How much time do you spend worrying about things that usually never happen? Be honest! And has anything improved as a result of your worrying about it? Of course not! Paul writes: ‘The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God’ (Philippians 4:5-6 NIV). He then encourages us by saying that when we do this, the peace of God will fill our hearts and minds (see Philippians 4:7). The instant you begin to worry or feel anxious about something, take your concern to God in prayer. Release the weight of it, and totally trust Him to either show you what to do, or show you that He will take care of it Himself. Prayer is powerful against worry. When you’re feeling pressure, it’s always best to pray about it instead of fretting and talking about it. Will this be easy to do? No, if you’ve worried all your life, then worry has become a habit. But with commitment, perseverance, and God’s help, you can conquer worry. Here are two keys to doing it: 1) Instead of trying to get rid of your negative thoughts, which only keeps you focused on them, fill your mind with positive thoughts. Scriptural ones! (see Philippians 4:8). 2) Take action quickly. As soon as you begin to worry, say, ‘No, I’m not going to worry about this because it does no good.’ You may wonder, ‘But who’s going to take care of the problem?’ God! His Word says, ‘The LORD has been mindful of us; He will bless us.’