I believe that prayer keeps you young in spirit.  Here are some of the ways to use prayer to keep you feeling young.

How to do this prayer practice.

1.  Use prayer to give you a life purpose no matter what your age or circumstances. I realized this when I found myself at an age where many people think of retiring and taking it easy and I was beginning a new prayer non-profit that gave me a whole new adventure ahead that will last me the rest of my life.

2.  Use prayer to help you feel and act younger than you are. It says in Isaiah:

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.   Isaiah 40:30,31

3.  Use prayer as an inward renewal. 2 Cor. 4:18 says:  Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits – …who satisfied your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.  Psalm 103:2, 5

4.  Use prayer to clear out the inner gunk.

Claim this scripture: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Psalm 51:10

Be silent before me you islands!  Let the nations renew their strength.  Let them comfe forward and speak.  Let us meet together in at the place of judgement.  Is. 41:1

5. Use meditation to increase your fruitfulness.

Live out this scripture: But his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers.  Pslam 1:2,3

6.  Use prayer to combat emotions that age you, such as fear and anger.

Medical studies show that stress can age you because your body releases a hormone that’s meant to make you at high alert so you can fight.  Too much of this all the time, and it starts to wear down your body.  Prayer is a true stress reliever.

Here are some other things that can age you: fear, anger, bitterness, jealousy, addictions, depression, hopelessness, helplessness, anxiety, oppression, disappointment, failure, loss, grief, death of someone close, poverty, money worries, dysfunctional relationships, loneliness, lack of purpose, trying to find happiness in things, trying to please others, trying to earn forgiveness and love, looking for love in the wrong places, abuse, confusion….the list is long.

The art of prayer can blunt the trauma of every one of these.

7.  Use prayer to bring positive, nourishing emotions into your life.

But it’s not just the negative things that prayer helps keep from doing you in, but it’s also the excitement and joy of having positive things in your life, especially a larger purpose and a community of friends.

My Personal Experiences and Tips:

As I age I have discovered that there’s always something new to discover about prayer.  By being a constant learner, I am always growing spiritually instead of simply aging.

Copyright Karen Barber 2011