Killing Anxiety

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Anxiety doesn’t just whisper; it coils. Paul knew that feeling all too well, writing from house arrest with chains on his wrists and a biased court ahead. Yet he tells us to be anxious for nothing—and then shows how that’s possible. We walk through his simple, demanding pattern: stop the habit of worry and start the habit of prayer with thanksgiving, a practice that reorients our hearts toward God in every circumstance.

We break down three facets of prayer that train the soul. There’s prayer as ongoing conversation with the Father through Christ, supplication when pressure peaks, and specific requests that name real needs without pretense. Woven through it all is gratitude—not a naive thankfulness for pain, but a steady thanks for God’s oversight, timing, and purpose. That shift keeps our prayers from becoming spiritualized complaints and aligns our desires with God’s will. Along the way, we share stories, images, and everyday examples—from jungle anacondas to a child helping push a heavy desk—that make the point unforgettable: control is an illusion, dependence is freedom.

The promise at the center is audacious and tender: the peace of God, sourced in God’s own character, will stand guard over your heart and mind. This isn’t manufactured calm or positive thinking; it surpasses understanding and arrives exactly when you need it, sometimes one moment at a time. If you’re ready to trade the chokehold of worry for the watchful care of divine peace, this conversation is your roadmap—clear steps, honest guidance, and a hope that holds. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs courage today, and leave a review to tell us how you’re practicing prayer with thanksgiving this week.

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Stephen's latest book, The Disciples Prayer, is available now. https://www.wisdomonline.org/store/view/the-disciples-prayer-hardback