11 Scriptures to Combat Anxiety

A little over a week ago, I posted a query to the Elihu’s Corner Facebook Page: “What are you Reading?” The responses were excellent! I believe daily bible reading to be a vital part of our Christian walk, so it’s of great value to hear different strategies people use to remain consistent.

A couple of readers commented that they use “Scripture writing.” I wondered if there was a site or book they used to determine what they’d write. Apparently there are many websites that post scripture writing lists for each month.

There is such great value in writing and memorizing scripture. When we write out a scripture, we consider each word as we copy. Because it slows us down, we gain a sharper focus on what the text conveys. My middle daughter saw me checking into various plans, and said, “Oooh! Can we do this together?” (Who would say no to that?)

Near the end of this month, I will post the scripture writing list we will be using and also share links to various scripture writing plans for you to consider.

Today, I’d like to give you a shorter list of 11 passages to write out and commit to memory—an Anti-Anxiety Arsenal. Satan will use our anxiety to undermine our faith. Prepare to fight back. When we commit these scriptures to our hearts, we can, like Jesus, send Satan scurrying away with the words, “It is Written.”

Write these scriptures down.

Memorize them.

Pray the promises within them whenever fear strikes. 

Sharpen your pencil, sharpen the sword of the Spirit, and prepare to engage the enemy.

The Anti-Anxiety Arsenal

God is our reliable refuge even when everything around us crumbles.

Psalm 46.1-3: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.”

Romans 8.35-39: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 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.”

Proverbs 30.5: “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”

Promises to speak in Prayer

Hebrews 13.5-6: “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?””

Philippians 4.6-7: do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

You Are Valued by God

Matthew 10:28-31: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

1 Peter 5.6-7: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

God Provides.

(I broke Matthew 6.25-34 into manageable chunks. There are so many excellent parts I couldn’t limit it to two or three verses! For tips on memorizing long passages, click here.)

Matthew 6.25-27: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

Matthew 6.28-30: “And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Matthew 6.31-34: Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Psalm 23.1-4: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads 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.

What are your favorite passages to combat anxiety?

Have you ever prayed these promises and discovered “the peace that passes all understanding?”  Please share in the comments below!