Biblical verses to help you banish fear

Dolors Massot | 


In good times and in bad, Scripture is an unfailing source of courage and peace. 

Fear is a normal feeling that can be helpful when it keeps us away from real danger or harm. Often we feel afraid, however, in the face of situations that are simply unknown, or of things we think might be dangerous, even though our fear is unfounded. Fear can even be an obstacle to happiness if it keeps us from doing things that, though challenging, would bring us great benefits.

If we’re trying to overcome fear, we can turn to the Bible, which has inspiring passages that can remind us to trust God and have greater courage in the face of unhelpful or unhealthy fear. Here are some favorite passages we’ve selected.

Philippians 4:6-7

Do not worry about anything, 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 understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 46:1-3
God’s Defense of His City and People
 God is our refuge and strength,
 a very present help in trouble.

 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,

  though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
  though its waters roar and foam,
  though the mountains tremble with its tumult.

Deuteronomy 31:8

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

Psalm 27:1-3

Triumphant Song of Confidence

Of David.

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;

    whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold[a] of my life;

    of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When evildoers assail me

    to devour my flesh—

my adversaries and foes—

    they shall stumble and fall.

3 Though an army encamp against me,

    my heart shall not fear;

though war rise up against me,

    yet I will be confident.

Making Decisions & Choices According to the Will of God

Prayer for decision making

Oh Heavenly Father,

I face a decision,

and I don’t know what to do.

I am not at peace.

Bring me your peace,

The peace of your Spirit,

The peace of God.

First of all calm me,

Let me know again,

That you are in control, of all things.

Give me discernment,

Give me clarity,

To see the things as, you see them.

Let not circumstances, or my insecurity,

Get in the way, of your will.

Make it so that I don’t, Even have to decide.

Only receive your word, and obey.

In Imitation of Christ,

your beloved Son,

my savior and Lord.

Let your will be done,

In this decision,

And in my Life.

In Jesus name.

Amen

St. Ignatius’s Rule: Never make a life decision in a time of affective or spiritual desolation.

Prayer for Emotional Healing

Loving Father, I come before you with faith in your promise that whatever
I ask for in your name you will grant to me if it is for the good of my soul
and in accordance with your Divine Will.

I come trusting in your great love for me and believing
that only you know what is best for me.
I come to you now to ask that you enter my heart
and heal all my wounded emotions.

You know me better than I know myself.
Bring your healing love into every corner of my heart and release
all the buried negative emotions inside that have not been resolved
and continue to cause me pain and anguish.

Remove all my unhealed hurts and painful memories that
block the flow of your graces, robbing me of your peace, love and joy.
Heal all feeling of sadness, loneliness, fear and anxiety.
Heal all guilt, despair, feelings of betrayal and rejection.
Heal all feelings of anger, hatred, resentment and bitterness.

Bring your healing love to all my emotions that have caused me feelings
of hopelessness, discouragement, helplessness and despair.
Grant me the grace to forgive all those who caused these negative emotions
and likewise to be forgiven by those to whom I have done the same harm.

And then, dear Father, after I have been healed may I be a witness of your
healing power and bring glory, honor and praise to you.

This I pray in Jesus’ name through Mary and all the saints.

Amen.

“Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit, and raises man to Heaven”  –Saint Ephraem of Syria

Prayer to St Jude for help in Trials

To be said in great affliction, or when one seems to be deprived of all visible help, and for cases despaired of. Most holy apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the name of the traitor who delivered thy beloved Master

into the hands of His enemies has caused thee to be forgotten by many, but the Church honors and invokes thee universally as the patron of hopeless cases — of things despaired of. Pray for me who am so miserable; make use, I implore thee, of that particular privilege accorded to thee,

to bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolations and succor of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations and sufferings, particularly. . . (here make your request) and that I may bless God with thee and all the elect throughout eternity.

I promise thee, O blessed Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor, and I will never cease to honor thee as my special and powerful patron and to do all in my power to encourage devotion to thee. Amen.

St Jude, pray for us. And for all who invoke thy aid.

Prayer to St. Rose as your Patron Saint

Saint Rose, whom I have chosen as my special patron, pray for me that I, too, may one day glorify the Blessed Trinity in heaven. Obtain for me your lively faith, that I may consider all persons, things, and events in the light of almighty God. Pray, that I may be generous in making sacrifices of temporal things to promote my eternal interests, as you so wisely did.

Set me on fire with a love for Jesus, that I may thirst for His sacraments and burn with zeal for the spread of His kingdom. By your powerful intercession, help me in the performance of my duties to God, myself and all the world. 

Win for me the virtue of purity and a great confidence in the Blessed Virgin. Protect me this day, and every day of my life. Keep me from mortal sin. Obtain for me the grace of a happy death. Amen 

Prayer to St. Rose of Lima

Admirable Saint Rose, you were truly a sweet flower blooming on a rugged soil; you were indeed a rose among thorns, bearing with meekness and patience the stings of envious tongues, and preserving perfect purity and modesty amid the alluring blandishments of a deceitful world. To the sufferings inflicted on you by others you added the voluntary tortures of fasting and watching, of the discipline, of the crown of thorns and of the hair shirt, to subdue the flesh and to make yourself like to your heavenly Spouse. By the merits which you have thus gained with your divine Bridegroom, obtain for me the grace to bear my afflictions with patience, to remain pure and modest, to be meek and humble, to be faithful to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, and so to mortify my passions that I may be ever more pleasing and acceptable in the sight of my dear Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, Who liveth and reigneth world without end. Amen.  

(This prayer may be said for nine consecutive days as a Novena)

Prayer for the United States of America by Archbishop Viganò

Almighty and Eternal God, King of Kings and Lord of Lords: graciously turn your gaze to us who invoke You with confidence.

Bless us, citizens of the United States of America; grant peace and prosperity to our Nation; illuminate those who govern us so that they may commit themselves to the common good, in respect for Your holy Law.

Protect those who, defending the inviolable principles of the Natural Law and Your Commandments, must face the repeated assaults of the Enemy of the human race.

Keep in the hearts of Your children courage for the truth, love for virtue and perseverance in the midst of trials.

Make our families grow in the example that Our Lord has given us, together with His Most Holy Mother and Saint Joseph in the home of Nazareth; give to our fathers and mothers the gift of Strength, to educate wisely the children with which you have blessed them.

Give courage to those who, in spiritual combat, fight the good fight as soldiers of Christ against the furious forces of the children of darkness.

Keep each one of us, O Lord, in your Most Sacred Heart, and above all He whom Your Providence has placed at the head of our Nation.

Bless the President of the United States of America, so that aware of his responsibility and his duties, he may be a knight of justice, a defender of the oppressed, a firm bulwark against Your enemies, and a proud supporter of the children of light.

                    

Place the United States of America and the whole world under the mantle of the Queen of Victories, our Unconquered Leader in battle, the Immaculate Conception. It is thanks to her, and through your Mercy, that the hymn of praise rises to you, O Lord, from the children whom you have redeemed in the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

                                       

Mother's Prayer to Saint Rose of Lima

Saint Rose, devout Virgin, fragrant rose in the garden of God, sweetly blooming amid the thorns of distressing tribulation and severe mortification, white as snow in the immaculate innocence of your heart, glowing in the love of God that consumed you. Your devotedness to your parents was so great that you labored night and day to relieve their poverty, and most tenderly cared for them in their sickness. 

Most grateful, most humble daughter, have pity on me and my children. Teach me, by conduct truly Christian, to deserve the warmhearted gratitude of my children. Teach my children to appreciate my love and the numerous sacrifices that I cheerfully make for their sake; teach them to repay the same by filial love and obedience, and chiefly by fervent prayers for me. Bless me and my entire family. May our hearts be intimately united even in adversity. Let us not place our happiness in temporal prosperity, but rather in the hope of a future, eternal blessedness. Pray, likewise, O sainted patroness of America, for all Christian mothers in particular, that Christian life and sentiments may everywhere be awakened among them. May these sentiments spread far and wide, uniting all families into the one great family of God, in which Jesus Christ may live and rule with God the Father and the Holy Ghost. Amen.

                          
Saint Rose of Lima (1586-1617), the first saint of the Americas, took the habit of the Third Order of Saint Dominic and remained in the world, supporting her parents and practicing extraordinary penances. Whenever possible, she retired for prayer to a little grotto which she had built. Our Lord revealed Himself to her frequently.

Prayer to ask Our Lady's Blessing

To bless me, O Daughter of the Eternal Father, and to obtain for me the grace never to offend my God by my thoughts. Bless me, O Mother of the Eternal Son, and pray that I may never offend my God by my words. Bless me, O Spouse of the Eternal Spirit, and by thy intercession obtain for me that I may never offend my God by my actions or omissions. Bless me, .O Sanctuary of the Most Holy Trinity! Pray for me that I may love and serve my God with my whole heart and soul, and that I may enjoy Him forever hereafter. O Mary, receive me as thy child for the sake of Jesus, who confided me to thy care in his agony on the cross. Amen." Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation. 

(Indulgence: 300 days)

Ejaculations most powerful and efficacious
when tempted by impure thoughts.


"Mother most pure, pray for me."
"Mother most chaste, pray for me."
"Mother inviolate, pray for me."

"Mother undefiled, pray for me."

A Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mother of God

O   Jesus Christ, Son of the divine bounty of God, be my aid.

O   Blessed Virgin, listen to me.

O   Mother of the Saviour of the world, assist me.

O   Mother of God, Lady of Heaven, sweetly beloved Queen and advocate of all human lineage, pray for me.

Pray come, amiable and mild Lady of the Angels, Flower of the Patriarchs, Desire of Prophets, Treasure of the Apostles, Mother of Confessors, Ornament of Virgins, O Sweet and Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for me.

O   Lady, who is heard above the company of the Angels, preserve me from all evils, past, present and to come. Do no abandon me this day, nor at the dreadful hour when my soul shall be separated from my body. Petition for me, O sweet and Blessed Virgin Mary, at the hour of death and judgment, that my soul may come to Paradise, before your Son Jesus , and that I may be worthy to see His grace and every lasting glory with you. Amen

O   Gate of Paradise, Palace of Jesus Christ, Star of the Sea, Consolation of Mankind, beginning without end, take pity on me.

O   Sweet and Blessed Virgin Mary, daughter of God the Father, Mother of Jesus Christ, the Spouse of the holy Ghost: O Gate of Heaven, Door of the Firmament, Hope of Christians, Fountain of Pity, Safeguard of Peace, Glory of Virgins, who is honored above all Angels, intercede for me.

O   Mother of Mercy, Miracle of Virginity, Virgin above all Virgins, Temple of the Most Holy Trinity, beautiful above all creatures, O Lady of Meekness, Abbess of Mildness, Comforter of the Sorrowful, Consolation of the Afflicted, in you the Angels do rejoice.

O   Sweet Lady of Mercy, turn your merciful eyes to me, enlighten me with grace and hear my prayers. Into the protection of Almighty God and your holy hand, O Refuge of Sinners, I commend my soul and body. Amen

Family and friends prayer for Someone Addicted to Drugs

Saint Maximilian Kolbe, your life of love and labor for souls was sacrificed amid the horrors of a concentration camp and hastened to its end by an injection of a deadly drug.
Look with compassion upon ___________________ who is now entrapped in addiction to drugs and whom we now recommend to your powerful intercession.
Having offered your own life to preserve that of a family man, we turn to you with trust, confident that you will understand and help.
Obtain for us the grace never to withhold our love and understanding, nor to fail in persevering prayer that the enslaving bonds of addiction may be broken and that full health and freedom may be restored to him / her whom we love.

We will never cease to be grateful to God who has helped us and heard your prayer for us. Amen.

Saint Maximilian´s Quotes that will enrich your life

“Let us not forget that Jesus not only suffered, but also rose in glory; so, too, we go to the glory of the Resurrection by way of suffering and the Cross.”

Courage, my sons, Don’t you see that we are leaving on a mission? They pay our fare in the bargain. What a piece of good luck! The thing to do now is to pray well in order to win as many souls as possible. Let us, then, tell the Blessed Virgin that we are content, and that she can do with us anything she wishes. – Saint Maximilian Kolbe

St. Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us!

Militia Immaculata Consecration Prayer

O Immaculata, Queen of Heaven and earth, refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy to you. I, (name), a repentant sinner, cast myself at your feet, humbly imploring you to take me with all that I am and have, wholly to yourself as your possession and property. Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body, of my whole life, death and eternity, whatever most pleases you.

If it pleases you, use all that I am and have without reserve, wholly to accomplish what was said of you: “She will crush your head,” and “You alone have destroyed all heresies in the whole world. ” Let me be a fit instrument in your immaculate and merciful hands for introducing and increasing your glory to the maximum in all the many strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the blessed kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For wherever you enter you obtain the grace of conversion and growth in holiness, since it is through your hands that all graces come to us from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

V. Allow me to praise you, O sacred Virgin
R. Give me strength against your enemies

Composed by Saint Maximilian Kolbe

Prayer for Students

Under Thy patronage, dear Mother, and invoking the mystery of Thine Immaculate Conception, I desire to pursue my studies and my literary labors: I hereby solemnly declare that I am devoting myself to these studies chiefly to the following end: that I may the better contribute to the glory of God and to the spread of Thy veneration among men. I pray Thee, therefore, most loving Mother, who art the Seat of Wisdom, to bless my labors in Thy loving kindness. Moreover, I promise with true affection and a willing spirit, as it is right that I should do, to ascribe all the good that shall accrue to me therefrom, wholly to Thine intercession for me in God’s holy presence. Amen.

St. Clare’s Words of Encouragement

“Gaze upon Christ, consider Christ, contemplate Christ, imitate Christ.”

As you gaze upon the Crucifix,

Place your mind before the mirror of eternity!

Place your soul in the brilliance of glory!

Place your heart in the figure of the Divine!

And transform your whole being

into the image

of the Godhead itself

through contemplation.

So that you too may feel what His friends feel

as they taste the hidden sweetness

which God Himself has reserved from the beginning

for those who love Him.

From Clare’s Third Letter to Agnes

Blessing of St. Clare

What you hold, may you always hold.

What you do, may you always do and never abandon.

But with swift pace, light step, unswerving feet,

so that even your steps stir up no dust,

may you go forward securely, joyfully and swiftly,

on the path of prudent happiness,

not believing anything, not agreeing with anything,

that would dissuade you from this resolution

or that would place a stumbling block for you on the way,

so that you may offer your vows to the

Most High in the pursuit of that perfection

to which the Spirit of God has called you.

On Hope, by Saint John Vianney

My children, we are going to speak of hope: that is what makes the happiness of man on earth. Some people in this world hope too much, and others do not hope enough. Some say, “I am going to commit this sin again. It will not cost me more to confess four than three. ” It is like a child saying to his father, “I am going to give you four blows; it will cost me no more than to give you one: I shall only have to ask your pardon. ”

That is the way men behave towards the good God. They say, “This year I shall amuse myself again; I shall go to dances and to the alehouse, and next year I will be converted. The good God will be sure to receive me, when I choose to return to Him. He is not so cruel as the priests tell us. ” No, the good God is not cruel, but He is just. Do you think He will adapt Himself in everything to your will? Do you think that He will embrace you, after you have despised Him all your life? Oh no, indeed! There is a certain measure of grace and of sin after which God withdraws Himself. What would you say of a father who should treat a good child, and one not so good the same. Would you not say that the father is not just. Well! God would not be just if He made no difference between those who serve Him and those who offend Him. My children, there is so little faith now in the world that people either hope too much, or they despair. Some say, “I have done too much evil; the good God cannot pardon me:’ My children, this is a great blasphemy; it is putting a limit to the mercy of God, which has no limit — it is infinite. You may have done evil enough to lose the souls of a whole parish, and if you confess, if you are sorry for having done this evil, and resolve not to do it again, the good God will have pardoned you.

A priest was once preaching on hope, and on; the mercy of the good God. He reassured others, but he himself despaired. After the sermon, a young man presented himself, saying, “Father, I am come to confess to you:’ The priest answered, “I am willing to hear your confession:’ The other recounted his sins, after which he added, “Father, I have done much evil; I am lost!” “What do you say, my friend! We must never despair:’ The young man rose, saying, “Father, you wish me not to despair, and what do you do?” This was a ray of light; the priest, all astonishment, drove away that thought of despair, became a religious and a great saint. . . . The good God had sent him an angel under the form of a young man, to show him that we must never despair. The good God is as prompt to grant us pardon when we ask it of Him as a mother is to snatch her child out of the fire.

Prayer for a loved one's conversion

St. John's Manual, 1856

O God, have mercy on me a sinner, and permit me to offer Thee my earnest supplications on behalf of all souls in sin; for Thou willest not the death of a sinner, but his conversion. When Moses besought Thee to pardon a rebellious nation, Thou couldst not resist his entreaties. It grieves Thee, when none interpose to appease Thine anger; Thou commandest us to pray for one another, assuring us that; by causing a sinner to be converted from the error of his ways, we deliver our own souls from death, and cover a multitude of iniquities. Relying on thy merciful promises, I come before Thee with great confidence, to implore for others the pity I so much need myself. Forgive them, O Lord! for they know not what they do; open their eyes, that entering into themselves, they may see the extent of their crimes, and feel how sad a misfortune it is to have forsaken Thee. 

Open their ears to the sound of that Almighty voice, which can raise the dead to life; soften the obduracy of their hearts, that they may no longer resist Thy grace. Remember Thy tender mercies; remember the precious blood of Jesus Christ; save the souls which have been purchased at so great a price. Hear our prayers, inspired by the Spirit of thine own charity, and offered from the sole motive of pleasing and glorifying Thee. Amen.

3 Bible verses to ponder to turn away from evil

Ezekiel 18:27

Again, when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life.

Inspiring Quotes on the Rosary Prayer

“The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary shall not perish.”
- Mary to St. Dominic

Pope Pius XI stated, “The Rosary of Mary is the principle and foundation on which the very Order of Saint Dominic rests for making perfect the life of its members and obtaining the salvation of others.”

“Never will anyone who says his Rosary every day become a formal heretic or be led astray by the devil.”

- Saint Louis de Montfort

“The Rosary is the best therapy for these distraught, unhappy, fearful, and frustrated souls, precisely because it involves the simultaneous use of three powers: the physical, the vocal, and the spiritual…”


- Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

“Even if you are on the brink of damnation, even if you have one foot in hell, even if you have sold your soul to the devil as sorcerers do who practice black magic, and even if you are a heretic as obstinate as a devil, sooner or later you will be converted and will amend your life and will save your soul, if—and mark well what I say—if you say the Holy Rosary devoutly every day until death for the purpose of knowing the truth and obtaining contrition and pardon for your sins.”

- Saint Louis de Montfort

Prayer to Saint George to Defeat Evil

“Valiant champion of the Faith, assist me in the combat against evil.” 

Spiritual Warfare Prayer

Faithful servant of God and invincible martyr, St. George; favored by God with the gift of faith, and inflamed with an ardent love of Christ, thou didst fight valiantly against the dragon of pride, falsehood, and deceit. Neither pain nor torture, sword nor death could part thee from the love of Christ.

I fervently implore thee for the sake of this love to help me by thy intercession to overcome the temptations that surround me, and to bear bravely the trials that oppress me, so that I may patiently carry the cross which is placed upon me; and let neither distress nor difficulties separate me from the love of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Valiant champion of the Faith, assist me in the combat against evil, that I may win the crown promised to them that persevere unto the end.

Prayer in Time of Temptation

O God, Who restorest the wicked to justice and desirest not the death of the sinner; we humbly entreat Thy Majesty, that by Thy heavenly help and constant protection Thou wouldst graciously shield Thy servants who trust in Thy mercy, that they may always serve Thee and never be separated from Thee by any temptation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

St. John Vianney, pray for us.

Inspirational spiritual quotes by Saint Alphonsus Liguori that will enrich your life

“Speak to Him often of your business, your plans, your troubles, your fears - of everything that concerns you.” 

-- St. Alphonsus Liguori

 “He who prays most receives most.” 

-- St. Alphonsus Liguori 

“He who trusts himself is lost. He who trusts in God can do all things.”
-- St. Alphonsus Liguori

“He who wishes to find Jesus should seek Him, not in the delights and pleasures of the world, but in mortification of the senses.” 

--St. Alphonsus Liguori 

“Good friends find pleasure in one another's company. Let us know pleasure in the company of our best Friend, a Friend who can do everything for us, a friend who loves us beyond measure. Here in the Blessed Sacrament we can talk to him straight from the heart. We can open our souls to him, tell him what we need, beg him for powerful graces. We are perfectly free to approach the King of the universe with full confidence and without fear.” 

-- St Alphonsus Liguori 

“Whom do you seek, friend, if you seek not God? Seek Him, find Him, cleave to Him; bind your will to His with bands of steel and you will live always at peace in this life and in the next.”
-- St Alphonsus Liguori