Is stress holding you hostage and keeping you from rest? Do you feel burdens pressing in that seem too heavy to bear? When anxious thoughts pull you in the wrong direction, and you’re struggling to find balance, the following prayer might express your thoughts and help you find relief and freedom.
Before praying, consider these 4 steps for praying over anxiety, as suggested by well-known author and speaker Max Lucado:
- Pray immediately.
“Don’t stew over the problems that are besetting you or your neighbor. Ask God for help as soon as you identify a need.” - Pray specifically.
“When we boil our concerns down to a specific request, they become right-sized. Vague threats loom larger than concrete challenges.” - Pray for and with others.
“When we consider the problems of others and enlist their help with ours, our concerns become more manageable.” - Pray with thanksgiving.
“Anxiety and gratitude cannot occupy the same space. When we catalog what are thankful for, our list of challenges grows less powerful.”
A Prayer for Relief of Stress and Anxiety
Lord Jesus, the stresses in my life often reach a dangerous proportion—or so it seems. My body, mind, and spirit struggle to keep up physically, mentally, and yes, spiritually. Some days anxiety stalks me like a deceitful predator, and the temptation to worry draws me in. I know better, but some days the challenges outweigh the truths buried inside. My trust in You fades into the background, giving fear and concerns permission to discourage me.
In those moments of apprehension, help me remember that I belong to You, and that You are not the author of fear or anxiety, but the giver of love and a sound mind. Teach me Your ways to respond to problems by giving thanks in them. Your Word assures me that You are always there with me. You are the Blessed Controller of all things, and nothing escapes Your attention in my life. You have given me every tool and spiritual blessing to fight against those things that try to steal my peace. You’ve promised that when I’m stressed and burdens are trying to weigh me down, I can come to You. You will give me sweet rest!
Whether the anxiety stems from work, parenting, finances, physical issues, or even world conditions, You are there, Lord, to shoulder the weight. Teach me to recognize the stressful trials as tools for you to shape me and rearrange me. Through those difficult times, You will teach me patience, enlarge my faith, and help me see things I couldn’t see earlier—if I will only let You. When I’m clueless as to what to do, Lord, I want to turn to you first, not last.
Forgive me for trying to handle things on my own, Lord. The need to be in control sometimes gets a stronghold on my life. That only makes things worse. I want to trust You more and see things from Your perspective, not my own. No one makes me feel uptight, angry, or stressed, and no one forces me to react negatively. I choose to respond according to my beliefs. Do I believe You are in control? Do I believe You created all things and hold all things in Your Hand? Do I believe You are truly good? When an anxious thought creeps in, help me to stop and relax, to take that thought captive, and to turn apprehension into a calm prayer for deliverance. Revamp my belief system, Lord. Show me a new way to handle life according to Your Way.
No matter what issues I am dealing with; no matter how big the problems or situations, I’m laying them all at Your feet today. Turn these potentials for stress into lessons for growth and trust. When I can’t see any possible solutions, I choose to believe that You are working things out for my good—in Your own time, as you have in the past. Show me what to do, or what not to do. As I focus on You, remembering Your promises and Your words, I believe You will fill me with a peace that is beyond all understanding.
In Your precious name,
Amen
A Short Prayer for An Anxious Heart
Dear Lord, I thank you that I can come to You always for any reason. I’m grateful that when I pray to You, You answer me. Help me to come to You at the beginning of my fears and anxieties instead of waiting until I can’t stand them anymore. The quicker I come to You the better. You want to free me from ALL my fears. Help me look to You for help more often so that I can be radiant with Your joy. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
– Jennifer Heeren
Rebecca Barlow Jordan is an inspirational author, speaker, and passionate follower of Jesus who loves to encourage others heart to heart. She has written 11 books and over 1700 other articles, greeting cards, and other inspirational pieces. Her daily devotional Daily in Your Presence is available for delivery through Crosswalk.com. You can find out more about Rebecca at www.rebeccabarlowjordan.com.
This article is part of our larger Prayers resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Visit our most popular prayers if you are wondering how to pray or what to pray. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and God knows your heart even if you can’t find the words to pray.
Prayer for Healing
Prayer for StrengthPrayer for ProtectionMorning PrayersGood Night PrayersSerenity PrayerA Birthday PrayerSinner’s PrayerPrayer for ForgivenessPrayer for GuidanceIntercessory PrayerPrayer for PeacePrayer for FaithPrayer for Love
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I know you are anxious and need something, anything to bring you peace. You can’t stand this anymore and are crying out to God, searching the internet for some relief.
“Come to Me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.”
Let’s go to the Lord together. Pray this prayer:
Father, I come before You seeking rest and relief. Although I cannot feel the rest you have for me yet, I believe that You are good and have relief from the anxiety to give me.
You say, “be anxious for nothing” and I try but so far have not been able to do this. I have cried out to You but the anxiety is a horrible companion that stays with me. Help me.
I start by coming into Your presence. You are here. I allow myself to just know that you are with me. I don’t need to change anything, clean up my act, or be perfect.
You choose to love me and be with me just as I am, so I let myself know You are with me right now. I allow myself to know that You are here with me.
As I come into your presence I begin to feel differently. I begin to know Your love even in the midst of anxiety.
You love me. You accept me. You are pleased to be with me for You chose me to be Your child.
Already this makes a difference. I let everything else just move to the background as I am with You.
Being with You is like being in the eye of the storm. The chaos still swirls but with You it is safe and there is peace from the storm.
Lord, thank You for being with me. You know my circumstances and You’ve known them since before You even created the universe. This means that You have know the outcome. You have a plan. I don’t need to fear.
You are in control of my life, You are good and You love me.
This means I can trust that what you allow in my life You will ultimately use to grow me and mature me and get me ready for eternity of joy with You. Even if I don’t understand why I have these circumstances in my life I can rest in who You are and that You are working even this out for good in my life.
Lord, I ask that You would do battle on my behalf. Silence Your enemy and do not let him act out his nature against me. In the name of Jesus Christ I command satan to be silent. He has no right to me or to my life. I belong to the Lord God and no lie that he has brought to me will stand in the light of the Lord.
You say, “think on these things” – what is true and good and of value etc. So, I can say, “I have anxiety,” but I can also say what is true is, “God loves me. He has a plan for my life. I can trust Him. He is a good and loving Father and Friend.”
I can add truth to truth.
-It is true I am struggling but it is also true that I am not alone for You are always with me.
-It is true that there is fear in my heart right now but it is also true that You are greater than any fear I might have.
-It is true that I don’t know what tomorrow will bring but it is also true that You hold tomorrow and You are working out my future for my good.
-It is true that You my God. You are good and loving and peace is who You are.
-It is true that I am with You and You will never leave me.
Thank you Jesus for Your presence. When I am with You I do feel peace and that I am safe with You. I will continue to stay in Your presence where there is joy forevermore. I love you Lord.
What do I do next?
As you move through your day just allow yourself to know Christ is with you. He is there because He wants to be with you. He chooses to love you and care for you. It doesn’t matter what you have done or what has been done to you, nothing can separate you from the love of God.(tweet this)
Remind yourself continually that He is with you. You are never alone, you are never unloved, you are never without resources. You are in the presence of the Almighty and good God. This is the beginning of removing anxiety from your life.
Should the anxiety persist you may need a Christian counselor to go before the Lord with you to help root out any cause that keeps the anxiety present.
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