5 Empowering Prayers to Overcome Fear
- Vivian Bricker Contributing Writer
- Updated Jun 14, 2024
Fear is all encompassing if we allow it to be. Within a relatively short amount of time, fear can control our entire lives. By allowing fear to control our lives, our quality of life will be ruined by whatever is causing us to be afraid. When this happens, we have made fear our “god.” Instead of making fear the “god” of our lives, we have to ensure we keep God as the true God of our lives.
Once we have made God the true God of our life, then we can start tackling fear. God says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). As God tells us in this passage of Isaiah, we don't need to fear because He is with us. He is our God, and He will help us, strengthen us, and uphold us with His righteous hand.
By knowing this truth, we can rest in the promise of His protection, love, and grace. There is nothing for us to fear because God is with us. Where God is present, fear disappears.
We can overcome fear today by turning to the Lord in prayer. If you are unsure of what to pray, follow along with the prayers below. They will equip you with what your heart needs in this fearful time.
1. A Prayer for a Fearless Heart
Overcoming fear will take time, but the first step is turning to God in prayer. As you are praying to God, you need to pray for a fearless heart. A fearless heart can be yours as you lean more on God and trust Him with your life. No longer do you have to possess a heart of fear. There can be freedom from fear by turning to God in prayer.
If we keep turning to a heart of fear, it will impair our lives. Instead of living a life of fear, we can live a life of freedom. We don't need to be held in the prison of fear anymore. Jesus died in order for us to have an abundant life and there is no room for fear within this abundant life (John 10:10).
“Dear Jesus, please bless me with a fearless heart. Right now, I feel anything but fearless. I know that You are always with me and that your love surrounds me every day. Help me to be fearless and to never doubt you, Lord. I trust You, Amen.”
2. A Prayer for a Life Focused on God
The more we focus on our fears, the less we will focus on God. This is something that we have to change if we are going to help ourselves walk away from fear. As Christians, there is no reason to fear because God is always on our side. He will demolish evil and every force that sets itself above Him.
With this knowledge, we need to do all we can to focus on God. As we keep focusing on God, His influence will become bigger in our lives. The fear will shrink smaller and smaller until it is finally gone. This will be a beautiful day, but we have to keep cultivating our focus on God. We can do this by continuing to focus on God instead of our fears every day of our lives.
“Dear God, my fears are overpowering some days. They have become controlling, and I am always in a state of fear. Please God, help me to focus on You instead of my fears. The more I look to You, the smaller my fears will become. Please help me to keep my focus on You even when my fears become too much. Thank You, God. Amen.”
3. A Prayer for Reliance in God Rather Than Ourselves
When we allow fear to control our lives, we are not depending on God. Instead, we are depending on ourselves. This is dangerous as it will lead to our fears growing stronger. The cure for our fears is not found in ourselves. Rather, the cure for our fears is found in reliance on God.
When you are having trouble relying on God, remind yourself of all the times He has brought you deliverance in the past. God is faithful, and He has never failed you before, and He won't start now. Go to Him in prayer and truly rely on Him.
“Dear God, I tend to try to take control of my own problems and manipulate them. Help me to stop doing this as I know it is not good. Please God, help me to rely on You rather than myself. On my own accord, I cannot dismantle my fears. I need You, God. In Your Son’s Name, I pray, Amen.”
4. A Prayer for Handing Fears Over to God
The Bible tells us to cast all of our anxieties on God because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). Within the confines of our anxieties also lies our fears. Since this is true, we can hand over our fears to God too. Any worries, concerns, or fears can become anxiety, which is why we need to give them to God. Nothing is too much for Him.
Depending on how many fears you have, you might want to write them down in a journal. By writing them down in a journal, it can help keep a record of the fears. Once one of your fears has been eradicated, you can mark it off and record how Jesus helped you with your fear. With time, you will slowly see each fear get crossed off.
“Dear Jesus, please help me to hand all of my fears over to You. These fears are too much for me, and I cannot manage them. Some days, I am too afraid to leave my house. Please help me to hand over each fear to You and to trust you with my fear. I trust that You will help me with my fears and bless me with freedom. In Your Name, I pray, Amen.”
5. A Prayer to Rest in God’s Protection
Fear springs into our hearts when we feel unsafe. Anytime we feel we are in danger, our fears will skyrocket and our sense of safety will go down. Whenever we are feeling this way, we need to turn to God. He will give us protection and cover us with His wings as the Bible tells us, “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart” (Psalm 91:4).
Never doubt God’s protection. The more you trust in Him, His protection will become more apparent to your life. Rest in God’s protection and allow His comfort to surround you. God desires for you to feel safe at all times. He is always with you and you can trust in His protection, care, and love.
“Dear God, I feel restless with my fears. I feel like I have to do something to eradicate them. Please help me to rest in your protection. You are my good, good Father and I know I can trust in You. Surround me with Your everlasting protection and love. I still doubt at times because of my own struggles, but please help me to rest in your protection. I praise You, God. Amen.”
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Vivian Bricker obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Ministry, followed by a Master of Arts with an emphasis in theology. She loves all things theology, mission work, and helping others learn about Jesus. Find more of her content at Cultivate: https://cultivatechristianity.wordpress.com/.