Plus 10 faith-based strategies to manage anxiety

I recently had a conversation with a loved one about anxiety and faith. We talked about whether someone can have anxiety as a Christian.

What does that look like? What does that say about our faith?

We weren’t the first people to discuss this, and I know we surely won’t be the last. But, it did get me thinking about a message many Christians need to hear:

You aren’t alone in your anxiety. Feelings of anxiety don’t mean you love Jesus Christ any less.

If you’ve been in church for any amount of time, I’m sure you’ve heard sermons and lessons on how worrying is a sin. Being anxious is a sin. Persistent anxiety means we have a lack of faith in our Heavenly Father.

I know what God’s Word says about anxiety, but I also know that it remains a struggle for so many of us.

So, can you be a Christian and have anxious thoughts at the same time? The short answer is absolutely!

But I think we need to go a bit deeper. I don’t have all the answers or any sort of theological degree. I can only share my experiences, struggles and feelings with anxiety as a Christian.

The physical component of anxiety

Having some anxiety is normal and helpful. It’s helped keep humans alive for so many years because we respond to danger and take less risk.

However, some of us get stuck in that mode even when no threat is apparent. That’s when we shift to an anxiety disorder.

Like other mental health struggles, anxiety often needs more intervention than just trite advice. And anxiety disorders are rampant.

Statistically speaking, about 30% of adults are dealing with an anxiety disorder at any given time. That’s up nearly 10% from 20 years ago.

Statistics on how the Christian population compares to the general population in regards to anxiety disorders isn’t available.

But, let’s say the Christian population does have less anxiety, we’re still talking about a minimum of 20% of adults.

Meaning if you are at a church with 300 attendees on a Sunday morning, then 60 people around you are dealing with an anxiety disorder.

So, quite literally, all congregations have members dealing with anxiety disorders.

However, we also must remember the physical component to anxiety. Certain medical conditions can cause anxiety, including diabetes, chronic pain, heart disease and thyroid problems.

Outside of other health conditions, anxiety can come from a chemical imbalance in our brains, traumatic events, ongoing stress or being genetically predisposed. None of those things can be controlled.

I also want to acknowledge the God’s power of healing here. I have seen Him do miraculous things and heal people. My firm belief is we can pray for and receive healing from anxiety.

However, I also know God’s will isn’t always healing on earth. God isn’t any less faithful for not healing someone of anxiety. And it doesn’t reflect his or her faith in any way.

Through my years of dealing with various chronic health conditions, I’ve learned these lessons the hard way.

What anxiety as a Christian can look like

A few years ago, my husband and I were discussing a difficult situation that worried us. My husband is incredibly great at compartmentalizing. He also does well with leaving his worries with God.

We were talking about how we handled our worry differently. He mentioned that he trusted God would take care of the situation. I realized I didn’t completely believe that.

Let me explain. I prayed about the same situation and knew that God would work in and through it. However, I didn’t believe it would necessarily work out positively.

My husband’s faith was in God’s work to resolve the problem. My faith was that no matter what happened with the outcome, Christ Jesus would be with me and give me the peace of God.

Neither of us were wrong, but my approach certainly leaves room for anxiety.

I like to think I was just being realistic and not thinking negative thoughts. But, I think more than anything, my perspective came from my anxiety struggles.

While my husband could list off all the things that could go wrong, he was able to not fret about them because they hadn’t happened (and might never happen).

On the other hand, my mind can get an a runaway anxiety train thinking of all the possible outcomes while still trusting God won’t leave me.

Logically, I know God is in control, but anxiety isn’t logical. One of my worst times of much anxiety was right around when my oldest daughter was born.

We went on vacation and took her with us onto a large dock with a floating restaurant. I was nearly paralyzed with anxiety because I could just see her stroller going off the dock and into the lake.

In my head, that’d just be it. She’d drown.

In reality, we had her nowhere near the edge. And had the stroller somehow gone in, my husband or I would have been in the water right afterward to get her to safety.

But reality doesn’t often factor into anxiety issues.

Moving forward in faith with anxiety

Since anxiety disorders are like any other physical or mental illness, if we aren’t healed of them, then we need to figure out how to manage them and move forward in spite of them. We can move forward in both practical and spiritual ways.

1. Pray.

Everything should start with prayer, even managing anxiety as a Christian. You can definitely pray for healing (and I encourage you to), but you can also pray for God’s help handling your anxiety.

I do this quite often. I ask God to help me stop thinking about something I’m dwelling on. Or I pray that He helps me to know if a worry is something I need to act on or just have peace about.

For example, when it’s the middle of the night and I hear a slight noise that gets my mind reeling with all the bad things it could be.

We have Biblical instruction for doing this very thing, and what I love most is that God promises us peace. While I’ve had my fair share of anxious moments that increase my heart rate, I have also felt the peace and presence of God come over and still me in the midst of it.

Related Bible verse:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

2. Find a Bible verse to comfort you.

The Bible has so many verses about the peace and comfort of God. It reminds us of His presence in our lives.

Find a verse that speaks to and calms your heart. (If you don’t have one, ask God to help you find one.) Memorize it and repeat it as often as needed in everyday life.

For me, that verse is Isaiah 41:10 (see below). I learned the first part of it in third grade and it has stuck with me. I’ve repeated it to myself so many times through the years in different situations and at different times.

I’ve used the second part of the verse as a breath prayer. God’s Word is powerful. It truly can cast out fear!

Related Bible verse:

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

3. Listen to encouraging music.

Music can minister to us in so many ways. God has spoken to me so many times through songs, even songs I’ve heard and sung for years. Christian music is a part of my life.

While it can encourage and uplift me, it also stays in my head. Sometimes a song stuck in my head is just what I need to hear at just the right moment. My anxiety and faith battle in song lyrics!

Recently, I was having a difficult time and kept thinking, “I’ve never felt more alone than I do right now.”

Every single time I thought that, “Jireh” from Elevation Worship and Maverick City popped into my head with, “I’ve never been more loved than I am right now.”

It helped me turn my focus around to God’s love and the truth, which I definitely needed to do.

Related Bible verse:

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”

Colossians 3:16 (NIV)

4. Monitor what you watch.

I’ve learned to be careful what I watch. Watching TV news only increases my anxiety. It’s so negative and so dismal. It can add a variety of thoughts to my head that I don’t need.

But so can fictional television shows and movies. I’m a sensitive person and always have been.

I remember watching a scary movie in fourth grade at a slumber party and can still recall scenes from that movie to this day.

I am not into the murder shows, police shows, medical dramas and so many other things because they only increase my anxiety.

Another one of the biggest issues that many of us face are navigating social media. Seeing only the best parts of others’ lives increase our anxiety symptoms and stress.

The best thing I’ve found to have less anxiety from social media is taking a break from it when I’m struggling most. Or if I start scrolling and find myself getting upset, then I close the app and move on to something else.

Unsurprisingly, the truth of God in the Bible talks about this very thing. The Apostle Paul admonishes us to be careful what we watch for a reason!

Related Bible verse:

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

5. Think through worst-case scenarios.

This one totally sounds counterintuitive. I sometimes get easily sidetracked and anxious thinking of all the worst-case scenarios.

But, years ago my husband challenged me to think of the worst-case scenario of my worries. Then, he said, come up with the solution.

Often that helps ease my anxiety because I have a plan. And I love having a plan!

If I come up with the worst-case scenario (and my brain is good at that), I think of what would happen if that scenario came to pass.

This works also because it makes me start thinking more practically and realistically – the opposite of how anxiety makes me think.

Related Bible verse:

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?”

Luke 14:28 (NIV)

6. Talk about it.

Persistent anxiety is good at lying to us. It can make problems seem so much bigger than they are and increase the feeling of worry for no good reason.

When I have trouble dealing with something or moving on from it, it helps to talk about it with someone I trust.

For me, that’s my husband. Often just saying the words out loud help my anxiety and faith meet as I realize what I’m worried about isn’t such a big deal.

We weren’t made to bear our burdens alone. Along with being able to go to God, we also need to have people who we can turn to and trust when our burdens weigh us down.

Saying a worry out loud to good Christian friends or loved ones is a powerful tool that removes at least some of anxiety’s power.

Related Bible verse:

“If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”

Ecclesiastes 4:10a (NIV)

7. Distract yourself.

I’m not advocating for denial here, but distracting yourself from your thoughts is a good way to help in the midst of the struggles with anxiety as a Christian. Find healthy ways to distract yourself or ground yourself in the moment.

I have a coloring app on my phone that I find soothing and often use to unwind and relax.

I’ve also tried some mindfulness and grounding techniques when my anxiety starts to get away from me. For me, this is just stopping my thoughts and shifting my focus to what I can see, feel and hear.

It’s beyond just acknowledging those things but really paying attention to them. (Find more relaxation tips and strategies in this article I wrote for the IC Network.)

Sometimes what we need most is just a break from our anxious thoughts.

Related Bible verse:

“A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God.”

Ecclesiastes 2:24 (NIV)

8. Believe you CAN improve.

A major lie anxiety likes to tell us is that we will always feel this way — or at least feel this way for a long time. We don’t have hope for the future and have no reason to try and do better.

I’ve been down that path both with anxiety and my other health issues; I get it. I still have days where I think this is the best it gets.

But I am continuing to learn that a bad day, week or even month doesn’t mean it will always be bad.

The first step toward making progress is allowing yourself to believe – truly believe – that you can improve. And then you must remind yourself that you are worth the work.

I’ve learned I need to embrace these two concepts when I get stuck and need to move forward. I’m thankful for my husband who also gently pushes me to not just accept “this is how things are.”

Even if your anxiety isn’t healed or isn’t just a phase, you can always learn new ways to help manage it. Try new and different ways to manage your symptoms.

Don’t stop trying. Let me reassure you that God made you. You are worthwhile.

The good news is He doesn’t make junk, my friend.

You are worth the effort needed to improve. Tiny baby steps forward are still steps forward. God has plans to give you a future and a hope!

Related Bible verse:

“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.'”

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

9. Get professional help.

A negative way anxiety and faith can overlap is by trying to convince you that since you have faith you don’t need help. Go back and read the section about the physical component of anxiety.

You can try helping yourself. Sometimes that works! But, sometimes it doesn’t because you need more help than you can give yourself.

Think of it like treating yourself when you’re sick. When you first start feeling a scratchy throat, you might drink more liquids and go to bed early.

However, if you wake up the next day with a swollen throat and a fever, you know you need to see your doctor and be checked for strep throat.

Treat your anxiety the same way. Try things to help yourself, but if it stays the same or gets worse, seek help.

You can start seeking professional help with your family doctor who can suggest mental health professionals in your areas. Consider cognitive behavioral therapy.

Be able to talking about anti-anxiety medication.

There is no shame in seeking help from a medical professional or counselor. God has given us knowledge and resources. We should not be ashamed to use those resources!

Related Bible verse:

“Plans are established by seeking advice; so if you wage war, obtain guidance.”

Proverbs 20:18 (NIV)

(Additional note: I left in this entire verse, because we are waging a war on anxiety. It applies!)

10. Focus on who God Is.

When we’re dealing with anxiety, we can feel like everything is shifting. Everything is murky, and nothing makes sense.

That’s all the more reason to focus on who God is. He is unchanging, faithful and true. That’s incredibly comforting with or without anxiety.

I remember distinctly a Sunday morning during a really bad time in my life. I’m not sure what the sermon was about that morning.

I was too distracted first by my worries but then by the cross at the front of the sanctuary. God’s Holy Spirit spoke into my heart and reminded me the God loves me and sent His Son to die for me.

When you aren’t able to cling to anything else, you can cling to God’s love. Shift your focus onto who He is and allow God’s presence and comfort to flow into you.

Related Bible verses:

“As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.”

Psalm 18:30 (NIV)

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.”

1 John 4:9 (NIV)

Prayers to help your mama heart find peace (FREE Download!)

Being a mom is so incredibly awesome, but it’s also draining and hard. And sometimes we are just plain overwhelmed.

Currently I wish I had one more day each week and a couple of extra hours each day. Then maybe I could get closer to conquering everything I have to do. Know the feeling?

It’s easy to get weary and overwhelmed when we are looking out for the needs of our families. On the days when I feel like there’s nothing left for or of myself, I struggle sometimes to even know what to pray beyond help!

I know God hears and understands our prayers, no matter how long or short they are. The Bible also tells us in Romans 8:26-27 that the Holy Spirit brings our needs to God when we can’t.

However, I also know the power of prayer and how praying based on Scripture can help me refocus on God to get peace and strength from Him when I need it most.

These seven Scripture-based prayers for overwhelmed moms are perfect for those days and times when you don’t have the words on your own.

Find a free PDF download of all the verses and prayers near the end of the post!

A prayer for rest

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

When we are tired and worn out, it’s even easier to be overwhelmed. God promises us that if we come to Him, He will give us rest.

It may not necessarily be the extra hours of sleep we crave, but spiritual rest can rejuvenate and sustain us.

Dear Lord, I come to You today feeling weary and burdened. Please grant me Your rest and peace. Help me to lay my worries at Your feet and find comfort in Your presence. Give me the strength to face each day with renewed energy and hope. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A prayer for peace of mind

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

Having peace of mind is often hard in life. As Christian moms, we have so many thoughts in our head at the same time — and that’s guaranteed to be overwhelming.

These verses remind us to turn to God with our anxieties and let His peace fill us in ways beyond our understanding.

Lord, You know the anxieties that weigh on my heart. I lift them up to You now, asking for Your peace to fill my mind and soul. Help me to trust in Your plan and to feel Your calming presence surrounding me. Guard my heart and mind with Your peace that surpasses all understanding. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A prayer for renewed strength

“He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.”

Isaiah 40:29-31 (NIV)

I love this verse and the reminder that we all get tired and weary. I have gotten upset with myself in the past for being tired or weary. It almost seems like a sin.

Yet, we are all human. In our humanity, we only have to much strength. And the truth is life and motherhood often drain us.

Father, I feel so weak and exhausted. Please renew my strength and give me the power to keep going. Help me to place my hope in You and to trust that You will lift me up. Let me soar on wings like eagles and find the endurance I need to run and not grow weary. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A prayer for courage

“God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,”

Psalm 46:1-2 (NIV)

I’ve seen a quote before along the lines of courage is that small voice saying, “I’ll try again tomorrow.” That resonates with me, especially on the rough days when I am depleted.

Knowing God is there to shelter us and hold us close gives us courage to keep going and keep trying. When I trust in Him fully, my fear begins to dissipate and my strength begins to grow.

God, You are my refuge and strength. When I feel overwhelmed by life’s troubles, help me to remember that You are always with me. Give me the courage to face my fears and the strength to stand firm in Your love. Thank You for being my constant help and source of strength. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A prayer for embracing weakness

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV)

I don’t want to be thought of as weak. Physically weak, I’m OK with, but spiritually or mentally weak is not OK. Yet, I am not always strong.

Coming to God with our weaknesses allows us to draw from His strength. Time and again when I thought I couldn’t keep going, He has given me the strength to go on.

Whether it was from sheer physical exhaustion of having a newborn or overwhelming heartache making the daily work of life challenging, God truly has been strong in my weakness.

Lord, I admit that I am weak and in need of Your strength. Thank You for Your grace that is sufficient for me. Help me to embrace my weaknesses, knowing that Your power is made perfect in them. Let Christ’s power rest on me and give me the strength to endure hardships with joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A prayer for sustenance

“Cast your cares on the Lord
    and he will sustain you;
he will never let
    the righteous be shaken.”

Psalm 55:22 (NIV)

Life shakes us sometimes. We get curveballs we didn’t see coming in parenthood. But this verse reminds us that God is always faithful, even on shaky ground.

God is there to help us carry our burdens from figuring out why a newborn isn’t getting the nutrition she needs to sorting out help when a school-aged child is struggling with reading.

God is always faithful, even in the midst of hard times.

Dear Lord, I cast all my cares and burdens onto You. Sustain me with Your love and strength. Remind me that You will never let me be shaken, no matter how heavy my load feels. Help me to trust in Your sustaining power and to find peace in Your promises. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A prayer for God’s presence

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

I feel like this verse often comes up when people are embarking on new challenges from moving to starting a new job. Yet, it applies in everyday life for us Christian moms.

God’s presence gives us strength and courage. He keeps us from being discouraged.

I struggle with discouragement and feeling like I’m not good enough as a mom. When I’m overwhelmed, I especially need this reminder that God is there to strengthen me and will not leave me.

Lord, I often feel afraid and discouraged. Remind me of Your command to be strong and courageous. Help me to feel Your presence with me wherever I go. Give me the courage to face my challenges head-on, knowing that You are by my side, guiding and strengthening me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Download all of the verses and prayers for free here:

Find more resources for overwhelmed moms:

A Private Facebook Group for Christian Moms

A Letter to the Overwhelmed Mom

8 Prayers for Joy for Moms Based on the Bible

7 Short Prayers for Mothers

Finding the joy of the Lord in motherhood

Joy isn’t something we celebrate as a culture, especially in motherhood culture. Joy seems like a nice concept, but not something to work for. 

Yet God’s Word tells us that joy is a gift of the Holy Spirit. In fact, it’s one a Fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23. 

While joy can be hard to find on our own, we can utilize prayers for joy based on Scripture. These seven prayers are designed specifically for Christian moms to find the gift of joy in the midst of motherhood.

What is joy?

Before we start praying for the fullness of joy, we need to understand what true joy is in the Bible. The joy of the Holy Spirit is more than just general happiness. 

When we’re talking about joy as defined by God, we are talking about a different sort of joy than just general happiness. The Greek word for joy is chara, which shares the same root as the Greek word for grace. 

So that means joy and grace come from the same place. God’s grace and everlasting joy go hand-in-hand.

Joy isn’t based on the things we have or can do. Instead, joy is a gift from God that we receive when we’re in relationship with Him.

Dear God, I ask that you fill me with your joy throughout every day. Help me to keep my focus on you so my attitude and spirit will remain joyful. Let my family see your joy in me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Examples of joy in the Bible

If we want to live a joyful life, we have to understand that it takes time. Just like literal fruit, the Fruits of the Spirit take time to cultivate and grow.

Back in college, I had a friend who was full of joy. She radiated it. When I was going through a time of grief after losing a loved one, I resented her joy. 

In fact, I found myself thinking she didn’t understand hurt like I did or she wouldn’t be filled with so much joy.

As I got to know her better over the next couple of months, I learned that she knew hurt well. She had suffered a tremendous loss in her own life, yet she still had joy. 

God opened my eyes to see that having joy in spite of grief and pain is possible because He is the source of all joy — not anything else. 

There are lots of examples in the Bible of God’s people going through trials of many kinds yet living in the joy of God.

Dear Heavenly Father, Please help me to cultivate your fruits in my life. Help me to grow to be more joyful in and through you. Open my eyes today to see you at work, no matter what. In the name of Christ Jesus I pray, Amen.

Nehemiah’s joy

God tasked Nehemiah with rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. What Nehemiah was really rebuilding, though, was the culture and legacy of the Jewish people that had been destroyed.

He had all sorts of challenges and struggles in this rebuilding. Even just keeping his workers motivated and on task for such a big project was difficult. Yet, he kept his eyes on the God of hope  as his source of joy. 

In the 8th chapter of Nehemiah, we read about Nehemiah reading to the people from the Book of Law – their Bible. The people were weeping over its instruction and wisdom. 

Nehemiah saw what was happening and said in these Bible verses from Nehemiah 8:9-10 (NIV):

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.
Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:9-10 (NIV)

Nehemiah is reminding his people that God is their strength. They have no reason to weep. 

Even in difficult circumstances, which will inevitably come, God is our strength and that fact can bring us great joy.

Dear Lord, give me joy like Nehemiah is talking about. Help me to put aside my worries and concerns and just rest in the joy of your salvation as I go throughout my day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

David’s joy

King David spends the entire book of Psalms going back and forth between despair and the wonderful joy of the Lord. He talks about stressful times and good times both. 

And while he certainly had his challenges, David understood God’s steadfast love, even when he didn’t following through on doing the will of God.

In Psalm 30, we see that David was in a season of life where he’d been through hard times and gained perspective that darkness and pain don’t last forever.

For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

Psalm 30:5 (ESV)

Sometimes our joy comes just in knowing that challenges don’t last forever and eventually good things will come along as well. 

Another way David reminds us to find joy is by simply looking around us. Psalm 92:4 (ESV) says that very thing:

For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

Psalm 92:4 (ESV)

God’s creation inspires Christian joy. David realized when finding joy and gladness seemed impossible, he could always find it in looking at God’s creation from nature to loved ones and more.

Dear God, open my eyes today to see all the wonderful blessings that surround me. I thank you for all of your blessings and your faithfulness. Thank you that I can have joy in you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Habakkuk’s joy

Habakkuk was living in a time when the Jewish people were being overthrown and overrun by the Babylonians. Life was miserable. 

The crops and livestock were being taken away. A wicked country seemed to be winning over God’s chosen people.

Habakkuk was confused. How could God be letting something so bad happen? Where was His justice? Why wasn’t He doing something? 

All three chapters of Habakkuk are his conversations with God. He poses these same questions and God responds that He knows what He is doing.

Finally, by the third chapter, Habakkuk has come to understand that he can trust God has a plan even when it doesn’t make sense. Even in the midst of suffering, he finds joy in God. 

This is what he says in Habakkuk 3:18-19 (ESV):

yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
            I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
         God, the Lord, is my strength;
            he makes my feet like the deer’s;
            he makes me tread on my high places.

Habakkuk 3:18-19 (ESV)

When times are hard — like they were for Habakkuk — we can find a joyful heart through the power of the Holy Spirit by remembering our salvation. 

Dear Jesus, help me to rejoice in you today. I ask that you fill me with  joy so that I can live a life full of hope. Let that joy and hope radiate in and through my life. In your name, Amen.

Joy in the struggle

People in the Old Testament were certainly not the only ones who had to cultivate a life with greater joy. In Romans, Paul encourages the early church to have joy because it is beneficial in other ways as well.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Romans 15:13 (ESV)

Joy goes hand-in-hand with hope. In the struggle of life, we need hope. It helps us to stay motivated and keep going. 

A life without hope is a dismal one indeed. By having peace and joy in believing in God, we will be filled to overflowing with hope.

James goes even further to tell us to be joyful about trials in James 1:2-4 (NIV):

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4 (NIV)

Finding joy in facing trials sounds impossible and downright ridiculous. But that is what James is telling us to do, because facing trials increases our perseverance and ability to keep going so that we fully mature and can do the work God has for us to do. 

So there is joy to be found even in the hard stuff.

Heavenly Father, I ask that you help me to remember who you are so that I can have joy and hope in you even when life is chaotic and hard. Lord, I know I don’t have to rejoice about the struggle, but help me to rejoice in you in spite of the struggle. Let me be an example to my family and those around me. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Practical ways to find joy

Along with powerful prayers asking for God to give us more joy, some other steps can encourage us to live with more of God’s joy in our own lives. The best news is that none of them take a tremendous amount of time.

Remember Jesus.

The first thing we can do is remember Jesus. This sounds trite, but hear me out.

During one of the most difficult times of my life, I sat in church overwhelmed and at a loss. Nothing made sense and I couldn’t even bring myself to sing the worship songs. 

My mind was racing so much that I wasn’t able to focus on the preaching. I was crying out to God for help and then I noticed the cross sitting on the platform.

God poked my heart. Did I believe that He sent His Son to die for my sins? My answer was yes. 

Then nothing else truly mattered. He was still the same in the midst of my hurt and despair. I just needed to remember Jesus.

In fact, the shepherds heard the same message from the angel on the night Jesus was born. The angel declared the good news that “great joy” had come into the world. 

Jesus is and can be our joy all the time. When we are struggling to find anything joyful, we can remember the love of Jesus and rejoice in that.

Stay connected to God.

If God is the source of our joy, then we need to stay connected to Him. One important way to do that is by finding a group of fellow believers to connect and worship with. 

The best explanation for why we should go to church came from a preacher I heard decades ago. He said that he’d been married for many years. His wife did all the cooking. 

He couldn’t begin to list what he’d had for dinner every night of his marriage, but he knew he was fed.

Church is the same way. I can’t begin to list every sermon or Bible study lesson I’ve been a part of. But they have all fed me spiritually. 

We need that connection to God to remain in Him and receive His joy.

Look to the future.

As a mom, I can find joy in the tediousness of motherhood by knowing one day it will pay off. 

When I was potty training my children – a task I completely loathed – I continued to do so with the hope and joy of knowing one day they would no longer need diapers. 

Each phase brings its own challenges and thoughts of future rewards.

Sometimes when we are lacking in joy, we need to take a moment and look to the future. We know that joy is coming. 

In the middle of the struggle, take a moment to close your eyes and just imagine the perfection of heaven and being in the presence of God. 

Imagine Jesus pulling you in for a tight, warm, comforting hug. That is joy.

Dear God, show me the practical ways I can live my life to have more joy in it. Help me to form the right connections I need to find encouragement on this journey so I can be joyful. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A final prayer for joy

Dear God, I thank you for all the gifts you’ve given me. Father, I thank you that you give me joy in this life no matter what happens. You are faithful and good. You have created so incredibly many good things that bless us and can bring us joy. Thank you for those blessings.

Lord, I ask that you fill me with joy. Remind me of who you are when I start to get sidetracked. Help me to keep my focus on you so that I can have joy in my heart every day.

In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Joy doesn’t mean life is perfect. Instead, it means that you serve a God who is. And that is something to celebrate daily!

Want to learn more about the Fruit of the Spirit? Be sure to check out these numerous resources!

Fruit of the Spirit worksheets for adults and teens (with 12 FREE resources)

Fruit of the Spirit for Moms YouTube Videos

The importance of love in the Bible and how to live it out

20 Encouraging Bible verses for peace of mind

Finding the love of God in motherhood

We use the word “love” often and in many ways. We tell our children we love them. We love our families and close friends. But how often do we stop to think about the importance of love in the Bible?

1 Corinthians tells us love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. The love described in these Bible verses isn’t possible without help from the Holy Spirit. 

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ESV)

Affiliate links are used in this post. If you make a qualifying purchase via my link, I receive a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. Read my full disclosure here.

Agape love in the Bible

When we talk about biblical love, we are referring to “agape” love, which is unconditional and selfless love. This is the love God has for us. 

Agape love is also the kind of love that believes the best about other people and wants the best for them.

As moms, we can easily think we have mastered agape love when it comes to our own family, especially our little children. We love our children without condition and shower them with affectionate love. 

But is our love truly selfless? Not all the time.

We must remember the love of Christ for us. Every single thing God does is out of His love for us. We are God’s own children, and He has our own interests at heart. 

There hasn’t been a moment in your life when your best interests weren’t first and foremost for Him. When it comes to loving others — even our own children — we struggle to always have their best interests first and foremost.

This is the kind of love we are talking about and want to learn to give to others. As children of God, we should be known for this kind of love.

Why Love is the Most Important Thing

Throughout the Bible, we see the importance of love. The Apostle Paul reminds us in Colossians that love binds everything together in perfect harmony. 

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV)

When we are full of the love of God, we are more likely to live in unity of mind with each other. We are quicker to forgive and slower to anger. Love covers over a multitude of sins.

Another reason love is important is to be an example to others. Because agape love is a steadfast love that goes against human nature, someone who is full of love stands out. 

Living with the love of God in us showcases God to the world.

In John 13, Jesus spoke to the early church on the subject of love:

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 13:34-35 (NIV)

Jesus isn’t messing around with this either. He doesn’t give a suggestion for us to love one another. He issues a commandment. 

Being the loving God He is, though, our Heavenly Father doesn’t leave us to fulfill a commandment without help.

In the very next chapter of John, Jesus goes on to tell us about the Holy Spirit (or Helper) He is leaving for us once He has gone into heaven.

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”

John 14:16-17 (ESV)

Christ Jesus pours so much love into us so it can overflow to others. We are free to love others – even when that love isn’t returned – because we as God’s people are filled with His love and have freedom in knowing He is always with us.

What Does the Bible Say About Love?

Both the Old Testament and New Testament have innumerable verses about love. From how much God loves us to how we should love one another, love is found throughout the Bible.

As Christian moms, we want to take a closer look at what true love to others really looks like. Such love is what we want to live out for our children!

The definition of perfect love

Let’s start with one of the most well-known passages about love from God’s Word is found in 1 Corinthians. In fact, these verses are often read at weddings because they really share the meaning of love and purpose of love from a Biblical perspective.

1 Corinthians says love is patient, kind, rejoices in the truth, unconditional, faithful, hopeful and long-lasting. 

It also tells us what love is not. Love is not envious, not boastful, not arrogant, not rude, not selfish, not irritable, not resentful and doesn’t get excited for something bad.

The power of Christian love

As we continue looking at how to love one another Biblically, we have to examine the great power that comes through Christian love of each other.

The wise King Solomon wrote these words in Proverbs.

“Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.”

Proverbs 10:12 (NIV)

One of the great things about love is that it makes forgiveness easier. We are better able to forgive others when we love them completely.

I can more easily forgive my children for their shortcomings than anyone else. I want to teach them to live in love that’s more peaceful rather than in the conflict created by hate.

Where real love comes from

Finally, we also want to understand where all this love comes from. John puts it all together nicely.

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”

1 John 4:7 (NIV)

Love starts with God. God is love. And then He gives that love to us so that we can share it with others.

The significance of love is such that we receive so much love from God that we can pour it into the lives around us.

Living a Life Full of Love

The best way to live a Christian life full of genuine love is to first seek God’s help. He gives us the power of the Holy Spirit to help guide us and bestow spiritual gifts to help strengthen our faith.

Along with prayer, here are some other things we can do to live with a greater love.

Focus on the positive.

Being filled with love is hard when you are only seeing the downside of things. I struggle to truly love my husband in an unselfish way when I’m zeroed in on one of his faults.

Keeping our mindset on the positive traits and characteristics of people around us allows us a better chance to truly love them. 

You can apply this with strangers as well and assume the best of intentions. The power of God is such that you never know when one small display of love can make a huge difference in someone’s life.

Sometimes simple good deeds can show love to those around us, and when we are focused on the positive, it’s easier to do good works.

Have perspective. 

I had a professor in college whose philosophy was, “If I’m going to laugh about it later, I might as well laugh about it now.” That’s stuck with me.

Some things in life are just never funny, that’s for certain! But other times we truly do make mountains out of molehills. We see challenges and issues as much bigger than they actually are.

Before you get upset and start to live in a less-than-loving way, pause and think. Is this going to still be upsetting to you five years from now? 

What about five months, five weeks or even five minutes from now? If it isn’t, then let it go!

Get into the Word. 

Getting into the Bible helps us live out love for a variety of reasons. First, we get reminders of God’s love for us as we read.

Second, the Bible is the living and breathing Word of God, so God works through the Holy Spirit to open our minds and hearts in all new ways. 

I’ve read the same passage of Scripture many times and gotten something new from it each time. That’s the power of our faithful God!

Put it into practice

As the first Fruit of the Spirit, love is an important attribute for us Christian moms to work on. Some simple actions can keep us focused on the right things and ways to live out God’s love.

Keep a gratitude journal.

Gratitude helps us to focus on the positive and keep perspective — both of which help us to live with more love. 

Keeping a gratitude journal is a great way to make focusing on gratitude part of your life. 

Whether you use a prompted gratitude journal, a simple printable one or the notes app on your phone, challenge yourself to keep a gratitude journal for at least the next week. 

Notice the difference it makes in your attitude and your love!

Spend daily time in prayer.

Talking to God is important for us to connect with Him and be able to live with Christian love. These short seven prayers can help you connect with God daily about love.

• Day 1: Dear God, I ask that you fill me with your agape love throughout every day and in every interaction I have with others. May they see your love in me above all else. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
• Day 2: Dear God, I acknowledge that without you, I cannot have a life filled with love, patience, humbleness, generosity and hope. Open my eyes and heart to receive these things and use them in ministering to my family. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
• Day 3: Dear God, thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit. Father, I ask that you help me to love all of those around me. Help me to see others as you see them and love them as you do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
• Day 4: Dear God, thank you for all your blessings and gifts to me. Open my eyes to see more of you at work in my life. Help me to maintain a positive attitude that is pleasing to and focused on you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
• Day 5: Dear God, sometimes I get caught up in the small stuff. Help me to let go of things that don’t matter and focus on what is most important. Show me where I need to move forward with you instead. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
• Day 6: Dear God, help me to focus on your Word and hear you speak as I am reading the Bible. Clear my mind from all other worries and concerns. Help me to find time in my schedule to be able to get into your Word each day.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.
• Day 7: Heavenly Father, I ask that you be with me as I strive to live a life filled with love. Open my eyes to see opportunities to love on the people around me, including my family. Fill me with your love and Holy Spirit to the point of overflowing into those around me. Lord, when I am out of sorts and having a bad day or moment, give me a reminder of your presence and love. Help me to see you, hear you and feel you at work in and through my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Want to learn more about the Fruit of the Spirit? Be sure to check out these numerous resources!

Fruit of the Spirit worksheets for adults and teens (with 12 FREE resources)

Fruit of the Spirit for Moms YouTube Videos

8 Prayers for joy for moms based on the Bible

20 Encouraging Bible verses about peace of mind

Printables and worksheet activities for Bible study (12 FREE resources included!)

When the Fruit of the Spirit kept popping up in my life, I felt God prompting me to make Bible study resources about them. And for that very reason, I ended up taking a deep dive into the Fruit of the Spirit to create Bible studies, devotional journals and all sorts of other Fruit of the Spirit printables.

I especially wanted to make Fruit of the Spirit worksheets for adults. While a whole host of Fruit of the Spirit lesson plans, study guides and coloring pages exist for kids, I found adult resources were lacking, especially ones geared toward mothers.

Throughout the months I’ve been studying the Fruits, my family has been through a lot of hard times. We got hit with one thing after the next. 

Spending time in God’s Word and really researching the character traits given to us through the Holy Spirit encouraged me right when I needed it most. Our Heavenly Father knows what we need before we do!

I thought I knew about the Fruits of the Spirit previously. (I can recite them all to you as part of a song, in fact!) But God has moved through these studies in a powerful way in my life, in my small group and in the Moms with Grace private Facebook group where I’ve lead these studies.

Affiliate links are used in this post. If you make a qualifying purchase via my link, I receive a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. Read my full disclosure here.

What are the Fruits of the Spirit?

The Fruits of the Spirit are found in Galatians:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)

Those are nine positive traits of Godly character the Holy Spirit can produce in us. These traits go against our human nature, which is described in the verses before these and filled with all sorts of negative traits like anger, envy, idolatry and on the list goes.

Because those negative traits are our natural tendencies, we need the Spirit’s help to live and act differently. Living this way is an ongoing process and choice, because these fruits take time to grow and mature. 

We serve a God who wants to let us live in harmony with these traits. Every single one of them benefits not only His work in us but also His work through us. 

Asking Him for help to have these traits is important, because we can’t do it on our own. Finding powerful tools to encourage us in living lives full of good fruit is helpful.

Living out the Fruit of the Spirit in daily life

As a Christian mom, I’m more aware now than ever of the kind of fruit I’m producing in my life. I’ve learned time and again that I need God’s Spirit to help me live with moral goodness when I’m tired and stressed — both of which go hand-in-hand with motherhood.

I decided a great place to start in researching the Fruits would be to just take them in order. I led with the Fruit of love.

It was one of the traits I thought I’d be best at. Motherhood lends itself to love, after all. I quickly realized the truly living in God’s love in our daily lives is something about which we must be intentional.

And that set the stage for good things to come throughout my research and study as God opened my heart and my eyes to hear and see Him at work. I don’t want to bear bad fruit, and I want to share all the lessons I’ve learned with others as well.

Fruits of the Spirit worksheets

If you’re a Sunday School teacher, church small group leader or youth leader looking for a digital product to help you teach the Fruit of the Spirit, I’ve got some great resources for you. 

All of these resources also are also great for personal Bible study.

Bible verse matching worksheet

If you want an involved activity sheet that will have you or your group delving into the Bible, this Bible verse match worksheet is ideal. 

Each of the nine Fruits of the Spirit are listed on one side and a list of nine Scripture references is on the other side. Use your Bible to look up the verses and find the corresponding Bible verse for each of the Fruits.

And, don’t worry if you get stumped, an answer key is also included!

Weekly challenges

To help your group or yourself put the Fruits into practice in your own lives, check out these weekly challenges. The challenges work for kids in middle school through senior adults. 

The nine challenges are all simple and don’t require lots of time. They’re a great way to start living a life that produces much fruit!

FREE printable coloring pages

Another terrific — and completely free option — is this set of 10 Fruit of the Spirit coloring pages complete with corresponding Bible verses. They’re designed to work for youth and adults and work for both men and women. 

These free printable coloring pages are lots of fun as a creative way to meditate on Scripture.

Reflection worksheets

If you’re looking for Fruit of the Spirit worksheets for adults, you don’t want to miss this set of nine reflection worksheets. There is one for each Fruit that includes a memory verse along with three reflection questions per fruit.

Use this for your own Bible study time or in conjunction with a Fruits of the Spirit Bible study you’re leading.

Additional Fruit of the Spirit printables

Once I started working on resources and studies on the Fruits of the Spirit, I got carried away with making related printables as well. Printables are a great way to inexpensively learn and grow in different ways.

Fruit of the Spirit bookmarks

First up is a set of five Fruit of the Spirit bookmarks. Each of the colorful bookmarks lists the nine Fruits in order. Print them on cardstock, and you’re ready to go! 

The bookmarks come with a page that has all five designs on it and then each design has its own page full of only that design as well to make for easy printing. As a small group leader myself, I love options like these as gifts for my group members!

FREE Fruit of the Spirit bookmarks

You can grab this bookmark set of 10 designs for FREE. Each bookmark lists a Fruit of the Spirit with a 10th one that just says “Fruit of the Spirit.” 

They are black and white by design for easy printing and would work really well as coloring bookmarks for small groups, youth groups or just yourself!

Fruit of the Spirit Scripture cards

Scripture cards are one of those great ideas for getting into and learning Bible verses that we can easily overlook. My mom, for example, loves Scripture cards and posts them on her bathroom mirror.

This set of 96 Fruit of the Spirit Scripture cards is color coded and labeled for each Fruit of the Spirit and is a great addition to your Bible study time.

FREE Fruit of the Spirit Scripture cards

If you aren’t as sure about Scripture cards, try out this free set of 10 Scripture cards first. There is one verse per Fruit along with a card of Galatians 5:22-23 that lists the Fruits of the Spirit. 

When it comes to free Fruits of the Spirit printables, I’ve got you covered!

Bible study devotional journals for moms

My heart lies with mamas so much right now — most likely because I’m in the midst of motherhood myself! So, I decided a devotional journal for moms had to be part of what I created.

God’s given me a passion to encourage and minister to other mamas to help them grow their homes with grace, faith and love. The Fruits of the Spirit fit right into that!

Multiple resources are available right now as instant digital downloads you can print or use on your device. 

PDF version of “The Fruit of the Spirit Devotional Journal for Moms”

The first is a simple, black-and-white PDF of “The Fruit of the Spirit Devotional Journal for Moms.” It’s ideal for the mama who wants to print out the devotional journal and write her answers with a pen or pencil.

This nine-week devotional is specifically designed for moms to offer moments of peace and inspiration in the midst of busy days.

Each week has a focus or memory verse related to the Fruit being covered that week. The devotional journal includes commentary, life application insights, thought-provoking reflection questions, a weekly action items and daily prayers to help you grow in your walk with God.

The devotional journal, which uses Bible verses from the NIV and ESV translations, is designed with day seven being a day to spend more time and prayer and get caught up with reading.

“The Fruit of the Spirit Devotional Journal for Moms” is designed to take one week per topic, but don’t fret if you can’t keep that schedule. The good news is you can just catch up whenever works for you. Mom life is nothing if not unpredictable and frequently hectic!

Digital version of “The Fruit of the Spirit Devotional Journal for Moms”

The second version of the devotional journal has the exact same content as the first, but it’s designed and formatted for those mamas who want to use it on their devices instead. 

The digital file is colorful color and includes tabs on each content page to help you easily navigate from one section to another. You can keep a separate notebook to write down answers to the questions or upload the PDF into your favorite note-taking app and use it that way. 

Individual Fruit devotional journals for moms

Each of the Fruits have individual devotional journals you can download as well. These are the same as the PDF version of “The Fruit of the Spirit Devotional Journals for Moms,” but include only one fruit at a time.

• Fruit of the Spirit Love Devotional Journal for Moms
• Fruit of the Spirit Joy Devotional Journal for Moms
• Fruit of the Spirit Peace Devotional Journal for Moms
• Fruit of the Spirit Patience Devotional Journal for Moms
• Fruit of the Spirit Kindness Devotional Journal for Moms
• Fruit of the Spirit Goodness Devotional Journal for Moms
• Fruit of the Spirit Faithfulness Devotional Journal for Moms
• Fruit of the Spirit Gentleness Devotional Journal for Moms
• Fruit of the Spirit Self-Control Devotional Journal for Moms

FREE Fruit of the Spirit journals

And, finally, you can also download a free Fruit of the Spirit journal for each of the nine fruits. Pair the free journals with the free YouTube playlist about the Fruit of the Spirit for moms, and you have your own Bible study ready to go!

• Free Fruit of the Spirit Love Journal for Moms
• Free Fruit of the Spirit Joy Journal for Moms
• Free Fruit of the Spirit Peace Journal for Moms
• Free Fruit of the Spirit Patience Journal for Moms
• Free Fruit of the Spirit Kindness Journal for Moms
• Free Fruit of the Spirit Goodness Journal for Moms
• Free Fruit of the Spirit Faithfulness Journal for Moms
• Free Fruit of the Spirit Gentleness Journal for Moms
• Free Fruit of the Spirit Self-Control Journal for Moms

(Be sure to check out the Moms with Grace private Facebook group where this study originally ran and continues with discussions related to the Fruit of the Spirit!)

Simple prayers to help you and other moms like you!

Finding quiet time in motherhood is challenging. Having short prayers for mothers on hand can help us stay connected to God in the midst of busy family life.

Every day, I pray for my husband and children. In fact, my usual prayer order is exactly that: husband, children and then me. Truthfully, a lot of times the prayers for myself are almost an afterthought. 

I get caught up in what my family needs. I don’t think I’m alone. We moms tend to put ourselves last, but when it comes to prayer, we need to make sure we are covered as well.

These simple and powerful prayers for mothers are ones you can pray for yourself and for the other moms in your life. From new moms to seasoned moms, we all need prayer. 

Motherhood challenges you physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally. I like to say motherhood is neither for the faint of heart nor the weak of composition!

But, I’m thankful for a God who understands and knows that. Our Heavenly Father is right there in the midst of motherhood with us. As much as we love our babies, He loves them – and us! – even more. We can lean on Him during the easy times and the difficult ones.

How to pray for mothers

Mothers everywhere need prayer. Simply taking a moment to say your own prayer for motherhood can make a big difference. And short prayers for mothers are easy to incorporate into your schedule on a daily basis.

In 1 John 5:14, we are reminded God hears us when we pray according to His will. Knowing that God gave you the gift of motherhood, you can trust that praying blessings for mothers is in His will.

Praying in accordance to Scripture also assures us we are asking for the right things. These seven prayers for mothers include Bible verses as well.

Print out the free pocket prayers for moms PDF and utilize these prayers for yourself, your mom friends and any other mom in your life! They are great to use for a Mother’s Day prayer at church or at home as well.

Prayer for mothers’ strength and endurance

“being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience.”

Colossians 1:11 (NIV)

Does anybody need more patience than moms? If they do, I haven’t met them! 

Motherhood is often a test of patience, strength and endurance. It starts from the very beginning when that perfect little human won’t let you sleep or have a minute to yourself. To say you’re a tired mom is the understatement of the year!

As our kids get older, we may get to sleep more, but we still spend a significant amount of energy thinking, and perhaps worrying, about them. 

Motherhood can be draining in every way. So, prayers for mothers’ strength and endurance are important.

Prayer for mothers’ wisdom and discernment

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

James 1:5 (NIV)

Even when our babies start sleeping through the night, it’s hard for us mamas to get a good night’s sleep. Somehow we stay alert even in our sleep to hear if they need us. 

Then add in the worries of motherhood, and we really struggle to get good rest. Moms long for peace in a world of chaos and stress. 

I love this verse for its reminder that I can relax and rest knowing God is in control. I imagine myself tucked safely and snuggly in His loving arms. When I’m going through a difficult time, I pray for His rest and peace of mind. I even ask Him to help me sleep well but wake up if someone needs me.

This has been a great way for me to be able to relax and rely on God’s help.

Dear Lord, please give me wisdom as I am raising my children. Help me to discern the best choices for them and for our family. Guide me to know what your will is for me as a mom. Father, help me to be the mom my children need to raise them according to your will and plan for their lives. In Christ Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Prayer for mothers’ rest and peace

“In peace I will lie down and sleep,
    for you alone, Lord,
    make me dwell in safety.”

Psalm 4:8 (NIV)

Even when our babies start sleeping through the night, it’s hard for us mamas to get a good night’s sleep. Somehow we stay alert even in our sleep to hear if they need us. 

Then add in the worries of motherhood, and we really struggle to get good rest. Moms long for peace in a world of chaos and stress. 

I love this verse for its reminder that I can relax and rest knowing God is in control. I imagine myself tucked safely and snuggly in His loving arms. When I’m going through a difficult time, I pray for His rest and peace of mind. I even ask Him to help me sleep well but wake up if someone needs me.

This has been a great way for me to be able to relax and rely on God’s help.

Prayer for mothers’ protection and safety

“Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.”

Job 1:10 (NIV)

This verse is actually Satan talking to God about how God is protecting Job and his family. What I love is the idea of a hedge of protection. 

It’s easy to feel unsure and unsafe in the world. When we have children, I think we become aware of the dangers even more.

A mother’s life is all about being aware of the risks to our children so we can know the best way to protect them. Praying and asking for protection is a powerful way to help keep our families safe.

Father, I ask that you place a hedge of protection around me and around my family. Protect us in every way, Lord: physically, emotionally and spiritually. Remind me of your presence when I feel afraid. Let me rest in your protection and safety. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Prayers for mothers’ mental health

“When anxiety was great within me,
    your consolation brought me joy.”

Psalm 94:19 (NIV)

When you are consumed with taking care of everyone else, like we moms are, your emotional and mental health can suffer. If you already had struggles before having children that compounds even more.

I’ve struggled with anxiety for years, but I didn’t have a name for it until more recent years. I’ve learned  anxiety and faith can co-exist. 

And I have also learned God is with me every step of the way; He has good plans and unconditional love for me. I need His help every day.

Along with physical strength, mental strength is just as important to be the amazing mother God created us to be. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit can minister to our hearts and soothe our anxieties.

Lord, when I have anxiety great within, I ask that you console me and bring me joy. Strengthen me mentally and emotionally. Give my mind rest. Help me show my children what good mental healthcare looks like. Father, give me courage to seek help when I need it. Heal me from past hurt and trauma. Remind me always of your goodness and presence in my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Prayers for mothers’ relationships

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

Moms’ lives are filled with relationships. From our husbands to our children to our co-workers to our extended family members to our friends, we are surrounded by relationships. 

Prioritizing the relationships most important to us matters. Learning how to navigate and mange those relationships is important.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the loved ones you’ve surrounded me with. Help me to encourage and build them up. Give me the right words to best communicate with my husband and with my children to strengthen and grow our relationships. Please help my relationships with other people to be healthy and good for me. If someone is hurting my walk with you, help me to realize that and give me wisdom to address it. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Prayers for mothers’ spiritual growth

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

John 15:5 (NIV)

In order to make everything work and be the moms, wives and people God created us to be, we need to stay connected to Him. Growing spiritually is important, even when as a mom finding ways to connect with God in the midst of raising a family can be challenging.

Growing spiritually needs to remain a priority, perhaps even more so as moms. I want to have a strong relationship with God and unshakeable faith in Him for myself but also so I can pass that along to my children. 

Modeling what faith truly looks like to my children is important to me. In my daily prayers, I ask God to help me be the mom my children need to raise them according to His will and plan for their lives.

Lord, I ask that you help me to remain in you and to bear much fruit. I know apart from you I can do nothing. Open my heart and mind to hear you. Help me to know you more completely. Father, remind me to connect with you during my busiest times. I want to spend time with you. Show me ways I can make that happen. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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