Prayer for Anxiety
When anxiety takes hold, prayer can name the fear and place it in God's hands. This is a simple, scripture-rooted prayer for anxiety, along with three short prayers for moments when the longer one is too much.
The prayer
Heavenly Father, my heart is anxious. I bring You every worry that crowds my mind today — by name, one at a time. You know each one already; You knew them before I felt them. Cast away the fears that are not from You. Where the worry is real, give me grace to face it without panic. Replace my anxious thinking with Your peace that surpasses understanding. Help me to live one day at a time, trusting that You hold tomorrow already. In the name of Jesus, my Saviour and my peace. Amen.
History & tradition
Christian prayers for anxiety are as old as the Psalms — Psalm 55, 42, 88 and many others are honest cries from anxious hearts. The New Testament adds direct instruction: 'Cast all your care upon him; for he careth for you' (1 Peter 5:7). The Church has always prayed both for relief and for steadiness.
When to pray it
Pray this prayer in the middle of an anxious spell, not before. Name the specific fears — vague prayer is hard to receive answers to. Pair with deep breathing; the body and the soul both calm together.
Three short alternatives
Philippians 4:6-7 as prayer
'I will be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving will let my requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep my heart and mind through Christ Jesus.' Pray it in the first person.
Jesus Prayer (short)
'Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.' Pray it on the breath, fifty times, until the rhythm steadies you.
Psalm 23 by heart
If you've memorised it, pray Psalm 23 slowly, twice through. There are few better prayers for an anxious mind.
Pair it with daily practice
Set Quiethaven's prayer timer for five minutes; pray this prayer once, then sit in silence. For more, see our verses about anxiety and how to pray when you have no words. When you need a real voice, you can talk to a verified pastor.
"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." — 1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)
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