It’s undoubtedly one of the most revealing books on prayer. You only have to start reading it before it dawns on you that this is not just another book on prayer, but a revelation from someone with a deep relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Titled, Soulish Prayers Unveiled and written by Joyce Akinola, the book is a revolution in the art of prayer.
From the preface to the last lines, one is confronted with deep truths about what communing with God entails.
The author explains from the onset that Soulish prayer represents man’s authentic desire to reach out to God adding however that such form of prayer also bears the potential to mislead if it is more about self than God.
In about 107 pages, the author explores the subject of prayer giving deep insight into why believers should rethink how they pray.
She states for instance in the introduction, that “When we pray soulishly, we are playing god and forcing our will” rather than God’s will.
Soulish prayer from her interpretation could mean a “form of manipulation, control, and witchcraft. It is sometimes Jezebel in nature”
Those lines set the pace of what to expect in the seamlessly written book.
Between soulish and spiritual
Akinola goes on to explain the difference between soulish and spiritual. She notes that the soulish part of man has to do with the mind of man in relation to man’s desire and will while the spiritual has to do with the same mind of man in relation to God’s will and purpose. She argues that it is this intersection that comes into play every time we go to God in prayers.
In Chapter 1 of the book with the topic, In the Beginning, the author explores the Biblical Foundations of Soulish Prayers. She takes the reader to Genesis to unravel the pristine state of man.
Citing the example of Hannah’s prayer, the author writes, “The notion of soulish prayers can be traced back to biblical instances where prayer is deeply entwined with the most profound aspects of our human experiences. Take, for instance, Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 1:10-16. She pleads to God for a child in a heartfelt, genuine appeal driven by her intense desire to become a mother. The rawness, the honesty, and the depth of emotion in her prayer are typical of what we understand as a soulish prayer.”
She also cites the example of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane who also exhibited what could also be termed soulish prayer though with a hint of spirituality.
She writes, “Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:32-36) in the New Testament is another stirring example. Amidst tremendous anguish and sorrow, Jesus prays, “Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless, not what I will, but what thou wilt.”
The author notes that Jesus’ prayer “reflects an emotional intensity, complete vulnerability, and absolute surrender to God’s will—the very elements that constitute soulish prayers.”
The author goes on in Chapter 2 of the book with the topic, The Danger of Soulish Prayers: Lessons from Scripture on groundless motivations, to explain the other side of soulish prayer which many don’t know. She cites instances from the Bible of how people allow self to influence their prayer requests and also goes on to give insight into how to manage the soul when self wants to get in the way.
She recommends sincerity, humility, submission, and faith in the place of prayers. She also recommends the need for repentance, gratitude, and being mindful of God’s presence in the place of prayers while citing several Biblical examples.
Prayer and personal ambition
In chapter 3, the author writes on, Prayers of Personal Ambition: Examining the Pitfalls of Selfish Desires.
Here she emphasises the need for believers to play down on self in the place of prayers and appropriate the will of God. She also goes on the state that the believer can pray authoritatively in the areas that the Bible commands prayers.
Examples of such are praying for the enemy, praying for those in authority, praying for relief from affliction, praying for ministers of the gospel, and praying not to enter into temptation. Prayer for the salvation of people and praying for boldness are also good examples of what to bring before God in prayer.
The reader is urged to explore those commands to pray in the scripture and pray accordingly.
The danger of seeking human approval in the place of prayers under the topic: “Prayers for Vain Recognition: Overcoming the Temptation of Seeking Human Approval” is the emphasis in chapter 4.
In this chapter, Akinola advocates secret communion with God and self-introspection in the place of prayers as elements that will deal with temptations for vain recognition.
Chapter 5 dwells on “Manipulative Prayers: Learning to Surrender Control and Trust in God’s Sovereignty”
Here she explores elements that characterise manipulative prayer. They include having a specific outcome in mind in the place of prayer, the transactional motif in the place of prayers which is common among many Christians, and an undertone of self-entitlement.
The author makes the point that the Christian in the place of prayers should be ready to embrace the unknown since God is the one who sees into the future.
She goes further in chapter 6 to talk about “Prayer for the wrong reasons: Seeking God’s guidance and wisdom above personal gain”
Here she underscores the dangers of praying for personal gain and how to redirect such tendency to the glory of God. She also explores the value of making God’s will the center-point of our prayers.
Prayer and fear
The author touches on a rather profound subject of fear in chapter 7 under the topic: Prayers Driven by Fear: Finding Peace in God’s Promises and Provision”. Under this chapter she notes that fear-driven Prayers are “prayers that spring from moments of distress, panic, or worry. Such prayers, she notes, are more “about immediate relief than seeking God’s will or understanding.”
She writes on the pitfalls of fear-driven prayers while also providing titbits on how to navigate this dilemma. Chief of the points raised is for believers to seek peace above answered prayers.
In chapter 8 the reader is presented with the topic: Prayers Rooted in Bitterness and Resentment: Embracing Forgiveness and Reconciliation. Here the author gives a rundown on how to know prayers that are products of bitterness.
Instead of seeking the will of God for justice, the author notes that such prayers come with a request that “God will harm those who have wronged us” Such mindset, she notes makes the heart of the believer far from the purpose of God.
She cites the examples of Joseph and Stephen in the Bible noting how they forgave their enemies.
In chapter 9 the author writes on, “Prayers of Pride and Arrogance: Cultivating Humility and a Heart of Service.” In this chapter, she points out that prayers that tend towards self-glorification fall under this category.
She notes that when people make comparisons in the place of prayer, they unknowingly exhibit pride. She writes in the concluding paragraph of the chapter, “In our journey with God, the danger of pride is ever-present, subtly attempting to shift the focus of our prayers from God to ourselves”
In chapter 10 of the book, the author gives the reader a deep insight into what it means to pray according to God’s will. Here she makes a distinction between soulish prayers and spiritual prayers under the topic: “Transformational Prayers: Surrendering Our Soulish Desires to Align with God’s Will”
She explains why believers have to submit their will to God in the place of prayers. She states “While soulish prayers might emphasize personal gain or relief, spiritual prayers prioritize God’s kingdom and righteousness.” The chapter itemises the benefits of aligning with God’s will and also gives biblical examples of how people prayed in line with God’s will.
Dual nature of faith
In chapter 11 the author explores, “Prayers of Faith and Trust: Stepping Out in Boldness, Believing in God’s Power” Here she posits that “It’s not our faith itself that moves mountains, but God who works through our faith.” She also emphasised that faith has a dual nature which are assertiveness and surrender
Writing under the topic, Transformed, Akinola brings to a conclusion the illuminating discourse on prayers. Here she points out how a soulish prayer could become a spirit-filled prayer. She cited the scripture “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4
She explains: “At first glance, this scripture might seem to promote a prosperity-driven message where all our desires, when wrapped in religious packaging, will be handed to us. However, a deeper dive unveils a profound spiritual principle: when we take delight in God, the very nature of our desires transforms, aligning with His perfect will.”
On the whole, the book is a collection that goes against the grain of popular prayer practices where believers are motivated to pray their selfish desires to reality. It is a sober collection of deep liberating Bible principles. It’s a must-read for those who truly want to seek God in spirit and truth.