Things seemed to be going wrong. Everywhere. It seemed like no matter what I did I was always wishing I did not feel so much Stress and Anxiety. I was thinking about it so much that it even led to physical symptoms that were awful!
I prayed for answers and the Lord began to teach me a lot. I learned that Anxiety was actually associated with a spirit of Fear, and I learned that Stress is simply a modern day term for a spirit associated with Fear. I began to work on defeating Fear and Anxiety in my life by reading and memorizing verses to remind myself what God had to say about them. It was good. Good for me to recognize them as enemies in my life and to see what God said about them. But I still felt a bit stuck.
One day I asked God what else I should do. He whispered "you will move toward what you are thinking about." I realized that when I continued to think about Fear (And all the bad things that could happen) over and over - even if I was thinking about defeating it - Fear would continue to be in my life.
"I will move toward what I am thinking about." I realized that I did not want to move toward Fear in any way. I asked myself - "what do I want to move toward?" I wanted to move toward Peace. So I began to study what God had to say about Peace. As I read, studied, memorized, and shared what I was learning about Peace, I did, indeed, move toward Peace! Fear and Anxiety are no longer constant companions in my life. What a relief!
[Added note: God taught me this lesson before all the craziness started hitting us in 2020. Recently God reminded me that He never promised me I'd live in a peaceful country—but He promised I can always live with His peace in my heart. No matter what the external circumstances are, You, too, can have Peace in your heart."]
Here are some verses that helped me move toward Peace in my everyday life. I wrote them out in KJV and then added insight from the Greek, and the Amplified version so that I really understood what God has to say about peace.
JOHN 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Shalom I leave with you, My [own] [perfect] shalom I give unto you [I now give and bequeath] to you. Not as the world gives do I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. [stop allowing yourself to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourself to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] [Let My perfect shalom calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.] True biblical shalom refers to an inward sense of completeness or wholeness along with tranquility.
PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Be careful for nothing [Do not fret or have anxiety or be worried about anything - no man, woman or thing] But in every thing [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving [continue to] let your [definite, specific] requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God which passes all understanding, [God’s peace - that peace which reassures the heart - that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is—that peace] shall keep [stand guard, garrison and mount guard over] your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. [That peace is yours]
ISAIAH 26:3
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee.
You will keep [guard & protect] him in perfect [and constant] peace whose mind is stayed on You [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character] because he trusts in You [takes refuge in You with hope and confident expectation] [He commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.]
I THESSALONIANS 5:23
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And the very God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly [that is, set at one again with Him in peace, quietness, and rest, separating you from profane and vulgar things, making you pure and whole and undamaged through and through—consecrated to Him—set apart for His purpose]; and I pray God your whole [complete in every part] spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless [watched over, guarded to stay sound and complete and found blameless] unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. [Return of the Messiah]
I printed these out on cards, and read them often through out each day. The more the Truth of God's Word sunk into my heart, the more I could feel Peace driving out Anxiety and Fear.
If Fear and and Anxiety are a challenge for you, I recommend that you read about Fear and what to do about it so that you can move toward God's peace.
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