Page 80 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 23

Considering the research; the value of con�nuing �on of and thankfulness for the frui�ul experience
to build a robust Chris�an psychology of mo�va�on
and emo�on fluency into course curriculum, class
conversa�ons and into clinical psychology se�ngs
is vital to upbuild human heart and emo�onal well-
being. Here is a model to assist with that.
Psalm 73 Model
How might emo�on fluency draw us more deeply
into God’s redeemed perspec�ve of our emo�on
and mo�va�on experiences? George et al. (2023)
emphasizes the importance of this passage in
Psalms for increasing emo�on competence in their
book, Introduc�on to Psychology from a Chris�an
Worldview. The Psalm 73 Model of emo�on expres-
sion encourages students and clients in seeking
greater emo�onal awareness and understanding
from a God-centered and psychological perspec�-
ve:
• Reverence for God and His Truth (Psalm 73:1)
• Respect For Purity in Emo�onal Life (Psalm 73:1)
• Reflec�on on Self (Psalm 73:2)
• Realiza�on of Emo�on, Perspec�ve or Belief
(Psalm 73:3-14)
• Review of Meaning in Light of Truth of God (Psalm dergird emo�on life and 2) by defining emo�onal
73:15-16)
• Recogni�on of Sin and Need for God (Psalm 73:16)
• Reframing in God (Psalm 73:17-20)
• Repentance of Prideful Emo�on, Perspec�ve or
Belief (Psalm 73:21-22)
• Restora�on by God (Psalm 73:23)
• Reliance on God (Psalm 73:24-26)
• Refuge in God (Psalm 73:27-28)
• Remembrance and Desiring of God (Psalm 73:28)
In view of the Psalm 73 pa�ern, God’s desire is for
us to love Him by pouring out our hearts to him as
Asaph did, and as David lives out. This leads to the
encouragement of students by invi�ng honest clari-
fica�on of their emo�onal states for themselves,
with God, and in transferring this learning to those
they will serve. This includes awareness and sha-
ring of the emo�onal impact of the hurts and
wounds of life, as well as its joys. (For further com- our humanity more deeply. Our life journey gives us
mentary on Psalm 73, see Murphy & Murphy, 2020)
These steps move one toward redemp�ve emo�ng
through the scripture-based filter and in seeking
the presence of God. This leads towards the relief
from every distress that David spoke of at the end
of his earthly life and the peace in all circumstances ents, be built more and more upright in true emo�-
that Paul experienced. This also includes the recep-
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of Spirit-led emo�ons that come with this peace in
God.
Conclusion
In conclusion, full expression of human being inclu-
des the heart, mind, soul and strength. Building un-
derstanding and beneficial ways of expression of all
aspects are necessary to teach a fully developed
Chris�an psychology. This includes the importance
of a robust mo�va�on and emo�on curriculum. C.
S. Lewis (1947) in discussing the educa�onal premi-
se in “The Aboli�on of Man”, states “Without the
aid of trained emo�ons the intellect is powerless
against the animal
organism” (p. 15). He indicates that the danger
here is the “aboli�on of man,” or one might say the
Biblical sense of what makes one fully human.
The focus of this paper is on the importance of ex-
pressing, teaching, and con�nuing to build curricu-
lum with mo�va�on and emo�on fluency in mind.
The goal is to increase student ability to discern and
iden�fy broken and beneficial pa�erns of emo�ng
by 1) skill building in defining mo�va�on that un-
impact of life circumstances and experience on the
individual. Greater clarity of mo�va�on and emo�-
on can come from iden�fying drives and desires
and then in acknowledging and defining emo�on
status and reflec�ng on this in view of biblical truth.
In this way, any confirma�on or misunderstanding
of the nature of rela�onship with God, self and
others and the physical world is brought to light.
This is exemplified in the Psalm 73 passage.
Emo�onal truth comes as our souls cry out before
God like David in his 73rd song, as Hannah did in
the book of Samuel, or in the example of Christ in
the Garden of Gethsemane (Ma�hew 26:36-46).
This is where broken understandings and experi-
ences of emo�on are surrendered to the truth of
God’s promises. Emo�onal peace comes as stress is
li�ed through rela�onship with Jesus our Savior
and in the blessing of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling
the opportunity to gain God’s eternal perspec�ve
and to thankfully acknowledge Him for His immea-
surable goodness in all circumstances (Romans
8:28, Psalm 27:13).
May our hearts and those of our students and cli-
onal iden�ty in Christ Jesus.