I once enjoyed a luxurious spa day with girlfriends. A waterfall rippled down a marble wall, glass pitchers of fruit-filled water flanked a granite, dessert-laden counter, and reclining couches overlooked a beautiful Florida lake. I was given a fluffy white robe and slippers and lead to a massage room. Upon entering, I was directed to an assortment of tiny cards, each with one word printed on them such as “Calm”, “Peaceful”, “Centered”, and “Still”. I was to select one of the cards with the word of my choice, stick it in a miniature sand box, and focus on that one word throughout my massage.
Chuckling, I chose the word, “Peaceful”, and promptly laid down and let my worries drain away.
We can’t always have a spa day when we’re feeling anxious, exhausted, or stressed, but we do have access to a powerful antidote!
Think of it as a spa day for your mind.
3 rejuvenating tips to calm your mind and soothe your soul!
1. Pray the Word
God’s Word and prayer are the two most powerful weapons we possess against stress, anxiety, and spiritual warfare.
I’ve experienced great peace, comfort, and hope by praying these Scriptures back to the Lord:
Father, I know that in returning and rest I will be saved; my strength comes from quietness and trust in You. ~Isaiah 30:15
Lord, I know You give your peace to me. Your peace is not the same “peace” as the world gives. I will not let my heart be troubled, neither will I let it be afraid. ~John 14:27
Father, I know you will keep me in perfect peace if my mind stays on You, because I trust in You. ~Isaiah 26:3
Lord of peace, please give me peace at all times and in every way. I know You are with me. ~2 Thessalonians 3:16
Father, please help me not to be anxious for anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving I’ll let You know my requests. And then I know the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 4:6-7
2. Memorize the Word
We don’t always have our Bibles with us, but a great way to have comfort at our fingertips is to memorize Scripture!
Take the verses under number one (or find your own), grab some 3×5 cards or post-it notes, and jot them down. When you fix your hair or put on makeup, have your cards handy – taped to the bathroom mirror or laying where you can see them.
Memorize one line at a time, gradually putting sentences together.
Memorization will come over time if you repeatedly rehearse.
When you’re driving, you can review them in your mind or say them to the Lord.
When we memorize Scripture, it becomes even more meaningful because we’re breaking verses down into smaller chunks. Memorizing makes us think word by word, and The Holy Spirit uses that to speak peace to our hearts.
3. Pray aloud
I find that when I come away for a few minutes and pretend God is sitting in a chair and I am speaking to Him, I begin to pour out my soul to Him. The more words I speak aloud, the more the words come. After a good 15 minutes of prayer, my soul feels refreshed and reconnected with my Creator.
Praying out loud helps to center our thoughts as opposed to praying silently. We should always pray throughout the day, and that means many times it needs to be silent prayer.
But when I really need to center and only think on prayer to God, the best way is to pray (or whisper) aloud. My soul comes away tranquil and refreshed!
Prep for your tranquil escape
This kind of “mind spa” will only work if you put some preparation into these 3 rejuvenating tips.
Remember the spa I visited? I didn’t just walk in, plop down, and immediately relax. Someone thought to make the atmosphere calm and the surroundings pleasant. From the plush robe to the fruit water to the calming words, thought had been put into every detail.
If you want to have a spa day of your mind, write out the prayers and Scripture to be memorized. Post them in strategic spots of your house, car, or desk. Determine where and when you will sit down and pray. You don’t go on a spa trip without making a reservation, do you?
Same with your “mind spa”. Don’t wait until you’re in a quandary and wish you had memorized or spent time in prayer. Prep now – spa later!
Have you ever tried any of these powerfully soothing tactics to calm your soul?
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This is a great post. I have some Scriptures that friends gave me before I started subbing this year, on my bathroom counter and mirror that I look at every morning before I go to work. I do have them memorized so I can refer to them throughout the day as needed. I never thought about praying out loud before. I’ll have to try that on my lunch break in the classroom the next time I have a rough class. Thanks for the idea.
Brenda, praying the Scriptures truly changed my outlook and made all the difference in gaining victory! I’m such a believer in it. Love that you have Scriptures in your bathroom! Memorization is truly so important, and it’s so simple, yet we don’t take time to implement that. Thank you for your comment, I enjoyed reading your perspective! 🙂