Prayer isnt always relaxing

Conversation with God is sometimes stressful. Speaking your mind to Him and He doesnt always agree. Parent/ child conversations can be stormy rather than calm. Sometimes I think we assume that prayer always brings calm. That hasnt been my experience.
Thats why I am planning to augment prayer with meditations. Secular meditations focussing on the breath. The purpose is to reduce anxiety and for general health.
I have looked into Christian meditations but it didnt really impress.
This whole subject can be controversial. Personally I dont see why we cant do both. Prayer for our soul and spirit, meditation for our physical and mental health.

Try the Lords prayer. When Jesus spoke to His Father I dont think he argued with Him. It was more listening then Jesus trying to tell His Father what to do. You cant do that, after all Hes God, not you!

You can petition him, but first just adore Him give thanks and THEN present your requests and its more likely He will give you His peace.

Christians call it supplication.
Its that experience, and Ive had it, that you know God is there present with you without even having to say a word. You fall silent and its just you dont need to say anything. Its not so much focusing on our own breathing but more giving God the chance to breathe in you!

So be still and know God. Hes the one who gives us breath.

So be still and know God. Hes the one who gives us breath.

I believe it depends on how you are praying. If you are praying more out of fear instead of faith, you may not feel so peaceful. An example of praying in fear could be yelling out God's name while you tense up your hands. Praying in faith you may tell God how you feel afraid and thank him for being with you. In the first example, you are succumbing to panic feelings. In the second example, you are still expressing your feelings to God but you are looking for his help and expressing gratitude for his presence.

its complex anyway

I looked at some prayers of Moses, Solomon, David, et al. at some time, and they were for different purposes.

Ps. 51, David's personal prayer of confession, is one pleading for mercy, as he longed for cleansing that forgiveness brings. He knew that God would restore his joy, however, and bring release and revival. So that should be comforting and relaxing in the end.

Praying is different every time. Sometimes it is emotional and I just weep buckets. Sometimes it is uplifting. And sometimes I feel God points out my weakness and I feel the need to repent and change my life to be closer to Him. Praying for me is never a routine, but a walk in the Holy Spirit. It can be a meditation, it can be when I write a poem. It can be when I am crying out in an impossible situation.

But stressful? Rather stress relief.