The Secret to a Life Free from Anxiety for Believers

 

The Secret to a Life Free from Anxiety for Believers

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?" (1 Cor 6:19)

"We receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him" (1 John 3:22)

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thess 5:18)

"The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans" (Rom 8:26)

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit" (John 15:5)

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you" (Matt 7:7)

"If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another" (1 John 1:7)

"I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty" (John 6:35)

"We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" (2 Cor 3:18)

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (Rom 12:12)

 

Key Elements	Meaning	Examples	Application	Related Scriptures
The Indwelling Spirit	God's Spirit dwells within believers, the Lord is that Spirit, near and present with us	No need for phone calls or fax machines, God talks with us within us	When facing problems, directly seek the Holy Spirit's guidance within, rather than relying on external consultation	• "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (2 Cor 3:17) • "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things" (John 14:26)
General Prayer	Including elements of fellowship and worship, the foundation for building relationship with God	Set aside time daily to fellowship with the Lord, worship Him, enjoying communion with Him	Establish regular prayer life, focusing on relationship with God rather than just asking for things	• "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matt 6:33) • "Pray continually" (1 Thess 5:17)
Specific Petition	Specific prayers for particular needs, presented on the foundation of general prayer	In the process of fellowship with the Lord, make specific requests for particular needs like health, work, etc.	In prayer fellowship, specifically tell God our needs, but based on relationship	• "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you" (James 1:5)
With Thanksgiving	All prayers and petitions should be accompanied by thanksgiving to the Lord, giving thanks for existing grace	When sick, say: "Lord, I thank you that I still have some health... but I ask you to heal me"	Learn to first give thanks for existing grace in difficulties, then present needs	• "By prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Phil 4:6) • "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever" (Ps 136:1)
Making Requests Known to God	Making our needs known to God in fellowship and union, implying living union and communion	In prayer, have living fellowship with God, telling Him our needs within this relationship	Not just reporting needs, but sharing with God in organic union	• "Present your requests to God" (original: make known to God in fellowship) (Phil 4:6) • "Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:3)
The Triune God as Comforter	Father, Son, and Spirit as comforter, supporter, and sustainer within us, dissolving anxiety	Pray: "Lord, I'm going to walk now, please support me, sustain me, and strengthen me"	Recognize God's nature of work within us, He is our helper who can resist distress	• "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever" (John 14:16) • "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33)
Constantly Talking with the Lord	Establishing a continuous pattern of communion with the Lord, like talking with a friend	Everything can be talked over and discussed with the Lord, like face-to-face communication	Practice talking with the Lord anytime, anywhere, making prayer part of life	• "Come near to God and he will come near to you" (James 4:8) • "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth" (Ps 145:18) • "Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him" (Ps 62:5)
Drinking the Lord for Nourishment	Through fellowship with the Lord, receiving the Lord's element, producing metabolic action within	In prayer fellowship, receiving the Lord's life supply within, like drinking water for refreshment	View fellowship with the Lord as spiritual eating and drinking, regularly receiving life supply	• "Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:14) • "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me" (Gal 2:20) • "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory" (Col 3:3-4) • "The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:7) • "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet" (Rom 16:20) • "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives" (John 14:27)
Living Out Christ	Through inner metabolism, naturally manifesting Christ's life and character outwardly	No need to strive to perform, but naturally expressing Christ's character and life	Focus on inner relationship with the Lord, outer testimony will naturally flow
God's Transcendent Peace	God's peace that transcends all understanding, which is the God of peace Himself, guarding us in Christ	The God of peace patrols and guards before our hearts and minds, resisting distress and dissolving anxiety	Through prayer fellowship, let the God of peace be infused into us, keeping us calm and serene
Accepting God's Arrangement	Realizing that all our encounters, whether good or bad, are appointed by God	Having assurance about circumstances: this is God's arrangement, therefore able to worship the Lord for His arrangement	Learn to accept God's sovereignty in all circumstances and worship and thank Him for it	• "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him" (Rom 8:28) • "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear" (1 Cor 10:13)

 

Summary:

The key to believers living a life free from anxiety lies in: Establishing living fellowship and union with the Triune God. This includes:

1.      Daily Set-Apart Time: Establish regular prayer life, including general prayer (fellowship, worship) and specific petitions

2.      With Thanksgiving: Learn to first give thanks for existing grace in difficulties, then present needs

3.      Organic Union: Make needs known to God in living fellowship, enjoying communion with Him

4.      Accepting God's Arrangement: Realize all encounters are appointed by God, therefore able to worship and thank Him

5.      Experiencing God's Peace: Let the God of peace Himself be infused into us, guarding our hearts and minds

Anxiety secretly undermines the life of living Christ, but when we learn this kind of prayer life, God's peace becomes our guard, enabling us to live Christ in calm serenity.

 

*Please refer to the 2025 June Semi-annual Summer Training General Topic: Experiencing, Enjoying, and Manifesting Christ (Part 3) Chapter 1 Christ is our virtue, God’s peace, our secret, and the One who empowers us