Jesus said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I
give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you,
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
I tried many things the world offers to
help me overcome panic attacks and fear. They were all like Band-Aids that got
me through another day, another year. I was under the care of a psychologist
and talked with a counselor regularly. I took several different drugs, leaving
undesirable side effects and not stopping the attacks. I read volumes of
self-help books. I went to allergy doctors and eliminated foods until I was
down to five “safe” foods. Then one morning I had a panic attack after eating
oatmeal. I knew things weren’t right.
All this time I was faithfully
attending a local church, teaching classes, attending Bible studies, and having
private morning devotions. Yet, I was defeated and I was looking for help.
A church friend and I rode together to
attend counseling. She had severe depression and was planning a suicide, when
someone took her the Word of Faith Outreach at Amity, Arkansas, and she
received deliverance. I had noticed a change in her and asked if I could go
with her to the Outreach.
I received the baptism of the Holy
Spirit and about five months later I prayed for deliverance. But I was afraid
to tell people that I was healed. Unbelief opened the door for the enemy to
come in with attacks much worse than before.
Nearly a year later I had had enough.
I walked in my house after taking my children to school and declared, “My God
disappoints the devices of the crafty, so that their hand CANNOT (pounding my
fist in my hand) perform their enterprises (Job 5:12). They intended evil
against me: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are NOT (pounding my
fist in my hand) able to perform (Psalm 21:11). They shall fight against me;
but they shall NOT (once again, pounding my fist in my hand) prevail against
me; for I am with you, saith the LORD, to deliver you (Jeremiah 1:19).
At this point I started praying,
recognizing that all the world’s methods of overcoming panic and fear were not
the answer, but it was Jesus. After praying, the Lord said, “Now write that
down and share it with people.” So this is what I declared before God:
It was no pill. It was no doctor.
It was no counselor.
It was no psychologist or psychology book.
It was no diet or nutritionist.
It was no man or woman.
It was no religion or doctrine.
It was the pure Word of God, Jesus of Nazareth,
And the Sweet Holy Spirit,
That set me free from fear, panic, and anxiety.
I am out of bondage.
I am delivered.
This was September 13, 2000, the start
of a journey in the Word. When panic was coming on I would go to my Bible and
God would open to me a scripture that would encourage me. If it wasn’t already
a song that I had learned at the Outreach, the Holy Spirit would give me a
tune. This helped me remember it and meditate on it. Several very special
verses that helped me were 2 Timothy 1:7, Joshua 1:9, Romans 8:15, Acts 3:16,
Philippians 4:4-9, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Isaiah 26:3,4, John 14:27, and Nahum
1:9.
Jesus has given the gift of peace. It
comes through the Word and the Spirit. It is my prayer that you too will know
the peace that passes all understanding.
Joy Miller
Arkadelphia,
AR
Luke 22:32
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