Prayers About Faith Over Fear And Anxiety

Fear and anxiety can take a powerful hold over our children throughout their life. Studies show that children today are more anxious and depressed than ever, but it is certainly nothing new.
 
Fear is a powerful weapon the devil often uses. He knows if he can keep us in fear, he can diminish our power. Fear is a liar straight from the father of lies himself. Fear blurs our vision and muddies our path. Fear has buddies he invites to the party…more lies about who we are and what we can and can’t do.
 
Commentators point out that “do not be afraid” in some form or another is mentioned 365 times in the Bible – one for each day of the year – because fear is something we all struggle with.
 
But fear is not from God. The perfect love of God has the power to cast out fear. Yes, things in life are legitimately scary and our kids will get scared, but they do not have to fear their circumstances or what is to come.
 
It isn’t about mustering up more bravery, but instead having faith in a powerful and loving God – the One who is victorious over everything.  Faith overcomes fear because faith believes God is truthful, trustworthy, powerful and good. We won’t be as scared of obedience and outcomes if we have conviction and assurance about who God is, what He can do, and the future He has prepared for us. When our kids know God and know who they are in Christ Jesus, they can know that He is in control and there is nothing to fear.

Fear is a self-imposed prison
that will keep you
from becoming what
God intends for you to be.
–Rick Warren

Prayer

God, please cast fear and anxiety out of ___________________. Increase (his/her) faith in You and Your power over fear. When (he/she) is afraid, let (his/her) first reaction be to turn to You. Teach _______________ to have faith that will overcome (his/her) fears.
 
God, expand the faith of ______________________. Help (him/her) believe that You are good and You have (his/her) good in mind. Help (him/her) trust You over the lies of the devil.
 
God, when _______________ is fearful or anxious, draw (him/her) to You. Help (him/her) seek You and something bigger than the frightening things (his/her) eyes want to focus on. Help (him/her) tap into Your power to overcome fearful and anxious thoughts. Protect (his/her) mind. Help (him/her) continually renew (his/her) mind to focus on Your truth.
 
Give _________________ confidence and assurance to choose You; to please You through (his/her) faith. Let Your love cast out all fear, anxiety, negative thoughts, and doubt.
 
When human nature defaults to fear, help _____________________ to seek You and find comfort in You. God, I pray that You will be ___________________’s refuge in times of fear and need.
 
Should _________________ ever be overcome with fear, anxiety, or depression, please provide Godly medical teams to provide care as well as Godly counselors to speak truth and love into (his/her) life.
 
God, bring to mind Scripture and worship when __________________ is fearful. Draw (him/her) to Your Word to fill (his/her) mind with comfort and truth.
 
Continually bring to mind times when You have been faithful and been there before when (he/she) was afraid and facing uncertainty. Help _______________ to remember that You will never leave (him/her) or forsake (him/her). That you constantly pursue (him/her) and welcome (him/her) into Your loving and protective arms.
 
God, help _____________ to quickly realize and call out that fear is not from You; that fear is a liar and thief of joy. Give (him/her) a peace that surpasses understanding when facing scary situations and environments.

Download a PDF of the Prayer

Tips for Parents

Help your kids build strong habits to fight fear when it rears its ugly head. Some ideas could include:
 

• Memorizing Scripture Together. You can choose from one of the verses in this chapter. Write them out on notecards and stick them on their door or bathroom mirror. Practice them together each day until you can all recite them from memory. These verses will be tucked into their hearts and you will be so encouraged by how memorized Scripture will flow out of your kid's mouth at just the time they need it.
• Stop and Pray. When your child comes to you about something they are anxious or fearful about, get in the habit of stopping right then to pray for it with them. On the way to school or before bed at night, ask if there is something you can pray for them about that may be worrying them. Help them create of habit of praying first when they start to feel afraid. It doesn’t have to be fancy or eloquent…simply heartfelt words to God.
• Worship Music and Hymns. Create a worship and hymn playlist on Spotify (or similar service) to listen to with your kids. Sometimes when we are anxious it is hard to concentrate on reading, but with worship music and hymns, you can fill your mind with God’s truth through music. When your sweet kid comes to you with fears and you have recited Scripture and prayed, find a quiet space in the house, turn off the lights, light a candle, crank up your worship playlist, lay on the couch together and let melodies of truth wash over you. We have a worship playlist called “IMPRINT” available in the …but God app and on Spotify if you don’t know where to start.

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Scripture

Fear is not from God.
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7
 
Jesus gives peace.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27
 
Find refuge and strength in God.
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

God is with us.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4
 
God will be with you WHEREVER you go.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
 
God will not leave you or forsake you.
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. Deuteronomy 31:8
 
God will come for you and save you.
Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” Isaiah 35:4
 
God will console you.
When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. Psalm 94:19

Do not worry about the future.
Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34
 
You are God’s; He knows you by name.
But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. Isaiah 43:1

God can deliver you from your fears.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4

Nothing can separate us from God’s love.
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

God is your stronghold.
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 27:1

You can cast your anxieties on Jesus.
casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

God is on your side.
The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? Psalm 118:6

God will not leave you or forget you.
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

When afraid, put your trust in God.
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? Psalm 56:3-4

God will strengthen you, help you, hold you up.
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

Perfect love casts out fear.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 1 John 4:18

Turn your anxiety into prayer and gratitude.
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. Philippians 4:6-7

Those who trust in the Lord are safe.
The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. Proverbs 29:25
 
Blessings come from suffering for righteousness.
But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 1 Peter 3:14
 
The Lord fights for you.
You shall not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you. Deuteronomy 3:22
 
Believe over fear.
But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” Mark 5:36

​Psalm 91
 
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
    and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his pinions,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
    nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes
    and see the recompense of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place--
    the Most High, who is my refuge--
10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
    no plague come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up,
    lest you strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder;
    the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.
14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
    I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble;
    I will rescue him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.”