Prayer

Prayer helps you handle the stress of everyday life

/ Prayer for Anxiety / 20 Comments
Prayer helps with stress

Be free of your fears

For most of us, life itself is stressful. Even if you are not facing one large stress, the sum of your responsibilities can be more than enough to cause anxiety. How can prayer make a difference? Let’s find out.

Problems are in our heads

Did you ever stop to wonder why we worry so much? Imagine if you were someone’s pet. Would you worry about where your next meal was going to come from? Do we see pet dogs pacing back and forth thinking, “I wonder if my owner is going to feed me tomorrow?” In many ways, our worry comes from how we perceive situations. The famous psychiatrist Carl Jung said that even scientific study is a symptom of how our minds work.

Why do we worry?

Ironically, we worry because we know too much. We can think abstractly and imagine what could go wrong. Being fully conscious, the danger and unpredictability of life make us cringe. Even though it’s wise to be prudent, excessive worry doesn’t help.

True problems

For most of us reading this article, the major problems that might face human beings are not present in our lives. Things like food, shelter and clothing are probably not missing from your life.

Compare these two questions:

  • What if my son/daughter does not graduate from high school?
  • What if today my child does not eat for the third day in a row?

If the difference is so easy to understand, why do our smaller worries take on such big proportions?

The Liar

The devil’s power works only if you believe his lies. In the stress of everyday life, Satan wants you to believe that your problems are much bigger than they really are. But he doesn’t stop there. He also wants you to believe that if you worry enough and work hard enough that your problems will go away. In this way he generates the thing he desires more than anything else: fear in your heart.

And the last thing in the world the enemy wants you to do is get on your knees to trust God in prayer.

Prayer is hard

It’s hard to pray when you are busy and overwhelmed. Many times we have to force ourselves to pray. You might be thinking, “But if God is love and mercy, why does he want me to struggle to pray?” Because in this way he builds your character, and a strong character casts out fear.

We want fast, concrete answers to problems, that is, we want the easy way out. We don’t want to have to venture into uncertainty to find the solution. But our consciousness reminds us that the universe is full of uncertainty, so in our worry we fight against the entire universe. Only by invoking God can we hope to be victorious in this struggle.

God in control

When you stop to pray, you enter into God’s presence. Even though it may not happen immediately, with time and practice, prayer will show you the greatness of God. His majesty is revealed to you, and your worry fades away as God becomes the center of your life. Sometimes we misunderstand this to think that following God means ignoring your worldly responsibilities. Instead it means that your experience takes on the right perspective giving you order and clarity.

When God is at the center, we see things in the light of truth. If God gives you the gift of life each day, then how can he not be at the center of your existence? This truth gives us the right mind to be free of fear. Even our greatest fear – the fear of death – is fully addressed when we contemplate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Prayer time

So when you pray, give praise to God. Praise him for who and what he is – the Creator of the universe. Thank him for your life. Gain the confidence that dispels worry and fear. Let all your troubles out in his presence. Tell him everything that bothers you and takes away your peace. Then take it all and place it in the wounded side of Jesus – giving it up to God’s grace.

Our search for concrete answers is a never ending process. Only God gives you an answer that is eternal and unchanging. His answer is love.

(Related Bible passages – Matthew 6:25-34; 2 Samuel 22:1-4)

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How to find peace

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How to find peace

Your faith will set you free

Isn’t it what we really want after all? We just want to be at peace. It seems like in today’s world it’s harder and harder to find the peace we desire. Let’s find out why.

The Empty Promise

The power of the world offers us promises. Science, technology, government and global organizations all attempt to offer the promise of peace and prosperity. Today, we see more than ever how short the world falls from keeping this promise. For every developmental advance we seem to take many steps backward at the same time.

Humanity

We often look towards others to find the peace we seek. Even the most trustworthy person, however, will eventually let you down in one way or another. In many ways our mistakes define us, and this is part of being human. So it doesn’t work when we heap a burden of responsibility on others that only God can carry – that is, being a source of peace. Perhaps the most debilitating form of this is when we place all the burden upon ourselves.

The Fight

How many times does a disagreement remove our peace? There have been wars among Christians due to doctrinal differences. But where in the Gospel does it say you must convince others by force? The overwhelming message is that the Spirit must do the convincing; and our greatest resources are mercy and love.

Situations

Have you ever thought or said, “As soon as I get to such-and-such point in my life, everything will be better”? Then what happens? Circumstances change and other trials appear. Our lives are unpredictable, and the chaos of the world cannot give us rest. Many who are surrounded by money and power suffer tremendously.

The Immutable Presence

The common thread in all the worldly things is that they always change. Only God is unchanging and unchangeable. His Kingdom and promises are eternal. In this truth we can begin to understand where we can find true peace.

It’s Between You And Him

When we do not have peace, it means we are not at peace with God. As Jesus said, “My peace I give you” (John 14:27). His peace is not partial, temporary or based on circumstances. The peace of Christ is based on his identity and his glorious work of forgiveness. Otherwise it depends on the universe working the way you want it. If you reject Jesus’ peace, then there is a personal issue between you and God.

In the same verse, Jesus goes on to say, “I do not give to you as the world gives.” This means that true peace is purely spiritual. This is why a person that has all they need materially can be miserable while a person facing death can be at peace. It’s normal for people and situations to bother us, but you can regain peace under any circumstance.

The central issue is fear

Jesus completes the verse saying, “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” These are the words of God’s Son. These are the words of a Great King that spilled his blood for you. Even death is powerless when God’s Spirit lives within you. Like Jesus, you also are a child of God. Trust in this. Believe in this. As this truth grows in your heart you will find the peace you desire.

This does not mean you walk around with your head in the clouds ignoring your responsibilities. Instead it means you see things from a heavenly perspective. Situations that provoked intense anxiety suddenly shrink in God’s great presence. This is because you know where you stand with God. You have been forgiven. You have been redeemed. You have a place in heaven, and you are loved with the purest love possible.

Not anesthesia, but truth

Faith in Jesus Christ is not spiritual anesthesia. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. When you have the desire to know Jesus more – who he is and what he means in your life – then you see things clearly. No more monsters and no more lies. God is in control and you are his beloved child. Let the good fruit of peace come forth in abundance.

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Prayer for anxiety and worry

/ Prayer for Anxiety / 55 Comments

Here is a prayer for anxiety and worry. Do you want your life to be different? It’s possible through prayer. God’s grace and mercy will help you. Don’t lose hope!

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Prayer for anxiety and worry

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears is not perfected in love.

1 John 4:18

I can do all things in him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

Pray anywhere, anytime.

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PRAYER FOR ANXIETY AND WORRY

Dear loving Lord,

I am feeling stress. I am worried. Too many things Occupy my mind.

Won’t you help me? Show me Lord, your order and your plans are eternal.

Let me trust in your will alone. Your Word tells me where there is love there is no fear.

Your perfect love drives out all fear. Let me be filled with your love.

The perfect love that tells me I am not condemned, but I am saved.

I can do all things through you. You strengthen me.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Prayer for anxiety reveals the wisdom of the heart

/ Prayer for Anxiety / 2 Comments
Prayer for Anxiety wisdom of the heart

Cultivate your faith

The world is sometimes a frightening place. In any time or place, there can be stress or worry. Sometimes things might appear to be stable in society, but in your home it’s a battlefield. Or maybe things appear hopeless everywhere you look.

In this article, Prayer for Anxiety explains how the wisdom of the heart allows us to find peace in any situation.

What is wisdom?

Wisdom is a special kind of knowledge or understanding. It often comes from having a lot of life experience. On the other hand, some people are naturally wise even at a young age.

The Bible says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). This does not mean that God will punish you, but rather that we should respect God like we would a king. When we don’t want to offend someone, we might say we are afraid to offend them. This is a healthy type of fear, and wisdom begins here. It means you seriously take into account the other person.

Wisdom of the heart

The wisdom of the heart is something that comes from a relationship with God. It’s becoming conscious of what your heart already knows. This understanding comes to us from God’s Spirit, and upon this wisdom you can build a strong spiritual life. It will defend you in times of crisis, and it will nourish you when you feel weak.

Psalm 103

This psalm gives us a clear picture of the wisdom of the heart:

Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases…

The psalm starts with what happens once you have received the wisdom of the heart: your soul praises God.

The wisdom of the heart is based on two simple truths: God forgives all your sins, and he heals all your “diseases.” These are concepts we can understand with our heads, but it’s only when we open our hearts to God’s love that the true wisdom comes out.

You are forgiven

The idea that we are forgiven can be hard to understand or accept. This is because it means admitting we were wrong. But again, the wise heart knows when a mistake was made. You might be able to fool your mind, but your heart knows the truth.

One of the greatest truths is that we all need to be forgiven. If we place ourselves or someone else on a pedestal then we deny God’s mercy. There is only one requirement for access to God’s mercy, and that is sin. If there has been no mistake, then there can be no mercy.

God does not force anything on you, but if you ask for his mercy he pours it out in abundance.

You are healed

The healing we are talking about is more spiritual than physical, however, every physical ailment has psychological and spiritual components.

When you understand and accept God’s forgiveness, your soul is healed. And if you doubt whether or not God has forgiven you, just look at the cross of Jesus. Look at his wounds and his blood that was shed for you. This is how God brings you healing.

A healthy soul faces the trials of life with renewed strength. A healthy soul lives with peace and joy. A healthy soul helps others when they suffer. A healthy soul rises up in Jesus Christ’s resurrection and praises God.

Stay wise, stay healthy

A healthy soul knows also knows where to get feeding. The place to get feeding is to return back to where we started – with the wisdom of the heart.

An adaption from Psalm 103 expresses it beautifully:

The Lord redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
He satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Respect God. Know that he loves you and forgives all your sins. Trust that he heals the even the deepest hurt in your heart and soul.

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This post was partially inspired by the book El Predicador ante el Espejo by Carlos María Martini.

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