On the subject of praying for oneself, Mary Baker Eddy once told a student, “The more work you do for yourself, the less work you need to do for your patients.” When the student pressed her about exactly how much time she should spend doing this, her response was, “Three hours!” (see We Knew Mary Baker Eddy, Expanded Edition, Volume I, p. 456). 

Many of us might not feel like we have three hours to pray for ourselves. It can be hard enough just to pray for those we care about and for world events, so praying for ourselves might be low on our list. And while Eddy encouraged Christian Scientists to pray daily for themselves, she didn’t usually give a particular time frame. But the spirit of her words remains paramount to anyone desiring to grow spiritually.

There’s an adage that we can’t pour from an empty cup. There are many examples of the prophets in Bible times pausing to pray for themselves—not to withdraw from service but to be replenished for it. Following their example, praying for ourselves isn’t self-absorption. It fortifies us to contribute even more. When we feel depleted—too tired or overwhelmed to even know where to begin—those are precisely the moments to pause, mentally step back, and feel God’s presence, which renews and strengthens us.