Having a quiet heart and mind is crucial for a Christian. It is crucial to building our relationship with God and learning to live according to His ways.

“Quiet” means still and free from disturbance or noise. It means tranquil and peaceful, free from turmoil, strife, or alarm.

Quietness enables us to hear God when He speaks to us in a still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12). It enables us to focus on God’s Word so we can memorize it and keep it in our heart. Then we can experience its supernatural life and healing properties (Proverbs 4:20-23).

Our enemy, Satan, does not want us to have a quiet heart and mind. He uses many tools to destroy quietness. One of his most common and successful tools is anxiety.

Anxiety goes beyond having a legitimate concern or care about people and things that are important in your life. Anxiety allows your mind to be disturbed or troubled regarding some uncertain event. It can manifest as worry or fear.

Anxiety is like thorns that choke the seed of God’s Word out of your heart and make it unfruitful (Mark 4:7,18-19).

God says, “Do not be anxious about anything” (Philippians 4:6 NIV).

In the Bible, God gives us clear directions how to defeat anxiety. He gives every Christian the Holy Spirit as a supernatural Helper. The Holy Spirit lives in us to teach us and guide us. As we submit to His leadership, He will empower us to follow God’s directions. He will quiet our heart and mind.

The two passages below will help us defeat anxiety.

Philippians 4:6-8
“Be anxious for nothing, 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 comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”

1 Peter 5:5-7
“…God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”

Anxiety is a sin. If we hold onto it, we are being prideful. We don’t acknowledge that we need God’s help. We are not trusting Him.

We humble ourselves when we acknowledge that we need God’s help and cast all our cares on Him. We show God we trust Him when we pray with thanksgiving for the people, situations, and needs that concern us.

Only God knows and can change peoples’ hearts. Only God can intervene in situations beyond our control. Only God can meet all our needs.

God cares for us. When we humble ourselves, He will give us grace and “exalt [us] at the proper time”.

Here are steps you can take to defeat anxiety:

1. Humble yourself before God. Tell Him that you have been anxious, that you have sinned. Ask Him to forgive you and to help you trust Him (See 1 John 1:9). Here’s a sample prayer:

“Dear Father, I confess that I have been anxious and worried. I have sinned by not trusting You. Please forgive me and help me truly give You all my concerns. Thank You for helping me.”

2. Ask God to help you identify all the people or things that are causing you anxiety. Wait quietly, and listen for His still small voice. Write down whatever you feel He is saying. Sample prayer:

“Dear Father, please show me every person, situation, and need that I have been anxious about.”

3. One by one, give God all your concerns and thank Him for working in each person, situation, and need. It may help to see yourself putting them in a big basket and giving the basket to God. Sample prayer:

“Dear Father, with You all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). Nothing is too difficult for You (Jeremiah 32:17). You know people’s hearts and only You can change their heart. You know how to turn situations around and bring good out of them (Romans 8:28). You already know what we need and have a plan how to help us (Matthew 6:8).

I give you (person or persons). I give you (situations). I give you all my needs (name them). Thank You for Your grace to work in each one.”

Whenever you feel anxious, take time to repeat step 3. And pay attention to what you are thinking. Find some additional Scriptures to encourage yourself in each area that concerns you. You will experience greater quietness and peace in your heart and mind.