Anxiety is kind of like the annoying red light on your car’s dashboard that says CHECK ENGINE. The light isn’t the problem; it merely indicates there’s a problem elsewhere, so if you’re smart, you will get your car to a mechanic who knows how to diagnose and repair the problem. Not to oversimplify, but anxiety is the red light that alerts you when it’s time to pray. Anxiety indicates that something isn’t right and you need to go to the mechanic, your Creator, who knows how to fix the situation. It sounds simplistic to say, “Pray about it.” I’ve been accused of having the attitude that prayer will fix anything… Well…. I’m not sure that’s a flaw, BUT prayer and actually listening to God’s guidance and doing what is within your power offers an extremely powerful punch to the problem at hand. It is, in the least, a good start! Some people struggle with prayer, but prayer is simply a conversation with God in your own words, in your own way, expressing yourself humbly and openly. God wants to hear from you. He already knows what’s going on, but He wants you to trust Him enough to reach out and take His hand. Allow Him to walk with you through your struggle.

Scriptures – Ph 4:4-8; 1 Pt 5:6-7; Ep 3:20-21; Jn 10:10

Verses  

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Ph 4:4-7) Humble yourselves therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Pt 5:6-7)

Thought

Scripture says to cast your anxiety on God. To cast means to throw, to release, to let go. There’s nothing we want more than shuck off our anxiety. The problem is that we give it to God and then it has a tendency to creep back. Something can happen or a conversation can trigger our anxiety and it tries to grab hold of us again. The only way to prevent another trip down anxiety road is to create a new route, a new pattern, a new response to the trigger. Memorize and pray Scripture that will take you down a new road. For example: pray Hebrews 13:5. “God, I know that you will never leave me or forsake me.” Isaiah 54:17, “God, I know no weapon formed against me will prosper.” Psalm 27:1, “Dear Lord, you are my light and my salvation, I have no reason to fear.” It takes time to retrain old habits, to build new patterns, but this will be more than worth the effort! You can live anxiousless when you learn to truly cast all your anxiety on God!

Questions 

Is there anything that is causing you anxiety right now? If so, what are you doing to work through it? What is your go-to Bible verse or promise that helps you when anxiety strikes? Explain how prayer and petition guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus?

Response

Find 3 Scriptures or Bible promises that you can pray when anxiety strikes. Commit them to memory so that when anxiety is triggered your first response is to pray those words of truth and trust that God will flood your spirit with peace. 

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for your Word which is truth and gives me what I need to live life in fullness and freedom from fear, worry and anxiety. Allow the truth of your Word to guard my heart and my mind as I stand on the many promises you have given to your children. Thank you for the peace that only you can provide, peace that goes beyond what the world can understand, peace in the midst of all life’s struggles. In Jesus Name I pray, amen.