“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” Psalm 94:19 NIV
Within every person there is a fight or flight response to danger. It’s God’s protection to help you take action in the face of a very real threat.
However, if you struggle with unfounded panic while everything around you is well – it’s important to understand that the panic you are feeling is not from God. There is an enemy of your soul who is doing everything he can to paralyze you with fear, impede your ability to function, and critically limit your ability to be the light God has called you to be.
But you can fight back!
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 NIV
Here’s what’s critical for you to understand to live in faith and without fear: although the enemy may seem like a roaring lion who can swallow you up, God is your deliverer. He is your savior.
Submitted to Him, you can stand firm. You can resist all the tactics of the enemy. The devil will flee from you and take with him all the runaway anxiety he has stirred in your soul.
The next time a panic attack creeps up, recognize the spiritual battle and resist. Acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus in your life and say no to the panic. Say no to the anxiety. In the name of Jesus, push back against the fear.
Are there moments that seem to trigger anxiety? Do they represent real danger, or is the enemy stirring something in your soul to unsettle you? If you can identify these moments and their source, you will be better able to recognize the spiritual battle and resist.
God, I trust You with my life and I submit myself to You. In the name of Jesus, I resist anxiety. I resist fear. I resist the dread and panic the enemy is trying to stir in my soul. My life is in God’s hands and I declare that when anxiety threatens to overtake me, God’s comfort calms my soul. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Armed with an understanding of the spiritual warfare behind these attacks, you are positioned to gain victory. The enemy may test you – but if you maintain your trust in God and stand firm, eventually, the enemy’s grip will lessen, and his presence will dissipate.
Tomorrow we will look at more ways to win the battle over anxiety.
Additional scriptures to help you understand spiritual warfare:
“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” 1 John 3:8 NIV
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith...” 1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV
