Garrison of Peace

How Prayer Creates a Powerful Guard Against Fear and Anxiety

Have you ever traveled to a place that felt unsafe? In those moments, the presence of a security detail or law enforcement helps to alleviate some of those fears and allows you to be more present in your event and with those around you. The presence of a guard who is active in their work helps to counter the fear or anticipation of what could go wrong.

Let’s take that same concept and transition from a location where we are traveling and instead step inside our own minds. Most of us struggle with worry and fear. Some are more intrusive thoughts than others. We may worry about our children, our family, our financial security, and the unknowns of our future. For some, these fears can even be debilitating and require counseling, medication, or intervention. 

I am grateful for these tools and resources, but God has gifted us an even great resource that is too often a last resort. If we read Philippians 4:6-7, the Spirit of God encourages that prayer creates a guard over our fears. Specifically, prayers of adoration for God’s majesty, supplication for others, and attitudes of thanksgiving can create a garrison over our minds.

This does not simply mean that we should pray and then move on. It does not diminish the other tools that we may need to deploy for anxiety and worry. It does, however, suggest that prayer is way more powerful than we may assume and should be an active first step rather than a last resort.

Lean into these principles of prayer and deploy them every day. Acknowledge God’s power in our life and over the world with adoration.  Pray for others rather than being consumed with your own fears while you carry the burdens of others. Finally, pray with thanksgiving and expect God to provide, work, and move.

Be on guard. Know that the Lord stands around you and guards your heart. Don’t trust in men but in the Word of God and the presence of the Spirit.