Experience Immanuel,“God with us,” through this life-changing inner healing model!
Bonus: apply it in your daily walk with the Lord!
Immanuel prayer basics
History
The Immanuel Approach, often called “Immanuel prayer,” is an emotional healing process developed in the late 1990s by Dr. Karl Lehman and Dr. Jim Wilder, both neuroscience-informed Christian mental health professionals. Rooted in biblical principles and backed by recent brain science, this approach has been experienced by many as effective for emotional healing, building a more secure attachment with God, and more.
Starting out
In your first session we will start with a brief orientation to Immanuel prayer to address your questions and concerns. The main goal of Immanuel prayer is to help you experience a meaningful, two-way connection with God/Jesus and to know his heart, his peace, and his presence in a unique personal way, even if that’s uncommon for you. We’ll also discuss what you are hoping for from the Lord.
What to expect
Your facilitator or coach offers guidance step by step. If it’s ok, we’ll open with prayer, and invite the Lord to bring to mind a time of joy or peace when God felt close or you were appreciating his good gifts. This creates a foundation for feeling gratitude and connection to him by lighting up your brain’s relational circuits. Throughout the session you’ll be invited to simply notice, appreciate, and describe your experience and your perception of the Lord as the Holy Spirit leads you and as you’re comfortable. We offer prompts or ask simple questions to help guide your attention. It’s very helpful to describe your inner experience — thoughts, feelings, mental images, memories , etc. We’ll help you discern whatever you might sense, and get reconnected if you feel stuck. We always seek to close sessions with you in a peaceful appreciation place — as we pray a blessing over you and what you sensed about God’s heart for you.
Immanuel prayer for inner healing
As time permits, a specific area or issue for healing may be addressed during the session while you are still connected to the Lord. As the Holy Spirit leads you, we invite him to bring awareness of his presence into concern areas or painful memories at their roots. God’s loving perspective often brings profound peace and resolution, even in a single session. Other times the Immanuel prayer process is more of a learning curve or the healing issue is more complex — with more breakthrough occurring after several sessions.
It’s beneficial at any point to speak up if you notice inner hesitations arising, rather than simply trying to “push through.” You can expect that every part of you is welcome, and will be helped! There are also some things you can do between sessions to boost your capacity for staying connected to God, and to deepen your healing. We can discuss these if you’d like.
Immanuel prayer for life
Once you have learned the Immanuel prayer process, you may find you are also able to practice basic Immanuel prayer or awareness on your own, including through journaling and in groups. Immanuel prayer can help you “know that you know that you know” that God is always with you — creating a foundation for a journey of healing, resilience, and growth that only deepens as we walk with him!
Additional resources:
Coming soon!