5 Reasons to Fight the Battlefield of Anxiety
Are you struggling with anxiety and finding that your battlefield is real?
Jesus would love to free you from your anxiety by exalting his power over your life.
He loves to take away what is troubling you. When you are experiencing anxiety daily it can be easier said than done. You might know all the answers and tried all the ways to relieve the tensions that are caused by your anxiety.
I’d like to give you a simple formula that will remove your anxieties for life.
But . . . sometimes it just isn’t so easy.
What I am going to share with you IS EASY! It all has to do with faith. It is simple but yet, it can be totally complicated for many of us because our faith is smaller than a mustard seed! (Matthew 17:20)
As women, we struggle more than men with issues of anxiety.
That is why this is so important to tackle in this series on Living Fearlessly because to live fearlessly, you want to stand up to your anxieties and face them!
1. Lack of Faith in Your Heavenly Father
Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; Hebrews 3:12
Belief is such a simple answer to anxiety!
All you have to do is believe in the Living God to deliver you from anxiety and it is DONE!
Why then, is it so hard for most women who struggle with anxiety?
Ten years ago, I was in a minor car accident and since then, certain situations like zipping in and out of high-speed traffic can be terrifying to me!
What am I afraid of?
An accident?
Injury?
Death?
The solution is so simple and yet so hard to reach!
I should have the attitude of Esther, “If I perish, I perish!” (Esther 4:16)
It is just that simple and yet intangible. I canNOT give you a 5-bullet outline that has the secret that unlocks and removes your anxiety!
In this verse, it says it’s evil to have a heart of unbelief and so I am going to write this verse on a 3 X 5 index card that will remind me NOT to fear and have anxiety.
This will be the first verse I am writing out! How about you?
2. Unbelief Gets in the Way of Faith
Have you ever weeded your garden only to find that more weeds pop up as soon as it rains? This summer, we have had an incredible amount of rain. Everything is lush green but things look overgrown with weeds that are impossible to keep up with!
That is how anxiety grows when we ‘water’ it with our unbelief!
Unbelief blocks off our faith from growing because it has grown out of proportion!
It would seem that it is impossible that Jesus could take our burden of anxiety away.
That’s because unbelief is in the way of faith!
For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, Hebrews 3:14
Faith is kind of like a bike ride when you are ‘IN’ Christ.
When you are riding on a bike and going up and down hills, you hold on.
Hold onto Jesus like you are on a bike with confidence, steadfast (without wavering or weaving) until the end.
Then I said to you, ‘Do not be in dread or afraid of them.
3. Persevere in Your Faith
In order to be saved, you need faith.
But did you know that in order to continue in your journey of life in Christ, you need faith?
When you are wavering because you are filled with anxiety over whatever it is that causes you to worry and fret . . . persevere in your faith.
Don’t give up!
Keep hanging on!
Just like on a bike ride.
If you let go, you will fall off the bike and if you let go of Jesus, you will fall into unbelief!
4. New Birth is a Life of Faith
I know that my faith can waver when anxiety hits me!
But I know that I once I have ‘new birth’ in Jesus old things are passed away . . .
But why is it so hard?
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17
That is because this life is a battlefield!
We are to pray. pray. pray. as if your life depended on it.
Because it does!!
Sometimes it is good to be reminded that we need to grow and flourish in our faith in Jesus.
Here is another verse to add to your box of 3 x 5 index cards!!
5. Stand Up to Anxiety in the Battle of Your Life
Get the Living Fearlessly Printable Pack to help you stand up to the battlefield of anxieties in your life!!
You are experiencing the battle of your life once you have believed in faith in the Living God!
The evil one is out to get you and will do everything that he can to discourage and defeat you!
If you can be defeated through anxiety . . . he will use that weapon against you.
Anxiety is a strong influence in your life. I know it is real and that this is no trifling thing.
Those who are truly born of God will take this battle seriously.
When you see this as a battlefield, it puts anxiety in its place.
YOU CAN FIGHT THIS!
When anxiety hits you, the battlefield is PRAYER!
Get on your knees before God and ask Him to forgive you for your unbelief in His almighty power.
Ask God to give you the faith. It only takes a small amount of faith like that of a mustard seed.
So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. Luke 17:6
Draw on the power of God to fight with perseverance.
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23
Are you living fearlessly because your hope is in God? How can you trust Him more?
More on Living Fearlessly
Does Your Heart Break Because God has No Grandchildren?
Why it is Important to Pray Through Your Fears
Living Fearlessly Because Your Hope is in God
What the Fear of God IS and IS NOT
How David Demonstrates Faith in Living Fearlessly +Video
Live Fearlessly with the Armor of God
Verses for Living Fearlessly + Free Printable
Get the Living Fearlessly Printable Pack to help you stand up to the battlefield of anxieties in your life!!
I listened to your video. Well done. I remember those necklaces with the mustard seed you said your mom had. 🙂 I never really thought about what a good reminder they are of that biblical truth.
And I can understand your fear about the car accidents. And I confess that I definitely have more anxiety than I should have about things. I know in my head the principles that should keep me from anxiety, but it needs to transfer to my heart.
And I like your practical ideas for helping to overcome anxiety.
Great Piper quote.
Thanks for taking the time to encourage us in this area!
Thank you, Gail.
Please pray for my daughter in law, Elizabeth. She has been going through severe anxiety attacks and has undergone various tests with her doctor. The heart monitor showed that when these attacks happen she also has an irregular heart beat. The dr put her on a beta blocker for her heart and they are trying different mixtures of medications to help control her anxiety and the sleeplessness.
…….and I feel in my spirit that her anxiety is also affected by an internet game that she has become very involved in – an “alternative reality” type “game” supposedly played by people all over the world. She is never without her phone and the “game”.
Pray for my son, Arron and their 5year old daughter too this situation is affecting all of them.
My heart goes out to you Judy because it is always so hard when our children suffer. Even when their choices are causing their problems. I know you want more for your daughter and for her to be sold out for Jesus. I will pray that will happen. I do understand as I have several children who are not walking with the Lord.