Prayers For Personal PeaceSample

There are some practical steps you can take if you are concerned about your mental and emotional health. Since anxious and worrisome thoughts often lead to physical depletion and loss of energy, you may not “feel” like doing any of these. But if you will gradually add one or more to your daily routine, in time you can experience their benefits.

Meditation.Replacing anxious thoughts with sound thoughts of peace, harmony, hope, truth, God’s Word, love, and positivity goes a long way toward reducing feelings of worry. Try to spend at least 15 minutes a day clearing your mind of clutter and focusing on Scripture or other positive thoughts. Meditating on the love of God each day has demonstrated significant health benefits. In particular, MRI scans of the brain reveal that the practice of meditation reduces the connection of neural pathways in the medial prefrontal cortex. By loosening these connections, the brain’s ability to send signals of fear through these channels is diminished. Because of this, anxiety decreases as well.

Exercise.Working out may be the absolute last thing you want to do when you are feeling worried or anxious, but the act of exercise will reduce your anxiety and have a calming effect on your body. Not only is exercise good for your overall health; when you physically exert yourself, you are releasing neurotransmitters and endorphins that will provide your brain with the capacity to overcome worrisome thoughts. Even if you’re simply walking, any amount of exercise opens up the brain’s creativity and thought processes in a way that serves to alleviate your stress and anxiety. 

Caring for others.God knew exactly what He was saying when He told us that it is better to give than to receive. The very act of thinking of someone else’s needs above our own, or bringing happiness and delight to another human being, has been shown to increase our own levels of happiness as well. Somehow the simple act of taking our minds off of ourselves and putting them on someone else helps free us from that which holds us hostage. Make it a habit of helping someone else. Visit a shut-in regularly. Go to a nursing home and spend time with someone who receives few or no visitors. Offer to help a neighbor or coworker. Pray for others. Mentor a child or teen. The list of ways to shift your thinking from yourself to someone else in need is endless.

Try these three practical ways to reduce your worry and anxiety about your own mental health. In addition, pray according to God’s Word—in faith, knowing that He who began a good work in You will be faithful to complete it. He holds the sun, moon, and earth in place. He can hold you together as well.