Prayer for Stress Relief
Your life can often be filled with stressful situations (from your work environment, an overbearing mental load or the pressure of unresolved conflicts), causing you to develop unrest, and even anxiety of varying degrees of intensity. Healing prayers can be used to help you resolve both your physical and mental troubles. Prayer is a powerful remedy for reducing stress: anxiety often arises from our desire to gain control over every aspect of our lives, which is impossible. God, Our loving Father, asks us to bring our troubles to Him and to put our trust in Him. In his book the portico of the Mystery of the Second Virtue, Charles Peguy wrote: “Maybe you could without much loss, leave your affairs in my hands, wise men. Surely, I am as wise as you are. Perhaps you could hand them over to me for the space of a night, While you sleep, at least... And maybe tomorrow morning you will see that I didn’t damage them too much.”
Then let us pray! Bring your fears, troubles and anxieties to the Lord, lay them at His feet. As Paul said: “ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7).
Two Prayers for Stress and Anxiety Relief
Prayer for Inner Peace by Teresa of Avila
“Let nothing disturb you, nothing frighten you. All things are passing: God never changes. Patience gains all: Those who have God lack nothing; God alone is sufficient.”
Act of Abandonment to Divine Providence by John Martin Moye
“Providence of my God, I adore you in all your designs.
I place my destiny in your hands, confiding to you all that I have, all that I am, and all that I am to become – my body and my soul, my health and reputation, my life, my death, and my eternal salvation.
As I rely entirely upon you and expect all from your goodness, I will not give myself up to any useless anxiety. I confide to you the success of all my undertakings, and in all difficulties I will have recourse to you as a never-failing source of help.
I know that you will either preserve me from the evils I dread, or turn them to my good and your glory. Peaceful and contented in all, I will allow your Providence to govern my life without worry or over eagerness.
Holy, wise, generous, and loving Providence! I thank you for the tender care you have taken of me up to this moment. I humbly and earnestly entreat you to continue the same for me; direct all that I do, guide me in your ways, govern me at every moment of my life, and bring me into the fullness of being that you have destined for me from all eternity.
May I please you and give you glory forever.
Amen.”
Psalms and Biblical Verses to Soothe Your Nerves
Stress issues seem to be very prominent today: we evolved to lead lifestyles that are more likely to cause anxiety in our everyday lives.But anguish and unrest have existed since the dawn of time. All throughout the Scriptures, we are reminded of God’s fatherly love towards us, and the importance of trusting in Him.
Turn to the word of God when you are feeling nervous. Finding a verse that speaks to you and repeating it throughout the day will help to bring you inner peace.
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23)
“In peace I will lie down and fall asleep, for you alone, Lord, make me secure.” (Psalm 4:9)
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
“Peace I leave with 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)
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
Practice Prayer and Meditation on Hozana
Discover the calming power of prayer on Hozana: Hozana is a social network that allows you to connect with your Christian brothers and sisters around the world by joining prayer communities and spiritual programs.
Learn the power of St. Teresa of Avila’s mental prayer: find your peace with spiritual meditation! Enjoy a time of relaxation with a reading and meditation on the Daily Gospel. Pray for deliverance and protection with a novena to St. Michael Archangel.
