5 Powerful Weapons Against Anxiety

It was as if a dark, invisible force was choking me. Collapsing to the ground, my heart beating a million times a minute, I gasped for air, knees pushed to my chest. Shaking uncontrollably, tears streamed down my face. A deep churning in the pit of my stomach, a knot in my throat, my body completely numb.

For months, this monster lingered. But this time… not in a sudden, physical way, but rather a shadow that followed me.

Many of us know this monster – this creep that lurks around our lives, designing schemes to drown us. And it comes in many forms, varying sizes:

Anxiety.

I broach this subject gently, as I am certainly not an expert.

So, let me be clear: I’m not here to throw scripture at you. I’m not here to heal you, nor am I capable of doing so. I’m not here to give you a secret formula.

But I am here to tell you the truth:

This battle belongs to the Lord, and victory is His.

He provides us with tools to experience a peace beyond our own understanding, His most powerful weapons:

(1) His Word

The enemy longs to blind you from the worth of the Scriptures.

Often times, we confuse what is true about the world with what is true about God.

But we find the real truth in the word of God.

^“He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.” (2 Peter 3:16)

Here’s the thing, it’s not that there is something “magical” that happens when we read words. But the words we find in the bible are the direct line of communication from God Himself.

They hold great power because they come from an all-powerful, all-knowing God.

They are alive.

The word of God is the source of truth, the source of wisdom. And the beautiful thing is, it’s available to all of us.

Study it, apply it, speak it aloud. It is powerful.

(2) Prayer

The enemy knows how powerful prayer is, and will do anything to keep you from doing it.

Prayer is supernatural force that results in God’s amazing works.

When your anxious mind refuses to let you rest, pray. When your anxious heart refuses to release the fear, pray. When your anxious body refuses to pause, pray.

We don’t have to use certain words. We don’t have to use fancy phrases.

You already have God’s attention. He hears your prayers.

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” (1 John 5:14-15)

We live in a loud world – full of voices, full of busyness, full of distractions.

So, turn down the volume, quiet your mind, and pray. Pray passionately, pray purposefully, pray sincerely, pray without ceasing.

(3) Worship

The enemy hates God, and wants to keep from worshipping Him.

Worship is powerful.

It’s more than Sunday morning worship, but rather a mindset – a constant awareness of His presence during your day-to-day. Anywhere and everywhere.

God gives us this special space to connect with Him – a safe place.

A place where we can release our burdens, fall into His arms in full trust, focus our hearts and minds deeply on His love.

He is sovereign, He is faithful, He is our comforter, our father. He is worthy of our praise.

^“He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.” (Deuteronomy 10:21)

Lift your praise up. You are safe in His arms.

(4) Thanksgiving

The enemy is desperate for your attention.

Our minds fixate on the bad, the pain, and the brokenness.

The condition of the world we live makes contentment seem nearly impossible.

But when we take our eyes off our circumstances, and look to our Creator and what He has already done, we grow in thankfulness.

An attitude of thanksgiving, even when it’s hard, strengthens our faith. It strengthens our joy. And it is a powerful weapon.

“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” (Psalm 9:1)

Remember His sacrifice. Remember His love and His grace.

Give thanks.

(5) God Himself

The enemy sure would love to make you feel alone.

But that is an utter lie.

“Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)

The Holy Spirit dwells in you.

He knows your every thought, every desire. He knows your exact needs.

Inside of you is a “spring of living water” (John 4:14). He gives us this knowledge as a powerful weapon to guard our hearts.

He is always with you – He lives in you.

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Navigating through anxiety can feel like treading water, sinking into the depths, with no shore in sight.

But we were never meant to live like this.

He gives us these mighty weapons because we were made for so much more.

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

Our fear of life brings suffering, but our fear of the Lord brings life.

Fear is the enemy’s greatest weapon.

But God’s weapons are so much greater.

Victory belongs to Him.

Will you turn to His weapons in your battle?