Church News

Christ Church London is about to embark on a significant new chapter. Find out more

A prayer for mental health

Read

“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

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8: 35-37

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

Think

The Bible is full of promises about our new identity in Christ, and the kind of life we can live now that we are filled with His spirit. Promises of joy, freedom and peace. But when we or someone we know is facing challenges with our mental health, these promises can feel distant. In times like these, it’s important to hold on to the truth of God’s word, and to ask Him to help us.

Whether you have a long-standing mental health condition, or you’re facing a tough season at the moment, these scriptures are powerful ones to hold on to. As you read them, ask God to speak to you, and then sit in silence for a few minutes. Sometimes being still before God is our best defence against the thoughts and feelings that seem to be attacking us. As you sit quietly with God, you might want to reflect on the following questions:

Are there any situations or people that are particularly affecting your mental health at the moment? 

Are there anxious or negative thought patterns that you feel stuck in at the moment? Why not write some of them down and surrender them to God, and then ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with His peace.

Ask God to reveal to you any lies that you might be believing. Write them down, and ask Him to remind you of the truth. 

Is there anyone close to you who may be struggling with their mental health? How could you support them? 

Speak

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for giving me a sound mind.
Although I don’t feel the fulness of that promise right now,
I thank You that nothing can separate me from Your love,
not even this.

As I sit in Your presence,
let Your light shine on me
and dispel the darkness.
Deliver me from harmful thoughts,
and lead me into Your truth.
Let Your peace,
that transcends understanding,
guard my fragile heart and mind
and bring me closer to Jesus.
Keep me safe,
hidden under Your wings,
and restore me in the way only You can.

Good Shepherd,
Thank You that You are with me
even in the darkest of valleys,
walking beside me,
comforting and guiding me.
Thank You that You know what it is to suffer,
And You bore my pain on the cross.
Would You heal and restore my soul,
And lead me into Your rest.

Amen

Share

We’re not meant to face these challenges alone. Jesus gives us His presence, and he also gives us one another. Why not do one of the following today:

Reach out to a trusted friend, tell them how and why you are feeling vulnerable, and ask for their help, whether through prayer or practical support.

Consider whether there are friends to whom you can be a support. Even in your own season of difficulty, you may still have a contribution to make in supporting others, and sometimes it is in the act of helping others that we receive fresh strength from Jesus Himself.

If you need further help and support, please do speak to a member of the Pastoral Support Team: [email protected] or Prayer Team: [email protected].