You Are Loved! Meditations for Mental Health Month
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
Mental Health Awareness Month is a great time for each of us to be mindful of our own mental (and spiritual) wellness. To encourage this behavior, we offered a series of self-guided prayer stations at Milford First for those who attended worship services on Sunday, May 19, 2024. Even if you didn’t get a chance to participate in person, you can use this online version for personal reflection and growth at any time! The following meditations use scripture to guide you through affirmations, encouraging a sense of self-worth and God-given purpose. As you move through the activities, remember that you that you are a beloved child of God and “wonderfully made” in God’s image.
Reflect
READ: Psalm 139:13-18 (NRSV)
“For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.”
DO: Meditation
Remember that you are beloved. Hold a mirror in front of you or stand in front of one, looking closely at your reflection. Meditate on what you see. What do you think God sees? Does God see the lines at the corners of your eyes, or instead see the smiles and joy you have shared? Does God see your mistakes, your short-comings, or instead see the beauty you put into the world? Offer a prayer of thanksgiving for who you are. Take time to pray that you always see yourself as a beautiful child of God, worthy of loving yourself as God loves you.
PRAY: A Breath Prayer
I know that I am a beautiful child of God and pray to remember that every day.
Light
READ: Matthew 5:14-16 (NRSV)
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”
DO: Meditation
Do you believe that tomorrow is simply an extension of today, or do you believe that things can change? Do you have any control over that change? Remember that even in the dark your light is lit, but is your light dimmed by self-doubt? Exhaustion? Worry? What changes can you make so that your light can shine brightly, from a rested, fulfilled self? Light a candle in your home, and as you look at it, envision yourself burning brightly with your power, the power God gives you, the power God wants you to use, the power to bring hope, change, and love to yourself and then to the world.
PRAY: A Breath Prayer
I am the light of the world and will shine my light for all to see.
Wash
READ: John 13:12-15 (NRSV)
“After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.”
DO: Meditation
Water is the source of all life. It cleanses us and refreshes us every day. Consider what you need to wash away in order to experience the fullness of life that God has promised you. Dip your hands into a bowl of water or hold them under running water for a few moments. Think about God’s presence and desire for our lives. In the scripture above, Jesus humbles himself as he washes the disciples feet. In what ways do you need to humble yourself in order to serve others and better show God’s love?
PRAY: A Breath Prayer
I will let the water wash over me so that I can live life to the fullest.
Rest
READ: Matthew 11:30 (NRSV)
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest.”
DO: Meditation
Are you burdened? Rest. Find a rock around your home, hold it and ask God to help you rest in this moment. Consider what burdens you are carrying: those doubts, fears, obligations, worries and feelings of inadequacy that are weighing you down. Imagine your rock as your burden(s). Are you ready to give them to God? Imagine God taking this weight from you and carrying it as you seek rest and peace. Put your rock down in a different place than where you found it or, if you’re not ready, keep your rock as a reminder that when you are ready to give your burdens to God, they will be gladly accepted.
PRAY: A Breath Prayer
I give my burdens to you, God. I am more than my doubts and my fears.
Gather
READ: 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (NRSV)
“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”
DO: Meditation
We are meant to live in community. Write down what’s holding you back from a more relational life. Keep this note and return to it in the weeks ahead. Ask God to draw you closer to others, praying for whatever needs to shift so that you move from individual to more community-minded living. Remember that together we can stand and support each other through all of life’s ups and downs.
PRAY: A Breath Prayer
I will remember to love myself and others as God loves me.