Prayer Strategy for Emotional Rest

Emotional Rest

Are you facing a problem so big there is no escaping it through your go-to stress-busting methods?  Exercise, meditation, journaling and prayer have all been therapeutic methods for me over the years. At times though, I have faced anxiety or pain so intense I cannot seem to ratchet it down.  I cannot catch my breath or put the problem to rest even momentarily.  It is all-consuming.  As my mind races, I find it hard to even pray.  Incredibly, in times like these, when we don’t know how or what to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us.

The same God that created us, searches us and identifies the Holy Spirit living in us.  The Spirit reciprocates by bringing our needs to God on our behalf.

When It’s Hard To Pray

I am immensely grateful that even when I don’t feel prayerful, I have a heavenly advocate voicing my needs to the Father!  As meditation and mindfulness teach us, we are not our feelings.  We are, however, able to choose how we react to our feelings.  Even when we feel far from peace, gentleness, hope and joy, those gifts are still very accessible to us.  How marvelous it is that the Spirit doesn’t just reveal our needs to God, but also reveals God to us by providing meaning to scripture and reminding us of what we’ve learned previously.

Here are two, fail-proof ways to solidify a wobbly spirit and access emotional rest. 

Praying the Word of God Over Your Life

This method is affirming God’s word back to yourself. I love the way this tried and true method brings chaos back into order. God created our mind, body, spirit to work together. He can speak directly into our spirits in a way that commands attention.

In praying the word of God over your life, you’re taking the focus off the pain, not trying to solve the problem or determine a solution. Instead, you’re focusing all energy on the Comforter and his promises to us.

He is a relational god and even though he sees our hearts already, he delights in us sharing it all with him.  There are also no surprises to him, so whatever we bring, we can do so with freedom!

Praying the Scriptures Back to God

My favorite way of praying the scriptures back to God is by journaling them in my own words. Claiming verses this way affirms my core belief; that we serve a personal God, who loved each of us so deeply and individually, he sent his only son to pay our ransom and die in our place.  Just as with any type of journaling, writing scripture this way helps me to slow down, but with the added help of not having to think too much! This is a gift in itself; gaining emotional rest via a method that doesn’t add to the strain.

Below is a recent example of this strategy from my own prayer journal.  The passages I read and based this prayer on are from Isaiah 40:10-11 and Isaiah 40:25-31.

“God, I see you come with power and know you rule mightily.  Thank you for tending my family like a shepherd, gathering us in your arms and protecting us with your life.  Please carry me close to your heart and gently lead me as I have young and I know they are affected by the trouble I face.

I praise you, for there is none like you!  You have no equal.  Nothing rivals you.  You created the heavens and you created me and each sweet member of my family.  You call the stars by name.  You know our names and have numbered each hair on our heads. Because of your great power and mighty strength, none of the stars are missing.

You know our ways, God, and you are merciful to us.  You are the everlasting God.  You will not grow tired or weary!  We cannot fathom your understanding.

Thank you for welcoming me to plug in to your strength when I am weary.  You graciously lend your strength to me and amp up my power.

When we grow tired and weary and stumble and fall, we will be renewed by your strength.  We will soar like eagles. We will run and not grow weary. We will walk and not be faint.

God, would you grant me your strength, power and understanding in this ongoing battle?

I thank you for lavishly extending all these gifts to me.”

Relying on the Spirit gave this ancient passage relevancy in my emotionally exhausted state!  I hope you’ll continue exercising and journaling and talking to trusted friends and taking time to sit quietly and meditate not just in times of pain, but on the regular!

If you are wondering where to start when you don’t know how to pray, this guest post I wrote for Kindgom Bloggers provides a baseline for improving your daily prayer life.

Emotional Rest

While I hope you don’t ever face pain or anxiety, I know that is a naive wish.  What I’ve learned to pray for instead, is that whatever you face, the good, the bad, the trials & triumphs, that it all draws you closer to God.

This prayer strategy of rewriting of scripture will definitely be at the top of my list for resetting my heart in the midst of overwhelming anxiety and pain.  I hope this strategy will help you, too.  Would you let me know if this helps you or if there is another method you use to move your anchor from the people and circumstances wrapped up in a problem straight to God’s heart and his promises?

I pray the following verses bring you comfort and that you are inspired to claim them through written prayer!  Before you begin, invite the Holy Spirit to be your helper in your current challenge.

Psalm 103:1-12

Zephaniah 3:17

Isaiah 41:10-13

Romans 12:2

Ephesians 6:10-18

This prayer strategy for emotional rest article was originally here in May 2018.  In June 2018, it was included in an array of bonus materials in Take a Walk Ministries’ “Strength in Him” devotional.  This compilation of daily devotionals and bonus materials are perfect for fighting against feelings of emotional and mental weakness when things feel out of control. Practical methods for finding strength and releasing battles to God is supported with countless scripture references, broken down for deeper understanding. Through the 3-week study, readers are reminded though difficult things won’t be eliminated, we are equipped with the needed endurance so graciously provided by God who lends us his very own strength.