Prayer for Learning to Respect Myself:
Psalm 139:14 “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
Father,
You know all things about me and you know the struggles I deal with on a daily basis. My view of myself has not always been favorable. I repent for the times those thoughts come into my head. It is an insult to you whenever I think you would create an inferior person. I pray the thought that I am created in Your image stays forefront of my thinking. Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
I come to you today asking for your help in respecting and valuing myself. I pray that I may see myself as you see me: as a beloved child of God, worthy of love, respect, and dignity.
Help me to reject negative self-talk and to focus on my strengths and gifts. I pray that I may treat myself with kindness and compassion and that I may let go of any self-doubt or insecurity that holds me back.
I pray that I may honor my physical, emotional, and spiritual needs and that I may find peace and contentment in who I am. Please give me the wisdom to make choices that are healthy for me, and the courage to set boundaries when necessary.
Thank you for your love and grace, and for always being with me. I pray these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Genesis 1:31 “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.”
Prayer to Make Healthy Food Choices:
1 Corinthians 10:31 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
Dear Lord,
I come to you today asking for your guidance and wisdom in making healthy food choices. I recognize the importance of nourishing my body with wholesome and nutritious foods, and I ask for your help in making this a priority in my life. You know many of our food choices offered are not “clean” and are harmful to my body. I am committed to changing my eating habits.
Lord, make me more diligent in reading labels on packaging. I know it is better to avoid processed food; for those I eat, lead me in selecting those foods that are the least harmful.
Please give me the willpower and self-control to resist unhealthy temptations, and the discipline to make healthy choices on a daily basis. Help me to develop a balanced relationship with food, one that honors my physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
May I be mindful of the food I put into my body, and may I listen to my body’s signals to determine what is best for me. I pray that I may make wise food choices that support my overall health and well-being, and that I may find joy and satisfaction in the foods I eat.
Thank you for your love and grace, and for always being with me. I pray these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.
1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
Prayer to Prioritize Exercising More for Self Care:
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.”
Heavenly Father,
I praise you for the health you have given me. It is something I don’t want to take for granted. I have been lax in taking care of the body you have given me. Today I commit to being more of what you want of me. I come to you today asking for your help in prioritizing exercise and physical activity in my life. I recognize the importance of taking care of my body, and I ask for your guidance and motivation to make this a priority.
Please give me the energy and motivation to be active on a regular basis, and help me to find joy and fulfillment in physical activity. May I make exercise a habit, and may I look forward to it as a way to take care of my body and mind.
I pray that I may make wise choices that support my overall health and well-being, and that I may find balance in my life. May I be mindful of my limits, and may I listen to my body’s signals to determine what is best for me.
Thank you for your love and grace, and for always being with me. I pray these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Romans 12:11 “I will not be slothful in zeal but fervent in spirit, to glorify You.”
Prayer to Turn to Meditation When Feeling Overwhelmed:
Psalm 119:15 “I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.”
Lord, you know I have been feeling overwhelmed with life. It seems as though everything around me is caving in on me. I am sorry I let myself get to this point when I should be turning to you first when I feel stressed. I need your help in making this change.
I come to you today feeling overwhelmed and stressed. I ask for your help in finding peace and calm in the midst of this chaos. Isaiah 26:3 “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
I pray that I may take the time to pause, breathe, and meditate on your presence in my life. Help me to clear my mind and to focus on your love and grace. May I find solace and comfort in your peace, and may I be filled with your hope and strength. Studies show being outdoors is a natural sedative that calms the soul. Lord, help me make time every day to go outdoors and just be quiet so I can hear your creation and hear from you.
I pray that I may find the time to practice mindfulness and meditation regularly, and that I may make it a habit to take care of my mind and soul. Help me to see the beauty in each moment, and to be grateful for the many blessings in my life.
Thank you for your love and grace, and for always being with me. I pray these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Psalm 1:1-6 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; …”
Prayer to Concentrate on Positive Self-Talk:
Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”
Dear Lord,
You know I have trouble with negative self-talk. It seems that Satan plays the same recording over and over in my mind and it eventually comes out of my mouth. I know I need to stop and need your help. I come before you today seeking your guidance and support. I know that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and yet sometimes I find myself struggling with negative self-talk. I get caught up in negative thoughts and self-doubt, and I find it hard to focus on the positive aspects of myself.
Please help me to develop a habit of speaking kindly and positively to myself. Help me to concentrate on the good qualities you have given me and to believe in my abilities. Give me the strength and courage to face challenges with confidence and to see the opportunities in every situation. Remind me every minute of the day that I am a child of God. Galatians 3:26 “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” Every time negative self-talk starts, I commit to saying that scripture. You have made perfection.
Help me to be patient and gentle with myself, to accept my limitations, and to celebrate my achievements. I ask for your wisdom and understanding as I work to develop a more positive outlook on life and to cultivate a spirit of hope and joy.
Thank you, Lord, for your love and your blessings. I trust in your guidance and I pray that you will be with me always, empowering me to be the best version of myself.
Amen.
1 Peter 3:3-4 “Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.
Prayer for Help With Making a Self-Care Calendar:
Ephesians 5:29 “For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church…”
Dear Lord,
There is a popular saying that says you make time for that which is important to your self. Sadly, I haven’t felt self-care is important to me. My mental state and body are proof of my failure in this area. I want to change that and need your help. I want to put myself on my calendar. I come to you today seeking your guidance and support as I strive to prioritize my self-care. I know that in order to be the best version of myself, I need to take care of my mind, body, and soul.
Photo Credit: The Educators Room
Please help me to prioritize self-care in my daily life. Give me the wisdom and creativity to create a self-care calendar that works for me and my unique needs. Help me to find activities and practices that bring me joy, peace, and renewal, and to set aside time for them each day. It seems as though my calendar is full of activities that I need to do for others. I now realize I need to schedule healthy activities which affect no one other than myself.
I ask for your guidance and encouragement as I work to make self-care a priority in my life. Help me to overcome any obstacles or distractions that may prevent me from taking care of myself. I pray that you will be with me always, helping me to prioritize self-care and to live a life that is fulfilling and meaningful.
Amen.
1 Corinthians 9:27 “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
Prayer to Commit to Memorizing These Self-Care Scripture:
Joshua 1:8 “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
Proverbs 6:21-22 “Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck. When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.”
Dear Lord,
I come to you today seeking your help and guidance as I strive to memorize your Holy Word. Your word is a source of comfort, encouragement, and wisdom, and I desire to have it written on my heart so that I may draw upon it in the times I stray into negative self-talk or periods I don’t take care of myself.
I pray that you will use your word to transform my life, to renew my mind, and to bring me closer to you. Help me to always seek your truth and to live in accordance with your will.
Amen
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
1 Corinthians 3:16 “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”
Isaiah 64:8 “Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”
Psalm 46:5 “God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.”
Daniel 1:8-9 “But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs,”
Luke 5:16 “But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.”
Mark 6:31 “And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.”
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Philippians 4:6-8 “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.””
Isaiah 41:10 “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Exodus 18:18-19 “But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone.”
Matthew 22: 37-39 “And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Ephesians 5:29 “For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,”
Mark 1:35 “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.”
Matthew 15:32 “Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
Romans 12:1 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Genesis 2:2-3 “And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.”
Psalm 139: 13-14 “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;”
Isaiah 43:4 “Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you,”
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
(Scripture List Credit: Faith Filled Food for Moms)
