Matthew Fogle
NASM CPT FNS BCS SFC
So yeah… you clicked on this article.
The title specifically says “Prayer for calming stress relief” so don’t be offended when I talk about prayer, mmkay? Mmkay. 🙂
“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.” – Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
Perhaps no other passage in the Holy Bible (except for a salvation passage such as John 3:16-17) brings me more peace from the Holy Spirit.
So, it is worth reading again.
“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.” – Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
When I read meditation verses like these from the Holy Bible – while sitting in the sunshine on a cool-breezy morning and the birds are chirping – they make me feel warm and gooey inside. When I read and pray over them when it’s cloudy and the day is pressing, they bring me peace. When I read and pray over them and my OCD is at 110% (real OCD, by the way) and continuing to live this life is not in my highest priorities, then I lightly whisper to myself “Yeah, right.” But the older (and hopefully wiser) I get as a Christian, the more these lines bring me peace during even those moments.
Stress can bring us down, can I get an “Amen”?
The brain is always playing an interactive game with neurotransmitters, which include dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins. Stress can make these neurotransmitters go haywire or virtually go to sleep.
When considering the body and the effects of high stress, the stress hormone “cortisol” is the ultimate culprit. Under times of stress, cortisol is secreted by the adrenal glands and serves to maintain energy through the breakdown of nutrients (carbs / fats / proteins). In the presence of cortisol, the body skips the preference of building or retaining muscle, and instead prefers to shuttle and store nutrients as adipose tissue (a.k.a. – bodyfat). It’s a survival mechanism of the body so that you are able to live longer in hard times, but it doesn’t bode well for looking too good. This is why crash dieting, starvation, and anorexia – all of which create stress and cause a rise in cortisol – can actually result in increased body fat on an individual.
Getting proper amounts of sleep might be the issue if you are stressed, but if you simply can’t fall asleep or stay asleep, this little tidbit doesn’t help you much.
However, there are other ways to help calm your mind and body.
Exercise is an awesome way. Dopamine, serotonin, and endorphin activity all increase and are better regulated when you consistently perform physical activity. Stretching and foam rolling can also help ease the mind by increasing production of these neurotransmitters. Getting a message (if you are so lucky) can be calming and relaxing – to both the mind and body.
Yet, none of these compare to prayer, especially for the long term. If you’ve never prayed before and are seeking solace, it might be difficult to understand how God is working in your life. Keep it up and find a church to join. A pastor who knows you personally will be able to help far more than an article on this page. This is just to get you started.
If you are a prayer warrior, God bless you. Your efforts make the Kingdom of God grow.
Prayer is the single most important thing you can do for your health. If you have a choice between performing “1 Workout 4 Life” exercise routines and prayer, delete the “1 Workout 4 Life” app, open up the Holy Bible, and let the Holy Spirit and the words of Jesus Christ calm your mind and bring you peace.
To your best health,
~ Matthew