A Prayer for When You Are Anxious
By Wendy van Eyck
I am my beloved’s, and his desire is for me. - Song of Solomon 7:10
When I first read about the following prayer in a book by Brennan Manning called, “The Furious Longing of God,” I thought it sounded too simple but I gave it a try anyway.
I can’t remember the exact words Manning wrote but I remember reading something along the lines of, 'if you pray this prayer every day for one month it will change you.'
This prayer has changed me.
This 5-word prayer has become my "go-to" prayer anytime I feel anxious.
Driving to the oncologist to get scan results: Abba, I belong to you.
Waking in the middle of the night with concerns about work or finances: Abba, I belong to you.
Worrying over a relationship that is struggling to work: Abba, I belong to you.
Praying for a friend: Abba, [insert name of friend] belongs to you.
As I pray it I find myself remembering who God is: Big, mighty, good, merciful, loving, Abba.
As I pray it I find myself surrendering to who God is: In control, infinite, beyond comprehension, seeking my good.
As I pray it I find myself believing who I am: Human, living in forgiveness, valuable, beloved, desired by God.
Ponder: Are you willing to try praying this prayer every day for a month and see if it helps your anxiety?
Prayer: I exhale and inhale when I pray it as Brennan Manning suggested, but I’ve found my own rhythm:
Inhale: Abba
Exhale: I belong
Inhale: to
Exhale: you
I find the combination of breathing and words calm me. This makes sense to me because none of us are only physical or only spiritual. We are both, so why not use both to find peace when I'm anxious?
Editor’s Note: Portions of this devotional were taken from Wendy van Eyck’s devotional, How to Pray When You are Anxious. You can read that piece in full here.
Related Resource: Praying Through Life’s Battles
What battle are you carrying today?
Maybe it is an unanswered prayer, a painful loss, a strained relationship, a health concern, or a circumstance that feels far beyond your control. When life feels overwhelming, we can become so consumed by our emotions—or so busy trying to fix everything ourselves—that prayer is often one of the first things we neglect.
This week on The Love Offering Podcast, my friend Rachel Wojo joins me to talk about her new 90-day devotional, Praying Through Life’s Battles. Drawing from her experience of loving and losing her daughter, Taylor, Rachel shares how prayer has sustained her through unimaginable grief and reminded her that she never faces life’s battles alone.
If you like what you hear, be sure to follow The Love Offering on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Saturday, 09 January 2021.
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