There are days when just getting out of bed feels like a battle.
I know that feeling all too well. For years, I felt like I was losing a war against myself. I was stuck in a cycle of bad habits—binge eating, endless hours of gaming, and a laziness that chained me to the couch. I was over 110 pounds overweight, and my spirit felt just as heavy as my body. I tried everything to change. I read self-help books and made grand plans that would fall apart by Tuesday.
Real change, the kind that lasts, started in a much quieter place. It began when I stopped trying to fight alone and started talking to God. Not in a formal, stuffy way, but like I was talking to a friend who already knew my struggles. Prayer became my lifeline. It wasn’t a magic wand that fixed everything overnight. It was the source of strength that allowed me to take the next right step. And then the next.
Prayer is a conversation. It’s how we build a relationship with God and invite His strength into our messy, beautiful, and sometimes difficult lives. If you’re feeling weak, weary, or lost, I want to share some of the simple prayers that helped me. They aren’t fancy, but they are real. They are the starting points for your own conversation.
For Your Morning Start
The first few moments of the day can set the tone for everything that follows. Instead of reaching for your phone, try reaching for one of these.
- Lord, thank You for a new day. Please guide my thoughts, words, and actions.
- God, grant me the energy I need to face today with a positive spirit.
- Jesus, walk with me today. Help me to see others through Your eyes.
- Father, I place this day in Your hands. May Your will be done, not mine.
- Lord, help me be a light for You in every room I enter today.
When You Feel Overwhelmed
We all have moments when the to-do list is too long and our patience is too short. In these moments, take a breath and whisper a short prayer.
- God, this is too much for me. Please carry this burden with me.
- Jesus, quiet my anxious heart. Remind me that You are in control.
- Lord, I feel lost. Please show me the next step to take. Just one.
- Father, when my strength fails, be my strength.
- God, help me to focus on what truly matters right now and let go of the rest.
When Facing Temptation
This was a big one for me. Whether it was the urge to fall back into binge eating or waste a day on video games, temptation was a constant battle. Prayer became my shield. It was the pause between the urge and the action.
- Father, protect me from this temptation. Give me the strength to turn away.
- Lord, remind me of the man I want to be, not the man I was.
- Jesus, You overcame temptation. Help me follow Your example right now.
- God, help me to choose what is right, not what is easy.
- Lord, fill this empty space in me that I am trying to fill with things that are not You.
For Courage and Patience
Sometimes the battle isn’t against a bad habit but against fear or frustration. We need courage to have that hard conversation or patience to wait for a breakthrough.
- Lord, give me the courage of David to face this giant in my life.
- God, grant me patience with the people around me and with myself.
- Father, when I am afraid, remind me that You have not given me a spirit of fear.
- Jesus, help me to persevere when I feel like giving up.
- Lord, give me the wisdom to know when to speak and the grace to know when to be silent.
To End Your Day in Peace
How you end your day is just as important as how you begin it. Hand your worries over to God so you can rest.
- Lord, thank You for getting me through this day. For the good and the bad.
- Father, I forgive those who hurt me today, and I ask for forgiveness for those I hurt.
- God, I place all my worries and anxieties at Your feet tonight. Let me rest in Your peace.
- Jesus, watch over me and my loved ones as we sleep.
- Lord, thank you for your unending grace. I am grateful for your presence in my life.
Prayer didn't magically erase my problems. It didn't instantly make me lose 110 pounds or break my addictions. What it did was change my heart. It gave me the strength to face the challenges instead of running from them. It filled me with a sense of purpose that was more powerful than any temporary pleasure. It was, and still is, a daily practice of admitting I can’t do it all on my own. And that’s a wonderful, freeing thing to admit.
So here’s my challenge to you. Don’t try to do all 25. Just pick one.
Which prayer on this list do you need most today? Read it again. Say it out loud. Let it be the start, or the continuation, of your own conversation with God. You are not alone in this fight. His strength is right there, waiting for you.
