In Luke 10:25-28, a Pharisee lawyer asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus answers with a question: “What is written in the Law?” The lawyer quotes the Shema found in Deuteronomy 6:5: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind.” Jesus approves of the lawyer’s answer and says, “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live” (Luke 10:28). We need spiritual cleansing to maintain the pure heart, soul, strength, and mind outlined in the Shema. Praying to maintain this harmony with God is vital.
Jesus had already encouraged His followers to be pure of heart in these words from the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God (Matthew 5:8). The purity of a person extends from the heart—the nest of intuition and love—to the soul—the home of personality and talent—to strength of our bodies, and finally, to the mind, where the spirit resides.
Below are prayers to guide you as you seek cleansing in all these important aspects of your being. May they draw you closer to the God who created you, body, soul, mind, and spirit.
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1. A prayer for a renewed spirit: Lord, cleanse my heart so it is pure again and keep my spirit ever faithful to your promises. Clothe me in the fresh garments of righteousness as I continue my walk with You. Amen.
Inspiring scripture: "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10).
The sacrament of baptism is a reminder that God cleanses us of our sins and makes us new creatures. We are cleansed spiritually when a pastor or priest sprinkles water on our heads or dips us in a pool of water. Baptism is a sacred promise to God that an anointed person will follow His way.
Prayers for spiritual cleansing give us another douse in the holy waters of God’s love. After we accept God’s grace, we are renewed in spirit, ready to live under His guidance again.
2. A prayer for forgiveness: Lord, forgive me for the wrong I have done to others and myself. Let me receive your forgiveness and move on in my life with the assurance that you have paid the price and cleansed me of all my sins. Teach me your way, O Lord. Amen
Inspiring scripture: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"(1 John 1:9).
A bitter spirit harms the person who harbors it more than it hurts its target. And often it is more difficult to forgive ourselves than it is to forgive another person. This promise from 1 John says God cleanses us of our burden of guilt and feelings of unworthiness if we confess our sins in prayer.
3. A prayer to accept God’s grace: Lord, thank you for the blessing of your love and acceptance of me as a sinner, reformed or not. You love us as your children and sent your Son Jesus to pay the price for our salvation. Amen.
Inspiring scripture: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace’” (Numbers 6:24-25).
The Lord directed Moses to tell his brother Aaron, first in the line of Israel's priests, to bless their people with these words from the Book of Numbers. The surest way to receive this blessing today is to pray to the Lord, accepting his grace and receiving His gift of peace. When our souls get cluttered with the concerns of our everyday lives, we can pray to God to cleanse our spirit.
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1. A prayer for inner peace: Lord Almighty, cleanse my soul of the refuse of worrisome events in my life. Wash away my troubled thoughts and replace these disturbing thoughts with your peace and joy as I dwell on what is good and holy. Amen.
Inspiring scripture: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
When we feel broken, God’s peace can shine through the cracks and let our light shine. We don’t need to hide our light under a bushel [basket] of worry and shame (Matthew 5:15). Jesus lived as a human and understands our struggles. We are cleansed of worry when we lean on Jesus.
2. A prayer for faith: Lord, teach me to trust in You as I journey through life. Let me know that you have a plan for me and that you watch over me and my brothers and sisters. Amen.
Inspiring scripture: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5).
When chaos and confusion fill our minds, we can trust God will keep working in our lives. As it says in Jeremiah 29:11, “'For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” And Jesus tells us not to worry in Matthew 6:33-34: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Claim these promises in faith.
3. A prayer to be brave: Lord, surround me with Your divine shield and cleanse my environment of harmful forces. Fill me with Your holy presence as I face every frightening situation with courage. Amen.
Inspiring scripture: "Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27).
As we are directed in Ephesians 6:10-17, put on the armor of God with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit. These holy weapons will protect us as we remember that with God, nothing is impossible, and we are made strong.
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1. A prayer for healing: Great Creator, restore my health and remove any illness and pain. Fill my body with wellness as I live to fulfill your purposes on earth. Amen.
Inspiring scripture: "Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise" (Jeremiah 17:14).
In this passage from Jeremiah, there is no actual disease or infirmity striking a person’s good health. The context of the verse is Jeremiah’s lamenting the Israelites’ worship of false gods during their Babylonian captivity. He cries out for spiritual healing. The prophet’s words support the idea that there is a mind-body or spirit-body link, and praying to God can lead to good physical health.
2. A prayer for wellness: God, cleanse my body of the toxins of this world, in the environment and emanating from your sinful people. Remove the mental and physical illness that impurities cause in my body. Let me live a clean life. Amen.
Inspiring scripture: "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own" (1 Corinthians 6:19).
It is our responsibility to honor our bodies as “temples of the Holy Spirit.” Our physical selves are a gift from God that we need to tend as best we can. Maintaining proper exercise, nutrition, and sleep are ways we can preserve our health.
3. A prayer for strength and energy: Lord, give me the energy to accomplish your missions on earth. Give me strength of body and mind, cleansing me of defeating thoughts. Help me to live a healthy, active life. Amen.
Inspiring scripture: “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
Our faith in God can motivate us to accomplish great things. We can claim the power to become children of God (John 1:12), following Jesus’ tireless example to do good on earth. He walked and preached wherever he went for three years. The disciples went along with him, and we can have the same energy to serve as well.
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1. A prayer for clean thoughts: Dear Lord, guide me to focus on what is positive and uplifting. Cleanse my mind. Let my thoughts shape my actions as I live to serve others. Amen.
Inspiring scripture: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).
Our thoughts lead to our feelings and, ultimately, our actions. In Proverbs, Solomon wrote, “As a man thinks in his heart, so he is” (Proverbs 23:7). And in Proverbs 4:23-27, the text warns to “keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Therefore, if we avoid evil thoughts, we can avoid evil actions, and with good thoughts, we can do good.
2. A prayer for a strong mind: Lord, hold my right hand as I stand strong for what I believe. Do not let me bow to the status quo and forget how Jesus taught us to live. Amen.
Inspiring scripture: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2).
Jesus prayed that his disciples would live in the world but not of the world (John 17:16). They were told to pack lightly for their mission, with few material encumbrances (Luke 10:4). This is a very different message from our culture's enticement for us to accumulate wealth and property.
Jesus also advised His disciples not to greet anyone on the road (Luke 10:4). Indeed, too much communication can be a distraction from our mission as Christians. More time praying and less time texting or reading the internet may result in a purer spiritual life.
3. A prayer for unity: Lord, let harmony reign in my home, with my neighbors, and in our world. Cleanse us of all conflict as we live together in peace as your children. Give us love for one another, as You commanded. Amen.
Inspiring scripture: "How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1).
Following Jesus’ command to “Love one another. As I have loved you” (John 13:34) can cleanse our world of conflict. Living with love can give us a new, fresh lens with which to appreciate other people who may appear to be different from us on the surface. Let us live together in love.
Praying for cleansing of the spirit, soul, body, and mind can become a regular part of your spiritual practice. Speak sincerely with God and listen for his voice. After praying, you may approach God and other people with a “renewed spirit,” cleansed of all unrighteousness. Cleansing prayers are a spiritual spring cleaning for our heart, soul, body, and mind.
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This article is part of our prayer resources meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray.
Prayers for Healing
Morning Prayers
Prayers for Family
Prayers for Surgery
Prayers for Strength
Night Prayers Before Bed
Prayers for Protection
The Lord's Prayer: Our Father
Originally published Monday, 10 March 2025.
