5. Why We Don’t Know How to Pray Our Emotions (with Rankin Wilbourne)

Most people don’t know how to pray their emotions… even after years of faith.What if the Psalms were meant to teach you how?In this conversation, John Ortberg sits down with author and pastor Rankin Wilbourne to explore a life-changing idea: learning to pray your emotions.Many of us either suppress our feelings or let them control us—but the Psalms offer a better way. They give us language, permission, and structure to bring our real selves before God.In this episode, you’ll learn:- Why most people struggle to pray honestly- The difference between suppressing, expressing, and praying emotions- A simple framework to process emotions with God (OWN: Observe, Welcome, Name)- What “pre-reflective prayer” means—and why it mattersThis is Part 1 of a 3-part conversation.🙌 New episodes every weekday.📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.TEXT us at 51504EMAIL US at [email protected] OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribeGET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our teamDOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/Music Credits:Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKEAlta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF00:00 – Opening + Introducing Rankin Wilbourne00:55 – What the Psalms Are Really For01:35 – “Pray Your Emotions” (Why This Is Hard)02:02 – Tim Keller’s Insight on Prayer02:46 – Two Common Mistakes With Emotions03:14 – Why Christians Struggle With Feelings03:46 – A Better Way: Don’t Deny, Don’t Enshrine04:17 – The OWN Framework (Observe, Welcome, Name)05:18 – Why Naming Emotions Heals05:40 – What Mister Rogers Got Right06:09 – “What’s Mentionable Is Manageable”07:12 – Pouring Out Your Heart to God07:36 – Why We Try to Fix Instead of Feel08:09 – Permission to Be Human Before God08:38 – How to Actually Practice This09:04 – Learning Prayer by Praying09:34 – “Trust and Pour Out Your Heart”10:00 – Why We Avoid Our Own Hearts10:25 – The Problem of “Willed Loneliness”11:01 – Vulnerability Before God11:34 – Does God Really Want This From Me?11:59 – What Is Pre-Reflective Prayer?12:26 – When Theology Gets in the Way13:05 – Practice: Name What You’re Feeling13:53 – Why This Matters (Preview of Part 2)