Fierce Faith: Fighting Fear & Overcoming AnxietySample

Fighting Fear

God created our body to sense when it is in danger and to respond physically to that fear. At the first sign of danger, our whole body wakes up to try to keep us safe: our senses sharpen, our hearts beat faster, and blood flow actually increases so we can run away quickly. 

Keep in mind, God designed that system for our good. But what happens when we become bound by what could only be described as a spirit of fear—a sense that impending doom is always right around the corner?

2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Does living a life where you filter everything in survival mode sound like a spirit of power and love and a sound mind? Of course not. 

A spirit of fear is something the enemy uses to twist what God created for our good because that’s what the enemy does. I know it’s not always fun or cool to talk about the enemy, but all we have to do is look at scripture to know he’s there. 

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).

I don’t believe we need to live our lives preoccupied with our enemy, but we need to be wise and know how to fight his attacks. Pretending he doesn’t exist is foolishness. And ignoring that he is constantly looking for ways to destroy our trust in God, our lives, and our joy is like living life with no coffee: My eyes might be open, but I’m not very alert, and I’m definitely not bringing my A-game. 

The enemy has a plan to keep us from experiencing the full life God has created for us. His plan counts on us being unaware and unarmed. To fight back, we must be aware of our thoughts and arm ourselves with the truth that Jesus spoke when he said, “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

God-given, healthy fear protects us from harm. God-distracting, unhealthy fear steals our joy. 

Healthy thoughts will give us a life that has hope and happiness. Unhealthy thoughts will give us a life bound by worry and sadness.  

Our thoughts create our realities. 

We need to ask for a clear mind, peaceful heart, and extra strength and courage on our most trying days. Our most powerful tools will always be prayer and worship. We should take every fear to Jesus knowing that the battle is his and that we fight not for a victory but from the place of an already-won victory. 

Prayer:

Lord, I don’t want to let a spirit of fear control my thoughts; I want to focus my thoughts on you. Help me redirect my mind to your truths every time I begin to spiral into worry and anxiety. Steady my thoughts, Lord, and clear my mind until I am only focused on you. Amen.

Action Step: 

Ask God to open your eyes to unhealthy patterns of thought in your life. Make a plan of what you will do when these thoughts arise. You could pause to pray, put on a worship song, or speak scripture over yourself.