10 Power Prayers for When You Feel Fearful
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Fear has a grip on so many people in our world. It paralyzes and prompts us to do things we otherwise would never do. Politics, health problems, relationship struggles, personal battles, mental health, finances, and the fear of the future give us much to feel fearful about. Even the most spiritual people will face this battle of fighting fear. But there is hope!
Over the years I have faced my own battles with fear that have led me to learn both the right ways and the wrong ways to not only combat fear but beat it. Fear isn’t something God approves of. In fact, we find hundreds of references in the Bible that tell us not to fear. But the only way we can truly have faith that overrides fear is to learn how to use God’s powerful Word as our weapon of defense.
Today, I want to offer you 10 prayers to pray that come straight out of the Bible for when you feel fearful. I will share with you the verse and a prayer you can pray in times of fear or distress.
1. “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you” - Psalm 56:3
As a little girl, I nightly dealt with nightmares. My mother taught me to repeat this verse as a prayer over and over in the dark moments when I felt fear creeping in. I would repeat this prayer in my heart and mind and sometimes even out loud. I still occasionally find myself uttering this prayer to God. Today, I want to teach it to you. It is simple, yet has made a profound impact on winning the battle with fear.
Prayer
Dear God,
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Help me remember to trust you right now. In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Amaury Gutierrez
2. “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” - Psalm 73:26
This verse first spoke to my heart when my dad faced a battle with cancer. I was struggling to understand why God would allow such a terrible disease to take such a good person. But through this verse that I turned into a personal prayer, God reminded me that even when our health is compromised, God is not. His power and strength are able to carry us through the most dreaded of times.
Prayer
Dear God,
My flesh (or someone else’s flesh) and my heart (or someone else’s heart) may fail, but you, God, are the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Help me remember you will carry me through even this. In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
3. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” - Joshua 1:9
Have you ever had to change jobs or towns or schools? Going somewhere new is hard. Fear is sure to follow. But this prayer in Joshua gives us a fresh way to talk to God about our fears.
Prayer
Dear God,
You have told me to be strong and courageous. To no be frightened or dismayed because you are with me wherever I go. Help me to remember you are with me right now. In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
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4. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” - Isaiah 41:10
Have you ever gone through something when you just needed someone to hold your hand? If you had someone near, you would be ok. But walking through it alone made it almost impossible to function. This verse reminds us that God holds us up with His right hand and gives us strength to get through anything.
Prayer
Dear God
I will fear not because I know you are with me. I will not be dismayed because you are my God. You will strengthen me and help me. You will uphold me with your righteous right hand. In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
5. “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” - 2 Timothy 1:7
This was my grandmother’s favorite verse, and I have grown to love it too. When fear comes, this is a key to helping us remember fear does not originate from God. What God does offer is power, love and self-control. Try praying this one out loud in moments of great fear.
Prayer
Dear God,
You have not given me the spirit of fear, but of power and love, and self-control. Remind me to rest in your power, love, and self-control that you offer me. In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
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6. “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” - Romans 8:38-39
Fear can sometimes make us feel like God is far away, but this verse reminds us that nothing can separate from God or His love.
Prayer
Dear God,
I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Help me to remember this truth when I feel far away from you God. In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
7. “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears” - Psalm 34:4
There is a popular worship song out that has these lyrics. It’s a call to remember that God is able to answer our prayers – even our most fearful ones. When you start to feel fear rising, try proclaiming this declaration over your fears.
Prayer
Dear God,
I sought you and you answered me and you delivered me from all my fears. Help me in the midst of my greatest fears to remember to seek you first. In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Marjan Apostolovic
8. “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” - Psalm 23:4
Psalm 23 is one of the most quoted and loved passages in the Bible, perhaps because there is great comfort to be found in it when we are afraid. Verse 4 particularly gives us great comfort when life is terrifying.
Prayer
Dear God,
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. Help me to rest in your comfort when I am afraid. In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
9. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” - Psalm 46:1
I don’t know if there is any scarier place to be than faced with trouble. No matter what kind it is, no one enjoys having problems. This verse gives us sweet hope that God is both present and a place we can find refuge when things or people in life are not how they should be.
Prayer
Dear God,
You are my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Help me run to you and not to someone else when I am in trouble. In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
10. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” - Philippians 4:6
Anxiety is a common word in our culture. It is used more now than it has ever been used before. Thousands of people struggle with fear and anxiety daily. This verse gives a simple yet profound instruction on how to deal with this common problem. Praying this verse is sure to give a sincere heart some hope and help in a difficult time of fear.
Prayer
Dear God,
I hear you say be anxious for nothing. And I am going to try to do that. Instead of being anxious, I choose to pray and thank you for all you are to me. I give my needs and requests to you knowing that you hear me. Help me when I begin to feel anxiety rising up and remind me to use prayer and gratitude as a weapon of defense, trusting you can help me. In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
There is hope to overcome your greatest fears, and God’s Word is your most powerful weapon against it. Which prayer resonated with you the most? Which one will you cling to in this season of life? Choose one and work on praying it to God over and over again until your heart believes it.
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