Inner peace is not the absence of trouble. It is a steadiness that stays when trouble comes. A prayer for inner peace does not make the storm go away. It gives you somewhere to stand while it passes.
The short version: choose one prayer below, say it slowly, breathe out longer than you breathe in, then sit in silence for a few minutes. If you like, join the eight minutes of silence every Sunday at 8 PM your local time.
Prayers for inner peace
From the Gospel of John
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27 (King James Version). One of the most quoted verses about peace in the Christian tradition.
From the Letter to the Philippians
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 (King James Version). A peace that does not depend on understanding everything first.
From the prophet Isaiah
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Isaiah 26:3 (King James Version).
The Aaronic blessing
The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: the LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
Numbers 6:24 to 26 (King James Version). A blessing shared by Jewish and Christian traditions.
The Serenity Prayer
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.
The widely used short form of a prayer attributed to the American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, from the 1930s. It separates what is ours to carry from what is not.
A loving-kindness prayer for yourself
May I be safe.
May I be at peace.
May I be gentle with myself.
May I rest in this moment.
Our own words, in the spirit of the Buddhist practice of metta, where loving-kindness traditionally begins with oneself before it widens to others. It is hard to offer peace you have never allowed yourself.
A prayer for a restless mind
I do not need to solve everything tonight.
I set down what I cannot carry.
I keep what is mine to do tomorrow.
For now, I breathe.
Our own words, for evenings when thoughts will not stop.
A prayer before sleep
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8 (King James Version).
Three words
Peace in me.
Sometimes three words are enough. Say them on the out-breath.
An eight-minute practice for inner peace
- Arrive (1 min). Sit. Let your shoulders drop. One slow breath.
- Breathe longer out (2 min). Breathe in for a count of four, out for a count of six. For many people a longer out-breath helps the body settle.
- Pray (1 min). Say one of the prayers above, slowly, once.
- Name what weighs (1 min). Silently name one worry. Do not solve it. Just name it.
- Set it down (1 min). Imagine placing it on the floor beside you. It will still be there later if you need it.
- Silence (1 min). Sit in what remains.
- Widen (1 min). Wish the same peace to one other person, then to the world.
The last step matters. Inner peace and peace in the world are not two different projects. The timer on our home page guides you through eight minutes with a soft bell.
Questions about praying for inner peace
What is a good prayer for inner peace?
A short one you can remember when you need it. Many people use John 14:27, "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid", or the Serenity Prayer.
Can prayer really calm anxiety?
Prayer and quiet reflection help many people feel calmer, and slow breathing supports that. They are not a replacement for professional help. If worry or anxiety is persistent or overwhelming, please talk to a doctor or therapist.
Is there a prayer for inner peace without religion?
Yes: "May I be safe. May I be at peace. May I be gentle with myself." These loving-kindness phrases need no belief, only intention.
How often should I pray for inner peace?
Regularity helps more than length. Once a day for a minute, or once a week for eight minutes, for example every Sunday at 8 PM with our Sunday practice.