Prayer When Fear Hangs Around

I've caught myself having a worriful thought cycle more than I can count. And what do I worry about? Anything. Everything. Unfortunately.

The past few months I've been really focusing on praying as soon as a worry thought hits me. Literally, I could be worrying about something trivial and I start praying, "Oh Lord, I'm doing it again..."

We're told to "take every thought captive to obey Christ " in 2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV). This section of chapter 10 delves into spiritual warfare. Fears, or worries, are to some of us, a spiritual warfare we know all to well. And we wish we didn't know it at all. Which is why for the most part we need to take our thoughts captive when fear hangs around. I love how in verse 4 it reads, "For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds." There is nothing in us that can destroy the strongholds except God's power. This is the reason I pray every time a fear crosses my mind -- to ground myself to God's power that can destroy the strongholds.

We're also told to renew our minds in Christ in Romans 12:2. The beginning of the verse says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world..." (NIV) When I think of my fears, or worries, what are the patterns that the world has concerning fears? Do they try to pretend they don't exists? Do they try to find people who will validate their fears? Or do they seek help?

I want my pattern to relect Christ's and He went to His Father in prayer many times. I want my mind to be renewed how Christ's mind was renewed when He was on earth -- by seeking God, our Father.

I also want to "discern what is the will of God, what is good, and acceptable and perfect." How can I discern God's will if I'm not renewing my mind by seeking God? How can I tell what is good, acceptable, and perfect if I'm not renewing my mind by seeking God? I can't. I need God.

Fears are grounded in lies. They are full of "what ifs?" Fears are chaotic.

And God is a God of order and of truth.