed emergency shelter, but up to 40 % were struggling with some sort of chemical imbalance resulting in illnesses such as manic depression and schizophrenia. Because of the nature of these illnesses, combined with the transient nature of the men, many of the men were given levels of medication that kept their illnesses subdued, but also tended to subdue their rational and physical functioning.
Over the course of two years, our staff developed a strategy to help these men (with their doctors’ acceptance), reduce their medication to levels that allowed them to engage in more normal social functions, including church attendance, social outings, skills training, and even full-time employment.
Below is a short description of the main points of our strategy. Response times varied, but in most cases we saw dramatic, positive, and lasting change over a three to six month period, and within a year, all men saw marked improvement.
1. Give Predictable, Routine Structure
We made sure that the men had a very predictable routine. We found that lack of routine, and abrupt changes in routine, cause a lot of stress in people, especially those with chemical imbalances. So we gave them a very stable and predictable routine, in terms of when to get up, when to eat, when to do chores, when to have snacks, etc. In the rare cases when there had to be changes in the routine, we gave them lots of notice.
2. Plan Daily Bible Reading And Meditation
We had the men read the Bible for about 5 minutes every morning. We used a very modern and simple translation. For those who couldn’t concentrate at first, we read the Bible to them. We had them gather just before breakfast, and read to them a few verses of the Bible. We also read a few verses before lunch (if they ate with us) and also at supper. We also had a short Bible study each evening around 8:30 p.m. We focused on Bible verses and passages that dealt with God’s love and grace, but especially with God’s peace.
See a list of suggested Bible verses at the end of this article.
3. Daily Pray God’s Peace In Each Room
At the men’s mission, we operated with 3 shifts a day. At every shift change, we would send the shift worker into each room to pray God’s peace over the room. We would pray something like, “Father, I declare Your peace over this room, and ask You to fill this room with Your presence and Your peace. I pray that each person who stays in this room will sleep in peace, and that you will guard their minds as they sleep, and as they awake. Bless them in Jesus’ name.”
4. Daily Pray God’s Peace Over Each Person
We would also pray for each man after breakfast, and before they went out for the day. We would put one hand on their shoulder, and one hand on the side of their head, and then pray a short prayer over them. We would pray something like, “In Jesus name, I pray God’s peace over you. Father, I ask You to fill “Mike” with your peace. Guard his mind and his heart with Your peace. May he experience Your peace in his life throughout this whole day. Amen.”
The word “peace” or “shaloam” in Hebrew literally means “absence from all strife”. So even though we used the word “peace”, this declaration included the thought of absence from all mental strife, absence from all spiritual strife, absence from all emotional strife, absence from all physical strife, and absence from all chemical strife (and thus a healing of all chemical imbalance).
After we got into the habit of praying like this, we tried to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and see if He would lead us to pray any additional things. Often, God would give us additional short phrases to pray, that were very timely concerning the challenges that the men would face during that day.
If we found the men agitated when they came home for supper, or after supper, or before bedtime, we would again pray God’s peace over the person.
5. Develop A Tranquil And Peaceful Atmosphere
We also kept very gentle worship music playing in the background in our men’s mission house. That added to the tranquil and peaceful atmosphere, which helped remove stress and anxiety from the men’s lives.
Results
We found that this strategy worked with every man (who was willing to cooperate with us), no matter what degree of illness he was suffering from. We continue to use this strategy with much success, with men, women, and children who are suffering from some sort of chemical imbalance or emotional distress. And we are also seeing success in homes with discord between parents and teens … actually in all situations where there is strife, whether it be chemical, emotional, physical, or relational strife.
Romans 16:20, NIV says, “The God of PEACE will soon crush Satan under your feet.” It’s interesting that the Bible doesn’t say that the God of war, or the God of hosts, or the God of power, or the God of holiness, or the God of justice will soon crush Satan under our feet. It’s the God of peace. God is showing us in these days that His peace is one of our greatest weapons over all of Satan’s works, and Satan’s strategies.
SUGGESTED BIBLE VERSES
Psalm 4:8 – “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”
Psalm 29:11 - The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.
Isaiah 26:3 - You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
Isaiah 53:5 - But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 54:10 - Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
Isaiah 54:13 - All your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be your children's peace.
Isaiah 55:12 - You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Isaiah 57:18,19 - I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him, creating praise on the lips of the mourners in Israel. Peace, peace, to those far and near," says the LORD. “And I will heal them.”
John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 16:33 – “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Romans 8:6 - The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;
Romans 14:17 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:33 - The God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Colossians 3:15 - Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 - Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
2 Peter 1:2 - Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
Jude 1:2 - Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.
2 Timothy 1:7 - For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
SUGGESTED BIBLE PASSAGES
Philippians 4:4-7 – Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 23:1-6 – The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
David Hibbert - May 2004