Anxiety, Panic Attacks + Fear

Psalm 34:4-6 (TPT) Listen to my testimony: I cried to God in my distress and He answered me. He freed me from all my fears! Gaze upon Him, join your life with His, and joy will come. Your faces will glisten with glory. You'll never wear that shame-face again. When I had nothing, desperate and defeated, I cried out to the Lord and He heard me, bringing His miracle deliverance when I needed it most.

A while back I heard on the news that the current, number 1 Google search is anxiety and panic attacks. That's really sad, isn't it? I would venture to say that a great many of those are believers who have become too stressed out over the current state of the world to even seek God. It's really easy you know... you're spending time with Jesus every day, praying, worshiping, and reading the Word. You're at peace and life is good. A crisis hits and takes your attention away from your first love. Oh, at first you think it's just a temporary setback. You wake up in the morning and watch the news to check on the new Covid variant or what’s going on with current state of politics. You go to work and come home to more news about violence, death, the possibility of a recession and even war. Then mix that with your own family issues, finances, sickness, and relationships. Soon, you just feel too tired and weak to pray and study. Before you know it, depression and anxiety begin to set in.

Nothing wrong with watching the news and keeping up with what's going on in the world unless it steals your attention and the time you once had with Jesus. Before long you realize that your mind that was once filled with joy, peace, and the love of God, has become angry, fearful, and susceptible to attacks of panic. Our peace comes from our relationship with Him and it's a gift from the Holy Spirit who is our comforter. It's not something that we should take for granted, but it's precious and it flows from remaining filled with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. You really can walk in peace no matter what is going on around you and even what's happened to you. It all comes down to who or what has your attention and devotion.

I spend a lot of time with God, but there are some attacks that are so painful that I must press in harder and with more desperation. I have to know His Word to use it against the poisonous darts of the enemy. Our Christian walk isn't always a bed of roses. Sometimes we need to tap into the inner warrior that was built on the foundation of the Word of God, and we take that Word and use it to stop the enemy in his tracks. He has no authority over our health, our families, jobs, finances, government, country or our minds, if we as believers will begin to fight and take back what the enemy has stolen!

As we focus on the Lord and study our Bibles, we become equipped to not only fight the battle that is going on around us, but most importantly, we will win the war in our minds! Then there’s nothing we can’t face or overcome!

John 14:26 (AMP) But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.

John 14:27 (TPT) “I leave the gift of peace with you—my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous!"

Isaiah 41:10 (MSG) Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I'm your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.

Joshua 1:9 (NLT) This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.