Self-care is essential and important to your existence and well-being. It encompasses emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual aspects of your life. One of the best things that you can do to enhance your self-care is to implement prayer in your daily life.
Before I move forward with this article, I will go ahead and share with you that I am a Christian. I 100% believe in one God, and I believe that Jesus died on a cross, and rose again, so that I could have eternal life. Therefore, this article will be geared toward praying towards a Christian God.
If you have not begun the practice of praying to God or fell off praying, let me share with you that it is not too late to start praying again and having a relationship with God. So, here’s the thing, God desires to have a true connection with you. He loves you, and has a plan for you, and your life. Many times, people allow life and/or chaos to prevent them from having a relationship with God and praying to him. If you can be intentional about your prayer life, you will experience a positive change in your life, and how you approach people and/or troublesome situations. Having a daily prayer life helps increase peace, clarity, joy, and so much more. All of these three mental spaces are necessary to help you with self-care. I can tell you from a personal standpoint, when I pray, I feel so much better, and like a weight has been relieved.
So, how does a person pray anyways?
When you pray, you are simply talking to God. Some people, especially seasoned churchgoers tend to pray fancy, elaborate prayers, and for new Christians, it can feel overwhelming to pray when you have listened to long prayers like these. But listen to me clearly when I say, God desires a prayer from your heart. He does not want you to say prayers to sound a certain way or “put on,” for the church or people. Here are a few tips that I use when I pray to God daily.
1. Praise God.
Praising God is acknowledging who God is. God is omnipotent, meaning He has unlimited power. He is omnipresent, meaning He is everywhere. He is omniscient, meaning He knows everything. Because of all of these things, get excited and praise God that He is in control of your life and has a plan and purpose for you to be successful and prosper. When you think about that, doesn’t that get you excited? I know I do! That’s some self-care!
2. Thank God.
This is the first thing that I do when I talk to God. I begin by saying, “Lord, I thank you for….” and thank Him from the heart with what you are thankful for, such as waking you up this morning, a bed to sleep in, food to eat, clothes to wear, a job to go to, bills paid, etc. It does not have to be perfect, or sound rehearsed. Just thank God for who He is and what He has done for you. It doesn’t have to be long either. Speak from the heart. If you need a little help to remember why you should praise God, you can take out a piece of paper and begin writing down everything that you have access to, such as a bed to sleep in, car to drive, healthy parents still alive (if applicable), heat, a place to sleep daily, a job, etc. The list is endless, and you can write down as many things as possible. The point is, to thank Him for blessing you with all that you have.
3. Seek forgiveness.
We are all sinners and imperfect individuals. So, if there is something that you have done that wasn’t pleasing in His sight or you know that something you did was wrong, ask God to forgive you for that. Perhaps, it could have been something that you thought, that was not pleasing or a thought you shouldn’t be thinking, ask for forgiveness. Maybe you were gossiping about someone, and you know that if that person was standing there, they would not be pleased. Ask God to forgive you for that. Only you know what you need to ask God for. Search your heart.
4. Ask for help.
What do you need God to do for you? Do you have a job interview coming up and you need Him to bless you with an offer? Do you have a doctor’s visit coming up and you need God to heal your body and receive a good report? Because God is all-powerful and can do anything, seek Him, and ask Him for help. Remember, He is waiting for a relationship with you, and we go to our Father when we need help too. Pray to Him and He will answer you.
5. Thank Him in advance.
Have faith that God is going to answer your prayers and bless you with more than you can ask for. This is a great form of self-care because you are activating your faith and belief that things are going to work out for the better in your life. You don’t have to live in a scared, confused, state of mind. Trust God and He will be there with you every step of your life’s journey.
Praying to God is essential in everyday life. I want to encourage you to remember that prayer is not a performance or for show. Prayer is a genuine conversation between God, our Father, and you. Speak from the heart and pray no matter what. Here is another resource to help you on your prayer journey: https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/how-to-pray.html
When in doubt, you can always pray this prayer found in the Holy Bible:
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Matthew 6:9-13