Do you ever feel like Satan is beating you down with negative thoughts, temptations, trials, struggles, fears?
I do. Daily. I regularly wake up with anxiety already pressing down on me, trying to worm its way into my mind. Or more accurately, anxiety has been living in my mind, and every morning before I even get out of bed, it tries to burst its way out, to explode all over me and paralyze me with fear. I struggle nearly daily with trying to keep it in check, to keep it from running my life. I've had enough unpleasant things happen in life to make me always anxious for when the next bad moment happens, always waiting for the next shoe to drop, even when things are going okay. And I had a horrible panic attack once, and I think I live in great fear that I'll lose control over my emotions again someday. The anxiety can be so bad sometimes that even my own heartbeat can scare me.
Can anyone else understand?
I want you to know that when I talk about emotional battles and spiritual warfare, I know what I am talking about. I've been there before, over and over again. Constantly struggling, feeling rarely successful. But I keep trying. I keep battling. I keep learning. And if the only good that comes out of it is that I can share what I learn with you, helping others who struggle too, then it almost makes it worth it. What I share with you isn't just simplistic "pat answers" or lame Christian platitudes, a bandage to slap on your problems to make them all better. I'm sharing with you the painful, hard-fought-for, hard-won truths I've learned through my many difficult struggles.
Anyway, I learned something awhile ago that I had never known before in my decades of being a Christian. You know the passage about the armor of God, right? Well, the one offensive weapon we have to battle evil (besides prayer) is the "sword of the Spirit," the Word of God. I used to think it meant that it was good for us to know God's Word, to hide it in our hearts.
But that's not what it means.
Tony Evans, in his sermon Sword of the Spirit, says that according to the concordance, the actual meaning of the "Word of God" in this verse (Ephesians 6:17) doesn't have to do with the whole Bible, the written Word of God. It's not just about reading it or knowing it. It's about the spoken word, about speaking the Word of God, about using Scripture out-loud to battle the lies of the enemy.
The power of this weapon is in speaking it, not just knowing about it or reading it or having a Bible on your shelf. It's vocalizing specific verses about your particular struggle or temptation or fear or whatever ... to defeat the enemy and make him flee.
Jesus did this when Satan was trying to tempt Him in the wilderness.
Three times Satan tried to offer Jesus something, to get Jesus to do things Satan's way.
And three times Jesus answered with "It is written ..." followed by Scripture that spoke to that temptation.
If Jesus needed to do this, what makes us think we don't have to? If Jesus knew how real the power of speaking God's Word is, why do we think it's unnecessary or simply a formality? If God's Word is truth and it's the truth that sets us free, why do we keep trying to do battle in our own strength and wisdom and resources? How many of us struggle needlessly because we refuse to believe what God said about His own Word?
Jesus knew the power of knowing God's Word and speaking God's Word. If we did too, I think we'd have a lot more success when battling the enemy.
It's time to start memorizing Scripture - the verses that speak to your particular struggles and trials and temptations and fears. Or write them down on notecards to take with you wherever you go. And then when the attacks come, don't just try to talk yourself out of them, out of the temptation or the fear or the depression or the anger or whatever. Don't turn to temporary distractions. Don't try worldly methods. Don't try to talk yourself into a better attitude.
Start with "It is written ..." And quote a verse. And watch the Sword of the Spirit do what nothing else can!
Some verses to use after "It is written ..."
When you face trials of various kinds, when you feel like Satan is throwing his fiery darts at you - darts of fear, despair, temptation, doubts, discouragement, etc. - say "It is written ..." followed by a Bible verse that fits. Or turn the verse into a prayer. And let God's Word help you in the battle.
Go to God's Word, take it up as the sword it is, and start swinging!
(Make the verses personal for you. If it says "Your hope is in the Lord," say "My hope is in the Lord." Apply God's Words to you personally and speak it out loud. Or maybe pray verses over each person on your prayer list. If speaking the Word is the best offensive weapon we have against evil - along with prayer - then we need to learn to use it. How different might our lives and struggles be if we went right to God's Word and God's power first!)
Bible verses for spiritual warfare:
2 Timothy 1:7: "For God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (KJV)
1 Peter 5:6: "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time."
1 Peter 5:7: "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
Psalm 145:18: "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth."
Isaiah 41:10: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Psalm 34:17-18: "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Deuteronomy 31:8: "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
Romans 8:38-39: "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Psalm 55:16-17: "But I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning, and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice."
John 10:10: "The thief [Satan] comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
Romans 10:13: "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Colossians 1:13-14: "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
Jeremiah 29:11: "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"
Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."
Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God.” (My all-time favorite)
Ephesians 6:10-12: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
1 Peter 5:8-9: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith …”
James 4:7-8: "Submit yourself, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you."
2 Corinthians 10:3-4: “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”
2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV): [We are] Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (I just "discovered" this verse and realized how applicable it is, the "imaginations" part. My anxieties often center on my "imaginations" of all that might go wrong. This is a great verse to help me remember to get rid of the imaginations and to replace them with what I know to be true right now.)
Philippians 4:13: “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep in perfect peace he whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
2 Corinthians 4:8-9: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned, struck down, but not destroyed.”
Psalm 121:1-2: “I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Psalm 40:1-2: “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.”
Psalm 62:5: “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.”
Isaiah 40:31: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Colossians 3:23-24: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Jesus you are serving.”
Philippians 3:13: “… Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead. I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Hebrews 12:1: Therefore, “... let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
1 John 4:4: "Greater is he who is in me than he who is in the world."
2 Kings 6:16: "Don't be afraid ... Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
Romans 15:13: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Psalm 33:18: "But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those who hope in his unfailing love."
Psalm 33:20-21: "We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name."
Psalm 18:3: "I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies."
Psalm 9:9-10: "The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who hope in your name will trust in you, for you, O Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you."
James 1:5: "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."
Romans 8:1: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus..."
Romans 8:2: "... because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."
1 Corinthians 10:13: "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
Philippians 1:6: "... being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
1 Corinthians 3:16: "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?"
Ephesians 3:12: "In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence."
1 Corinthians 13:4-8: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."
Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
Colossians 3:2: "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."
Philippians 4:6-7: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."
Proverbs 16:3: "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."
Hebrews 11:1: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
2 Corinthians 5:7: "We live by faith, not by sight."
Joshua 24:15: "... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."
1 Corinthians 10:31: "... whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
Philippians 4:19: "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."
Numbers 11:23: "The Lord answered Moses, 'Is the Lord's arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you.'"
1 Timothy 6:6: "But godliness with contentment is great gain."
1 Timothy 6:10: "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils."
Luke 16:13: "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."
Matthew 6:19-21: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
2 Corinthians 12:9: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
Psalm 91:1-2, 5-7: "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.' ... You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you."
Psalm 91:9-12: "If you make the Most High your dwelling - even the Lord, who is my refuge - then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."
Proverbs 30:5: "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him."
Psalm 55:22: "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall."
Psalm 19:1: "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands."
2 Chronicles 16:9: "For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him."
Psalm 23: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores me soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (A must-memorize one!)
Psalm 3:3: "But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head."
James 4:10: "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."
1 John 5:3: "This is love for God: to obey his commands."
Micah 6:8: "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
Matthew 6:14: "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you."
Matthew 7:3,5: "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ... You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
Matthew 7:7: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
Matthew 7:6: "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces."
2 Timothy 4:3-5: "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist ..."
2 Timothy 4:18: "The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen."
Proverbs 18:10: "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe."
Psalm 27:1: "The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?"
Psalm 27:13-14: "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."
Psalm 107:1: "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."
Psalm 107:13-14: "Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains."
Lamentations 3:22-24: "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.'"
Lamentations 3:25-26: "The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."
Matthew 6:25-26: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"
Matthew 6:27: "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"
Matthew 6:33-34: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Psalm 139:1,5,7-10: "O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.... You hem me in - behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.... Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast."
Psalm 139:13-14: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful..."
Psalm 139:23-24: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
Psalm 118:1: "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."
Psalm 118:5-6: "In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he answered by setting me free. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? ...
Psalm 118:5,13-14: "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.... I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."
From Exodus 20: "I am the Lord your God ... You shall have no other gods before me.... You shall not bow down to [idols] or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God ... You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.... Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.... Honor your father and your mother ... You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor's house ... or anything that belongs to your neighbor."
Matthew 22:37-39: "Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Psalm 118:24: "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (I've found it helpful, before I even open my eyes in the morning, to say "Thank you, Lord, for another day. This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it." And then I might quote the Lord's prayer or Psalm 23. It helps to bring my anxiety under control right off the bat.)
Matthew 6:9-13 (I am going to share it as I memorized it, even if it doesn't exactly fit a particular translation): "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, now and forever. Amen."
Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."
Matthew 5:3-10: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 5:11-12: "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven ..."
Psalm 91 (I'd love to memorize this whole Psalm next): "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.' Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you make the Most High your dwelling - even the Lord, who is my refuge - then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up with their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lions and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 'Because he loves me,' says the Lord, 'I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.'"
Matthew 11:28: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
Isaiah 40:29: "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."
John 3:16 (the whole Gospel in one verse): "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Psalm 116:1-9: “I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: ‘O Lord, save me!’ The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The Lord protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.”
Psalm 15: “Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk in blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and who has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usary and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.”
Habakkuk 2:20: “But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.”
Psalm 1: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yield its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Not so with the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”
Psalm 3:3-6,8: “But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. To the Lord I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. I lie down and sleep; I wake again because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side…. From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.”
Psalm 27: “The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord. Hear my voice when I call, O Lord; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ You face, Lord, I will seek. Do not hide your face from me, do not turn away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior. Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. Teach me your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence. I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
From Psalm 18: “I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears…. He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters…. The Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me … To the faithful, you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd. You save the humble and bring low those whose eyes are haughty. You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. As or God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle… You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me…”
And lastly, five verses that I think sum up the Christian's heart-cry when we are so broken down that we have no words anymore. To me, all the pain boils down to these, the most real, raw, heartbroken prayers we could pray:
Matthew 26:39,42: "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.... My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done"
Job 13:15: "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him."
Job 1:21: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised."
John 6:68-69: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."
Mark 9:24: "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
Maybe you want to compile a list of your own verses, ones that fit your struggle better. Here are some links to look through, about "war rooms" and specific Bible verses. (Or just read through the Psalms. They are loaded with great verses.) Find you own "battle verses," write them down, post them on your wall, memorize them, and repeat them aloud when you need them.
my post: Praying Scripture: For Anxiety
100 Bible verses about ...
Anxiety
Fear
Doubt
Unhappiness
Despair
You can also do an online search. Just type in something like "Bible verses about ____" and fill in the blank with your own issue or struggle.
As Tony Evans says in this sermon on the "Sword of the Spirit": If we wonder why Satan keeps coming at us, it might be because he knows we'll never say "It is written ..."
Fear
Doubt
Unhappiness
Despair
You can also do an online search. Just type in something like "Bible verses about ____" and fill in the blank with your own issue or struggle.
As Tony Evans says in this sermon on the "Sword of the Spirit": If we wonder why Satan keeps coming at us, it might be because he knows we'll never say "It is written ..."
[And if you are dealing with anxiety, discouragement, and sinful strongholds in your life, may I recommend some really good books from Neil T. Anderson (some have a coauthor): Victory Over The Darkness, Freedom From Fear, and The Bondage Breaker. They are loaded with Scripture and biblical truth. Just a couple weeks ago, I was beginning to feel anxiety rise up inside of me again. And so I checked these out from our church library. Reading the Scriptural truths in these books calmed my mind and filled me with hope. I ordered my own copies online shortly after so that I could go back to them again and again.]
