Theophostic Ministry

Theophostic Prayer Ministry believes a person's primary present emotional pain comes from the misinterpretations (lies) learned during life experiences and not from the memories of these events themselves. For example, a child feels shame not because his father divorced his mother but because he may believe it was his fault (the lie). When I have negative emotional response in the present, it can almost always be traced back to an earlier event. In this earlier event there will be a belief that was established from which this negative emotion is rooted. My present feelings are generally indicative of what I believe.

Theophostic Prayer Ministry recognizes that behavior is greatly influenced by the knowledge stored in the mind. Therefore, in order to act differently, we must be "renewed in our minds" (Romans 12:2) This renewal should not only be the cognitive passing of information from counselor/minister to the one receiving ministry but include experiential “knowing” through prayer that comes by the presence of Christ. Only the Spirit of the Living Lord Jesus can set us free of the lies we experientially believe as we take our requests for truth to Him in prayer.

Martin Luther in his writing "A Simple Way to Pray" written in 1535, identifies the necessity of listening to the Holy Spirit who still speaks to His own when he says, " If such an abundance of good thoughts comes to us (when praying) we ought to disregard the other petitions, make room for such thoughts, listen in silence, and under no circumstances obstruct them. The Holy Spirit himself preaches here, and one word of his sermon is far better than a thousand of our prayers. Many times I have learned more from one prayer than I might have learned from much reading and speculation... if in the midst of such thoughts the Holy Spirit begins to preach in your heart with rich, enlightening thoughts, honor him by letting go of this written scheme; be still and listen to him who can do better than you can. Remember what he says and note it well and you will behold wondrous things in the law of God,..." (A Simple Way to Pray 1535)   The facilitator/counselor plays a vital part in this prayer process but it is the Spirit of God who intercedes with truth.

Theophostic principles understand that much present negative behavior IS motivated primarily from "experiential knowledge"(mental information derived from what we have actually experienced) and not from logical truth (data believed as truth but never realized through experience). Theophostic Prayer Ministry's primary focus is renewing the mind at the experiential level of consciousness. Those who have strong willpower and self discipline are able to push through the negative feelings that surface when lie-base experiential pain is triggered and choose to obey the logical truth they know. However, many fail at this juncture. Theophostic Prayer Ministry seeks to expose and dispel the lies producing this pain so people can choose to walk in the truth they know more easily. It is typical that people are more prone to make sinful choices when they are in emotional pain.  Sin is often an attempt at pain-managing behavior.

Theophostic Prayer Ministry recognizes that a common source of the emotional pain one may experience in the present has an experiential source and beginning, which is lie-based. If it is true that emotional pain can be rooted in this original historical faulty thinking, true release of the emotional pain in the present will not likely occur unless the person is able to return to the original memory event where the lie was first embedded.  It is acknowledged that it is possible for some people to succeed in choosing to walk in truth through controlled behavior and discipline in the face of their emotional pain (which have value in context) but many fail at this juncture.

Theophostic Prayer Ministry recognizes the difficulty of trying to talk a person out of their experiential false belief and talking them into a new belief system and acknowledges that apart from a word or realization of truth from the Holy Spirit through prayer, nothing significant will ever happen.  Providing people with logical truth is relatively as simply as them learning it or memorizing it.  However, successful application of the same is often another matter.  When our feelings (that may be lie-based) run contrary to the truth we logically hold and desire to live out, conflict arises. Walking out what we believe becomes a battle.  However, when we come to know truth experientially our emotions will change accordingly and thus match our logical belief.  Herein application becomes easier.

Theophostic Prayer Ministry acknowledges that Jesus is the only one who can truly release the wounded person from their emotional/mental bondage. This does not invalidate the role of the counselor/minister as a listener and intercessor but acknowledges that apart from Christ we are ineffective in accomplishing God’s desire for the wounded soul. Theophostic (God's Light) is all about the Lord Jesus.