Inner peace seems illusive at times. The consistent overflow of information and entertainment that bombards us, added to the fast-paced lifestyles we are pressured to lead, can put us on the edge of our sanity and keep us there. While we are living in this zone, it’s usually not a question of whether we are praying but how we are praying.

When we’re under pressure, our tendency is to rush into God’s presence with our list of needs and wants. Instead of stopping first, acknowledging the Lord, and focusing on Him, we rush into His presence saying, “God, I need this, this, this, and this. And I need it now, and tomorrow, and the next day. If You could go ahead and get it done ahead of time, that would be even better.”

Sound familiar?

When we pray this way, it can depress us more than if we hadn’t prayed at all. Have you ever started talking to God about your problems and found yourself more overwhelmed than when you started? It’s because you’re focusing on your problems instead of focusing on God.

Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” When we slow down and begin our prayers with worship and adoration and thanksgiving to God, it does something inside of us. There is a shift of focus from our needs to our God, which brings everything into clearer perspective. In recognizing who God is, and who we are in comparison, our prayer time can be a time of deepening our relationship with Him.

As you read and pray these prayers for inner peace, my prayer is that your thoughts turn to the One who is bigger than all our fears and circumstances. He is our peace.

A prayer for inner peace…

…when I don’t know what to do.

…when I’m trying too hard.

…when I question my value.

…when my to-do list runs my life.

…when I feel overwhelmed.

…when someone I know is in pain or suffering loss.

…when I feel hopeless.