In this season, anxiety seems to be all around us. It’s almost as if you can feel it in the air. Worry, fear, and depression are on the rise as the pandemic continues and morphs. We long for peace, but how can we access that? I believe one of the most effective ways of calming your anxiety is to learn the power of praying Scripture.  Believe me when I say, I learned this in the trenches of crippling anxiety.

Here’s the thing: there is a battle raging all around us. Our fight is not against flesh and blood but against dark principalities and powers that temporarily rule this world (Ephesians 6:12). As long as we live in this broken world, anxiety will be around. Satan loves to try to send messages of fear and worry against our minds. He loves it when our insides are all tangled and tortured by anxiety. How do we fight back? How do we bring calm to our anxious hearts?

The Word of God is one of the most powerful weapons we have to defeat Satan. We demolish the stronghold of anxiety by using the same technique that Jesus modeled for us when He was tempted (Luke 4:1-13). We defeat Satan with God’s Word. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church that we don’t fight Satan with weapons of this world, we fight with divine power that we access through the Word of God and the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). What does this look like?

3 Scriptural Prayers to Calm Anxiety

Lord Jesus, I exalt You as the King of Kings and the Lord of all lords. I now take back my thinking and claim all authority in Jesus’ name. You know my anxious, tangled thoughts. However, Lord, Your Word invites me to take every thought captive. So right now, I re-direct my thoughts to You, Almighty God. You alone are the Prince of Peace. I place every thought under your authority. I praise You that You won my victory through Your death and resurrection and that I can trust You to complete the work You started in me. Thank You that You will perfect all that concerns me. I trust You, Lord (1 Timothy 6:15-16, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Isaiah 9:6, Psalm 138:8).

God Almighty, I praise You that all power belongs to You. Nothing can thwart Your plans. You have plans to prosper me and not harm me, plans to give me a future and a hope. You promise that You will be with me in times of trouble and that You will strengthen me in the day of battle. You will be with me in every dark valley and your presence will never leave me. Thank You that I don’t need to be afraid or worried about the future because my future is in Your hands.  You are my light and salvation, therefore I don’t need to fear. I claim Your power and authority over my family and my own life. I relax in You Lord  (Jeremiah 29:11, Isaiah 41:10,  Psalm 18:32-39, Psalm 23:4, Psalm 27:1).

Holy One, I praise You that I can rest in Your provision. All that I need, You will supply. Thank You that Your Word teaches me that You will provide for every need according to Your riches in glory. I can lay every burden at your feet and trust that You have my best interests at heart because You are good, gracious, and generous. I celebrate Your abundant goodness! Thank You that You are trustworthy and that You keep all Your promises.  You are faithful in all You do. When my heart begins to panic, Holy Spirit I look to You, to quiet my anxiety and bring Your peace (Philippians 4:19, Psalm 145:7,9,14).

Friend, the truth is, anxiety isn’t going to go away anytime soon. But we can use the weapons of our warfare – praising God and praying Scripture – and Satan will flee. This week, when anxiety hits, try these prayers and see if they quiet some of that worry in your heart. We can relax. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Hey parents, don’t forget to register for the Gentle Parenting Summit. Anxiety is real in the parenting journey, and I will be giving you tips for how to calm your heart in this journey!

In addition, if you would like to read more about how to use Scripture to calm your anxiety, get a copy of my book Psalms for the Anxious Heart!