Brothers and sisters, here are some verses that will help you in the battle against fear and anxiety. First, acknowledge that this is a battle and so progress will involve warfare. But also resolve that, with the Lord at your side, it is a battle that you will win. Your goal is to so fill your mind with Scripture and be so ready to pray and to recite truth that there is no space for the enemy to insinuate his lies into your mind. Refuse to give the enemy a foothold of any kind.

Psalm 46:1-3 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. THEREFORE we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea . . .”

Philippians 4:6-7 – “Be anxious for nothing . . .” Pray through these verses until you receive the “peace that passes all understanding.”

1 Peter 5:7 “. . . casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” I wrote seven blog posts on this verse on my Website (roybritton.wordpress.com) and they are practical and helpful.

Isaiah 43:1-7 – “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you and through the rivers they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

Isaiah 41:8-16 – “Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 12:1-6 – verses 2-3 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will TRUST AND NOT BE AFRAID, for the LORD God is my strength and song and He has become my salvation. Therefore you will joyously draw water from the streams of salvation.”

2 Corinthians 10:5 – “. . . and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” In my opinion this is the key to victory in the battle against anxiety. You have got to grab hold of your thoughts and make sure they do not go where you do not want them to go. Take EVERY thought captive to the obedience of Christ. At first you must consciously do this a LOT and ALL THE TIME, until you break the habit of running down trails that lead to fear and anxiety. STOP THE TRAIN before it leaves the station! Do NOT let your thoughts go to fearful places. Do NOT let your mind play “what if” games!

Jeremiah 20:11 – “But the LORD is with me like a dread champion.” Imagine the Lord standing behind you with His sword out of the sheath as your great defender. The LORD is your dread Champion. He is your Rock, your Refuge, your Defender. Trust Him!

Psalm 34:4, 6 – “I sought the LORD and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears . . . This poor man cried and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.” How does the LORD deliver you from all your fears? Is that even possible? Yes! The Lord delivers you from all your fears by replacing your fears with trust in Him. If you trust the LORD fully, then all your fears will be vanquished.

Psalm 40:1-3 – “I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry. He pulled me up out of the desolate pit, out of the miry clay. He set my feet upon a rock, making my footsteps firm. And He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.”

Psalm 27:1-14 – “The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life. Whom shall I dread?”

Romans 8:31-39 – “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also, with Him, freely give us all things? . . . for I am convinced that neither death not life . . . shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In the midst of a terrifying storm, our Lord stands up in the boat and speaks to the hurricane, “Hush! Be still!” And the winds and the waves heard the voice of their Creator and Master and instantly obeyed and a great calm resulted. Then the Lord speaks to His disciples and asks, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:35-41) O, how many storms do I have to go through before the Lord who has bought me at the price of His own blood will no longer need to ask me that question? O, Lord, let me be one who trusts You no matter how fierce the storm.

SDG        rmb        5/9/2017