Life is Better for Those Who Pray

People who pray regularly are less anxious, more hopeful, and more resilient.

A study from the Mayo Clinic found that people who engage in regular spiritual practices—including prayer—have better stress management and lower levels of depression. According to Pew Research, highly religious people are more likely to describe themselves as “very happy” compared to less religious peers.

Prayer literally changes your brain. Dr. Andrew Newberg, a neuroscientist at the University of Pennsylvania, has used brain scans to show that prayer activates parts of the brain associated with empathy and compassion while reducing activity in the amygdala, the brain’s stress center.

John Ortberg put it this way: “Prayer isn’t about getting God to do what we want—it’s about aligning ourselves with what God wants and learning to trust Him.”