YOU CAN PERMANENTLY OVERCOME ANXIETY

God gave an instruction to us believers in Philippians 4:6, “do not be anxious about anything”. We are not to allow anxiety take control of us because of the damage it causes.

Anxiety distracts us from being focused on God and His promises. Without focus, it is hard to follow God as dear children (Eph 5:1).

Because anxiety distracts from God, it makes the believer vulnerable to error, false teachings, deceptions and lies (offered in pretense as God’s truth), oppressions (by demonic forces) etc, tools which Satan uses to steal, kill and destroy (Jn 10:10).

Anxiety is a work of the flesh, a negative emotion just like fear, anger, jealousy, malice, depression and the likes. It is a weight that pulls down the soul and the spirit, if we allow it to rule us (Heb 12:1).

Anxiety opens the door to other negative emotions. 

Furthermore, anxiety limits faith because it makes God and all His promises ‘seem’ less real or true to us. Just imagine what happens to us if our faith is limited, how would we have victory over Satan, sin and the world? (1 Jn 5:4-5).

To live above anxiety in this life, we must heed and obey God’s instruction in Phil 4:6, but let us learn a bit more about the subject.

What causes anxiety? Notice again that Phil 4:6 says be anxious for nothing. This suggests that everything that exist in life could be sources of anxiety.

Truly, anxiety arises as a result of the unknown aspects of everything in our lives. But God says there is no justifiable reason why anxiety should rule our lives.

Note that the anxiety being referred to here is not ‘anxiety disorder’ diagnosed by medical science for which medication may prescribed (to suppress, not remove). This is a tiny part of the anxiety God refers to here.

The anxiety God references is one that causes us to worry, become perplexed, have low energy, lose control of our will, mind, emotion, sigh helplessly, fall ill... the one that opens the door to fear, despair, panic, depression etc.

Since there are always unknowns in situations we face everyday, there will be temptations from time to time to be anxious, but we must never allow it, this is what God commands.

Phil 4:6b tells us how to overcome anxiety irrespective of its source. We overcome anxiety through the prayer of supplication.

There are different kinds of prayer. The prayer of Supplication is a believer’s humble, sincere plea/request/entreaty to God for deliverance for oneself or another.

It is different from the prayer of petition which can be made on the go. The prayer of supplication is one that you settle in and pray to God, laying everything bare before Him. It is between you and God.

It requires you to know at least one promise God has made to you in His word that He will be there for you at such times (e.g Ps 91:15). This should not be difficult.

You come to God prepared to spend time, to reason together with God, to express your trust in Him that He will deliver you because of His promises. 

You express yourself in your own words, not prayer points from some book. The entreaty from you to God should be ‘original’, not someone else’s idea.

‘Original’ because it originates from you, not fabricated or thought up by someone for you. God wants to relate with you personally. Jesus has given you that access.

Also remember that when you come to God in prayer, you are not alone. The Holy Spirit is in you and will help you with what you will say and think. Never be in a hurry.

Even on matters that you do not know exactly what to request for, the Holy Spirit will take hold together with you against that short-coming and give you utterance in unknown tongues and sometimes groanings.

It is not a luxury or an option for you to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and speak with other tongues. It is a must, if you desire to live in the fullness of the benefits of the New Testament, otherwise you may keep struggling with your limitations.

The prayer of petition is prayed until Phil 4:7 becomes fulfilled in you regarding your plea/request, when the supernatural peace of God takes hold of your spirit and your mind. This peace terminates anxiety.

It may happen in one session of prayer. If it does not and you are constrained for time because of other legitimate things to do, thank God for His audience and tell Him you will be back to continue. Make time to continue with Him as soon as possible.

The supernatural peace God gives you on the matter is independent of whether there is a change or not in your circumstance or situation yet. That is why Phil 4:7 refers to it as ‘peace that passes all understanding’.

This peace sometimes rides on the back of a word from scripture that God will give you in the process of your supplication, indicating to you that the issue has been dealt with.

It may ride on the back of a word which God gives you on the matter, which may not be a text from the scripture but if you check, it always agrees with scriptures. It may be a song He puts in your heart.

It may just come on its own without any word but it sure will be so strong in your heart (not feelings of your senses) that the confidence and joy it brings will dwarf the force of any  feeling or whatever may be the cause of the anxiety, from that time forward.

Sometime, God may send others your way who will encourage you with God’s word that relates to your supplication even though you have not told them anything about it.

It may also be through a sermon in Church, fellowship or one you come across through other media around that time.

Bottom line, once this peace comes, hold on to it tenaciously and continue in thanksgiving. The anxiety remains conquered forever and circumstances/situations would also consequently comply, except you change your mind.

This is how to effectively cast your cares on God (1 Pet 5:7) and this requires that you maintain a close relationship with God which involves a healthy prayer life and decent acquaintance with His word.

Getting to enjoy the powers of the world to come in your personal life has no ‘quick fix’ route. As believers, we are expected to have forsaken all distractions for a life-long walk with God through Jesus. This is how God intends for us to access His supernatural power.

It does not please God that any believer be like sheep without shepherd, looking for solution from one place to another for the rest of their lives. The solution is already with you, engage God the right way.

Always end your petitions with thanksgiving, for the access you have to God through Jesus and the help of the Holy Spirit which guarantees you victory at all times and knowing that as you have engaged God on the matter, He will never fail you.

God is a very present help in trouble (Ps 46:2), let Him help you, He always will.

Meditate on these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all (1 Timothy 4:15).

Pastor Gboye Omolayo is the Resident Pastor of Church@Allen (House of Prayer Int'l), Allen TX, USA. He is a prolific writer and preacher who believes the efficacy of the word of God and the potency of the works of the Holy Spirit are still available to the Church today, as they were at the Church’s infancy. He is the publisher of this blog.