Look around. We may not fear, as the psalmist did, “the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday” (Psalm 91:5-6, NIV), but we still live in a violent and sometimes frightening world. However true that may be, the Bible tells us that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love and sound judgment” (2 Timothy 1:7, CSB).
Among the best ways to prevent a spirit of fear from afflicting us is through prayer—especially prayers for safety and protection—and the Bible itself supplies many such prayers. The following are just 10 among many:
1) Psalm 9:9-10 GWT, slightly revised
You, Lord, are a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know Your name trust You, O Lord,
because You have never deserted those who seek Your help.
2) Psalm 16:1 NIV
Keep me safe, my God,
for in You I take refuge.
3) Psalm 17:8 NIV
Keep me as the apple of Your eye;
hide me in the shadow of Your wings.
4) Psalm 23:4 NIV
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5) Psalm 32:7 NIV
You are my hiding place;
You will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
6) Psalm 57:1 NIV
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy,
for in You my soul takes refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of Your wings
until the danger has passed.
7) Psalm 121:5-8 NIV, slightly revised
Lord, You watch over me—
You are the shade at my right hand;
the sun will not harm me by day,
nor the moon by night.
You will keep me from all harm—
You will watch over my life;
You will watch over my coming and going
both now and forevermore.
8) Psalm 91:1-7 NIV, slightly revised
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of You, Lord, “You are my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
Surely You will save me
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
You will cover me with Your feathers,
and under Your wings I will find refuge;
Your faithfulness will be my shield and rampart.
I will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at my side,
ten thousand at my right hand,
but it will not come near me.
9) From the Lord’s Prayer, Matthew 6:13 ESV
Lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
10) Romans 8:31, 37-39 NIV
If God is for us, who can be against us? … . We are more than conquerors through him who
loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the
present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all
creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Pray these portions of scripture as often as necessary, and you will probably find your fear easing and your strength increasing.
