“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” Proverbs 12:25 ESV
Anxiety, by definition, is an “apprehensive uneasiness or nervousness usually over an impending or anticipated ill,” that runs rampant in our lives, and is forecasted to keep increasing. In light of the current global climate, our news feeds are overflowing, and many of us can’t stop watching. There is no weapon more powerful than prayer to wield against anxiety, but we must not ignore the answer God may present us, to seek professionals gifted to treat some cases. By embracing the normalcy of mental health struggles, and unabashedly seeking help, we can boldly push back in the battle for our minds. We are not weak because we suffer from anxiety or depression, nor does it disqualify the quality of our faith in Christ. Sometimes the good word we need from God comes through a counselor.
The human heart has a built-in longing, and when we lose our focus on our Father, our thought life tends to go rogue. Paul told the Thessalonians to “pray without ceasing.” Taking our thoughts captive, through prayer, is essential, not only to relieve daily worry and anxiety but to remind ourselves of who we are: children of the Most High God. We are a royal priesthood in Christ. The enemy seeks to distract us with lies, worries, fear, and anxiety. In order to counter his attacks, God’s powerful word must be prevalent in our minds and rooted in our hearts. Praying God’s Word packs a powerful punch in taking back our minds. Pray in the context of remembrance, to embrace the peace and freedom we already have in Christ.
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A Prayer for Anxious Thoughts
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:4-8 ESV
Father,
You tell us to rejoice in You always, so today we choose to rejoice despite our anxiety. Let our faith in You be evident as we battle our thoughts. You tell us not to be anxious, but You understand and know our hearts better than we do. We can come to You with any and all things, trivial or traumatic. You love us as we are, right now. You meet us in our anxiety and walk with us through it.
Increase the quality and quantity of our prayers and move our hearts towards gratitude. Guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus, today and always. Help us to remember the peace we have in Christ and increase our faith and trust in who You are God, and who we are as Your children. As we pray Paul’s words to the Philippians, give us perspective on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise. Help us to move these things to the top of our minds, even in the midst of our battle with anxiety.
Father, we pray for a healing of our anxiety, from daily worries to serious struggles that require healing only You can provide. Guide our steps and tune the ear of our hearts to Your voice, above all the other competing stresses in our daily lives. We love You, Father. Thank You for meeting us in this moment, and continue to reveal the layers of comfort and wisdom in the divinely inspired words Paul wrote.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
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A Prayer to Look to God and Stop Worrying
Father,
Today we pray Your Word and its alive and active power over our battle with anxiety. Matthew wrote, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26 ESV)
Father, when we look at the simplicity of the birds and other creatures outside our windows, we are amazed at how You sustain them simultaneously. The seas are calm in one place and rage in another, and all of these things lie under Your sovereignty. Our lives also remain in Your constant observant care. Created in Your image, we long for You, Father. And Your plans for us are more than we can ask for or imagine. They don’t always align with fairytale endings on this earth, but we are royalty … because we are Your family, through Christ.
Comfort us in our worry and refocus worrisome thoughts to Your promises. John recorded Jesus’ words: “Peace I leave you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). Jesus, the Word made flesh, help us to remember the peace You left us. Adjust our perspective to see things as You do, and relieve our hearts of worry.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
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A Prayer for Peace in Troubled Times
Father,
Our lives seem to change on the daily lately, and the news reports and social media feeds are overwhelming at best. It’s difficult to sift through the massive amount of information we are doused in daily to decipher what is actually true! John wrote, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me” (John 14:1). We find ourselves troubled a lot, Lord! Help us in our unbelief!
Increase our trust in You, Father. Little by little, let us grow to know more about who You are, and who we are as Your children. When the world gives us trouble, and it will, bring the words Joshua recorded to the top of our minds: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
No matter how troubled the earth is, or overwhelmed by dire circumstances we feel, today we pray the words Paul wrote to the Romans will boom in hearts like bass that rattles the entire vehicle as we sail down the road to the tune of our favorite song: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). In troubled times, Father, remind us of the peace we have in Christ. “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing” (Psalm 23:1).
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
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A Prayer for Hope When You Are Fearful
Father,
May the presence of fear cause us to pray, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” (Psalm 56:3) Let fear be an automatic signal to us to remember, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear …” (1 John 4:18).
Fear can grow and spread like wildfire, Father. Though we undoubtedly will be singed by the flames of this world and attacks of our enemy, don’t let it engulf us. Peter wrote, “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened’” (1 Peter 3:14). Let us emerge from attacks and fires, Father, singed and nicked but not destroyed. Psalm 34:4 reminds us that the root of our bravery in the face of fear comes from You: “I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”
Father, You promise to strengthen us (Isaiah 41:10) and sustain us in times of fear. Jesus, may we feel Your hand on our shoulder as we walk through fearful times and seasons on earth. Put our fears at bay, by the power of the Holy Spirit living in us.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
A Prayer for Strength When You Feel Weak
Father,
It’s hard to imagine facing the giant of anxiety. Help us to adopt truths like Isaiah 35:4 as our spiritual anthems: “Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” (ESV) For as Paul wrote to Timothy, “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 3:14). Solomon advised, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 ) When we feel physically, mentally, or spiritually week, let us remember “No word from God will ever fail.” (Luke 1:37)
Jesus, our Savior, You died so we would have life to the fullest. You warned us of our enemy, his tactics, and the harsh realities we would endure on this earth, But You also provided us comfort, saying, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). Thank You, Jesus, for upholding us when we are too weak to stand. For sending in reinforcements via the people and professionals You place in our lives, and the rich and fulfilling Word that reminds us of the supernatural grace, forgiveness, strength, peace, and mercy we have in You.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
The prophet Jeremiah, who was tasked with delivering a dire message to a rebellious people, wrote, “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8) Though the odds may be stacked against us on this earth, and the anxiety we suffer from wreaks havoc, we must never underestimate the power of prayer, and the living Word of God. He is always bigger, always good, and always close to the brokenhearted.
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