Find Joy and Quiet Through Listening to Immanuel with Others
One of the most transformative practices you can cultivate in your relationships is the simple yet profound art of checking in with your heart and then sharing that awareness with those you love.
This practice is at the very heart of what we do at JoyPath as we develop our Immanuel lifestyle together. When we take time to notice what’s alive within us using tools like SASHET (Sad, Angry, Scared, Happy, Excited, Tender), we move beyond surface-level interactions into the rich territory of true connection. This practice doesn’t just help us identify our emotions; it opens a doorway to understanding our deeper needs and invites us to bring our whole selves, not just our “put-together” selves, into relationship with others and with God.
As you develop this rhythm of checking in, you’ll discover something beautiful: Immanuel is present and eager to meet you right where you are. Whether you’re feeling peaceful or overwhelmed, joyful or sad, the practice of listening prayer creates space to sense God’s presence with you in every emotion. By regularly pausing to notice “How is my heart? What is alive in me?” and then asking Immanuel (“God with Us”), “What do you have for me here?” you’re cultivating an Immanuel lifestyle, one where you recognize that God is not distant or disapproving, but intimately present and wanting to connect with you in the midst of your real, daily experiences.
This practice builds your capacity for joy, deepens your relational brain skills, and transforms the way you experience both human connection and divine presence.
Going Deeper in Your Immanuel Lifestyle
For those interested in doing deeper work in the Immanuel lifestyle, we highly recommend the Life Model book The Joyful Journey, which expands on using the tool of Immanuel journaling to grow your practice of listening prayer and engaging with Immanuel about everything in your daily life.
Another powerful tool available to you is to receive guided Immanuel Approach prayer at JoyPath. In these sessions, you’re gently guided into God’s presence as you bring specific emotions, memories, or situations before Him. With a trained facilitator helping you notice how Immanuel wants to be with you or what He wants to show you, you can experience deeper healing and transformation in areas where you feel stuck, confused, or wounded. These sacred times of listening together often bring breakthrough, comfort, fresh perspective, and an intimate connection with Him as you discover what Immanuel has for you. Individual Immanuel Approach prayer sessions can be scheduled with JoyPath here.