15 Prayers For Anxiety That Relieve Stress And Worry
It could be the stress of getting to an appointment on time or the uneasiness of navigating rush hour traffic. Most people suffer from some pressure throughout their day. In this post, we will look at 15 prayers for anxiety to help relieve that worry.
Why are prayers for anxiety important?
Prolonged anxiety can harm both our physical and mental well-being. Doctor-prescribed treatments often include medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes, including meditation. This list is not an alternative to the treatment prescribed by a medical professional, but it stands as an additional resource. Amid stress and anxiety, shifting your focus from the moment’s tension can be challenging. Prayer is a powerful tool because you can do it independently, anytime, anywhere. Having specific prayers for anxiety provides support and release from angst.
In this article, you’ll find:
- How prayer can help defeat anxiety
- How to pray for anxiety
- Prayers for overcoming anxiety
Can prayers help with anxiety?
Praying is talking to God. It is a personal form of worship that is both powerful and effective. There are different kinds of prayer, including praise and worship, thanksgiving, intercession, and supplication.
- Praise and worship honor God. In this prayer, we celebrate who he is.
- Thanksgiving shows gratitude to our Heavenly Father for what he has done in our lives and the lives of others.
- Intercession involves praying on behalf of others. It consists of putting our individual needs aside and prioritizing someone else’s needs.
- Supplication is petitioning for ourselves. It is an earnest plea to the Lord to grant our request.
Each type of prayer can help ease the pain of anxiety.
- Praise and worship take the focus off of ourselves and rest it upon God. It brings into focus how great he is. Anxious about provision? Remember, he is Jehovah Jireh, our provider! There is nothing too great for God.
- Thanksgiving also adjusts our perspective. Instead of magnifying lack or what we don’t have, it considers what we do have. Gratitude is known to positively impact our psychological health and relationships with others.
- Intercession, like praise and worship, redirects our attention from ourselves. In this case, it focuses on others, requiring that we put someone else’s concerns before our own. Helping others can have a positive impact on feelings of anxiety.
- Supplication involves asking God for help against anxiety. The Lord wants to honor our requests. James 5:15 says that prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well. So don’t hesitate. Ask God for what you need. He loves you and desires to help.
How to pray
One prayer can include praise and worship, thanksgiving, intercession, and supplication. Matthew 6:5-8 says that when you pray, don’t do it to be seen by others, but find a solitary place to pray. Don’t worry about being perfect; just be yourself.
If you don’t know what to say, start with gratitude. Thanking God immediately shifts our outlook, accentuating the goodness of our circumstances. If you have a favorite scripture, incorporate it into your prayer. Speaking the word of God is a powerful tool in overcoming anxiety because it offers comfort and support.
Related: 20 Bible Verses For Anxiety
Prayers for overcoming anxiety
Prayer is communication with God. When spending time with him, there is love and protection. So amid stress and worry, it can provide liberation. Continue reading for 15 prayers for anxiety.
1. Prayer for strength
Heavenly Father, thank you for your loving grace and your tender mercies. I ask for strength right now, Lord. Please help me to trust you in this moment of weakness. Show me how not to rely on my knowledge but on yours. Diminish all doubt and insecurity that threatens to steal my joy. Lord, you are a calm, quiet place amid a storm. Please help me to find rest in you. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
2. Prayer for courage
Lord Jesus, I thank you for this opportunity to come before your throne of grace. I praise your name! Please deliver me from feelings of anxiety. Help me remember that these thoughts are lies from the enemy threatening to steal my peace. Show me how to abide in your word and to remember that the victory is already won. Let me not worry about tomorrow, but give me the strength to rejoice today. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
3. Prayer for positive thinking
Heavenly Father, thank you for meeting me at this moment. My mind is filled with so much negativity. I know that this is not of you, Lord. Cleanse me of all doubt and bitterness. Renew my faith in you. Your word says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I believe you, Lord, and I know that your word is powerful. You are my hope and salvation. In your name, Amen.
4. Prayer for faithfulness (for others)
Lord, thank you for your loving kindness. At this time I lift up my friend, _________. Life seems extremely hard right now, and they are discouraged. Please strengthen their faith and remove these feelings of insecurity. Show _______ how to trust you amid the difficulty and to walk in faithfulness. We thank you in advance for renewed hope in Christ. Amen.
5. Prayer for peace
God, I thank you for the opportunity to praise your name. I’m filled with so much worry and doubt. Your word tells us not to be anxious about anything but to present our requests to God through prayer in every situation. And we will be granted the peace of God that passes all understanding. I pour my concerns out to you, Heavenly Father. Please quiet my mind and give me peace. Strengthen me in this challenging season. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
6. Prayer for wisdom
Father God, I thank you for hearing my cry. I feel unsure of what to do. This situation is much more than I thought it would be, and I need your help. Please guide me through this difficulty. Remove all anxiety and stress. Please fill me with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Lord, I thank you for salvation and your Son. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
7. Prayer for self-control
Dear God, I thank you for your boundless love and kindness. There is no one like you. At this time, I am having trouble controlling what I say and do. Help me act in faith instead of being led by my emotions. Renew my mind, oh Lord. Please show me how to walk in true righteousness and holiness. Stir up the holy spirit within me so that I may resist the desires of my flesh. Strengthen me in this difficult season so I may persevere and not be distracted. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
8. Prayer for serenity (for others)
Lord, thank you for your endless grace and mercy. I am concerned about __________. They are in a difficult situation, and hope seems hard to find. Father God, help them find serenity in these wayward times. Help ______ to feel your loving embrace so that they will know they’re not alone. Quiet all doubts in their mind and release a renewed faith in you. You are Jehovah Shalom, our peace! I thank you and praise your name. Amen.
9. Prayer for faith (against fear)
Dear Lord, thank you for your goodness. I am humbled to be in your presence. This obstacle seems unbeatable. I know that I cannot do it alone. Your word says that I can do all things through Christ. Please help me to trust in you. Let my faith be enough even when the way seems unclear and the path unpaved. Teach me to rely on you in a new way and help me remember that I do not walk alone. You are always with me. Lord, I thank you for salvation and your Son. Amen.
10. Prayer for encouragement
Lord, thank you for loving me and caring for me. Thank you for keeping me safe and watching over my family and friends. I come before you humbly in need. Feeling like I’m not good enough. I am overwhelmed, and life seems extremely hard. Your word says that the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. Please show me how to use these spiritual weapons to remove feelings of insecurity. Show me how to trust you amid this difficulty. God, I know that you are bigger than my circumstances. I praise your name! Thank you for loving me and caring for me, Jesus. In your name, Amen.
11. Prayer for perseverance
Dear God, thank you for another day. I rejoice at the very breath in my lungs. At this time, I am weary and without motivation. Lord, stir up endurance within me and help me to persevere despite the difficulties I am facing. Your word says that through perseverance, our character is strengthened. Please help me not to give up so that you may finish your work in me, that I may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. Thank you for your faithfulness and for seeing more in me than I see in myself. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
12. Prayer for discernment (for others)
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for the opportunity to come to you in this difficult time. At this time, I lift up ______ in prayer. Help them see with spiritual eyes and hear with spiritual ears so they may discern what you would have them do. Lord, help _______ to trust you completely. Let them not worry, but think about what you want with every step, knowing that you will help them go the correct way. Thank you for discernment, Jesus. In your name, Amen.
13. Prayer for joy
Father God, I praise you! It seems like there is trouble everywhere I look. But you are the God of Hope, and I believe your word is true. Lift my spirits. Please fill me with a divine joy that no one can take away. I love you, Lord! I will not be anxious because your joy is my strength. Show me how to find contentment in my surroundings and every situation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
14. Prayer for hope and comfort
Dear Father God, I thank you for this moment with you. I need comfort. Lately, I have been feeling fragile and defenseless. But your word says that you are my helper and will safeguard me from the enemy. Please help me to hold onto the hope that you have already given. Like an anchor, it is strong and sure to keep me safe. Let me not be discouraged by anything that appears to be outside my control because I know, Lord, you are always in control. Renew my mind and help me to think about things that are good and worthy of praise. I love you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
15. Prayer for faith (during spiritual warfare)
Heavenly Father, thank you for strengthening me in this challenging season. Although I live in this world, your word says that we don’t fight our battles the same way the world does. Our weapons have divine power and can destroy the enemy’s strongholds. Lord, I ask you to help me tear down every proud idea that raises itself against the knowledge of God. Help me to capture every thought and make it surrender and obey Christ. Please help me to rely on spiritual nourishment in these wayward times. I know you have already claimed victory in this situation. Help me keep my eyes on you, Lord. Amen
Finally
Prayers for anxiety provide support and release from worry. The word says for us to think of things that are noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy. (Philippians 4:8) Let this holy mindset guide your prayer life. The different types of prayers done separately or together each adjust your perspective, allowing you to focus on your blessings instead of the pain.
When facing anxiety, how you think is how you feel. Try a few different prayers until you find one that works best for you. Even better, create a prayer journal to make this a habit! You may be surprised at how much peace you receive when you take the time to talk to God.
