4 Ways to Pray More and Worry Less

If you are struggling with worry, you aren’t alone. We all experience anxious thoughts throughout the day. 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) instructs us to, “Cast all your anxiety on him [Jesus] because he cares for you. Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) emphasizes this act through the practice of prayer: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Here’s 4 practical ways we can pray throughout the day and experience the peace of God:

1. Start your day with prayer.

Create a morning rhythm away from your smartphone or mobile device. For the first 20-30 minutes of your day, grab a cup of water, coffee or tea, and sit down with your Bible and the Seek First Journal. If you are using a Bible reading plan from the YouVersion app, great! Then only use your phone to open that app. Read or listen to a passage of scripture, reflect on the scripture and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you. Then pray in response to what you read. As you pray, meditate on God’s love, invite the Holy Spirit to lead you throughout the day, and pray for the day ahead.

 

2. Meditate on and memorize scripture.

Write a Bible verse you want to memorize in your Seek First Journal, in your phone, or on a note card and carry it with you throughout the day. Find a time each day where you pull it out and meditate on it for a few minutes. When you find yourself worrying, read the scripture again, and inspired by that passage, pray. 

For more ways and tips to memorize Scripture, click here.

 

3. Thank God.

One of the best ways to combat worry is by counting your blessings. Spend 5-10 minutes during your day reflecting on who God is and all He has done for you and provided for you. Write down what you are grateful for and thank the Lord in prayer. A guided gratitude practice is included in the daily reflections in your Seek First Journal.

 

4. Practice breath prayer at different moments during the day.

Breath prayer combines prayer with the rhythm of breathing. Simply repeat a short phrase or verse from Scripture with each inhale and exhale. This practice focuses your thoughts on the Lord, calms your body, and fosters the practice of prayer throughout your day. Here’s how breath prayer works: Begin by focusing on your breath, becoming aware of your inhale and exhale. Select a phrase from scripture. On the inhale, silently repeat the phrase, and on the exhale, repeat the second part. 

For example, while you inhale deeply, silently say: “Be still and know…” Then on the long exhale, say,  “...that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

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