"Worrying is carrying tomorrow's load with
today's strength – carrying two days at once. It is
moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying
does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it
empties today of its strength." – Corrie Ten
Boom

While the Bible is full of instances of God telling us
not to fear (he says it in various ways more than 350
times), most of us struggle at one time or other with
fear or anxiety. What is it about worry that means it
affects us even after we profess that we trust in God
and are seeking to serve him and look to him for all
our needs?

It is reassuring that God knew that the human heart
has a tendency to fall prey to worry. That's why, I
think, he reminds us so often not to fear!
In a country like ours, We can worry about so many
things, especially how we are going to pay our
house rent/mortgage, fuel scarcity, road traffic, our
work, dealing with teenage children's hormones our
aged parents, getting enough sleep... So why is such
a 'natural', everyday thing as worry so deadly for us?
Scientistifically, there is research that shows
worry can weaken our immune systems, cause
depression, heart disease, muscle tension,
memory loss, respiratory disorders and digestive
conditions.

But worry does more than that, it also affects us
spiritually. When we allow fear to overtake us it
also pushes out faith and, as a result, we start to
feel cut off from God's presence.
"Worry is allowing problems and distress to come
between us and the heart of God. It is the view that
God has somehow lost control of the situation and
we cannot trust him. A legitimate concern presses
us closer to the heart of God and causes us to lean
and trust on him all the more."


1. Be honest with yourself – and God
Look at what it is that you are worrying about and
decide: is this a legitimate concern or an irrational
worry? Then take it to God and ask for his help. If
you feel you are really struggling with a particular
worry then it can be helpful to share it with a close
friend who can pray with you and keep you
accountable on the subject too.


2. Spend time each day focusing on God
Remind yourself of who he is and what he is capable
of. With a different perspective, our problems and
worries can seem to literally shrink before our eyes.

3. Remind yourself of God's promises
Look at the particular thing that is causing worry and
ask yourself: what can I do and what should I simply
leave up to God?
If you are struggling with a particular area then it
could be beneficial to do a study on God's promises
specifically about that. So, for example, if you worry
about finances look at what the Bible says about
God providing for us.


4. Learn to 'pray continually'
If we get into the habit of talking to God throughout
our day – bringing him the big and little things –
then it is much harder for worries to overtake us
and blow us off course away from him. "Any
concern too small to be turned into a prayer is too
small to be made into a burden." If you know your
thoughts are mainly made up of worries, try turning
those thoughts into prayers.
"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all
circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ
Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

5. Learn to be thankful
This is where a journal can be so helpful. If we
record all the ways that God is faithful and how he
has worked in our lives, we have a constant supply
of practical reminders of how he does look after us
and how he "will meet all your needs according to
the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians
4:9)
There are a few of us in our book group who have
spent time either writing in a thankfulness journal
every day or tweeting three good things about our
day each evening. Each one of us commented on
how it has made us more aware of those little
details that made our day special, but which are so
easy to overlook without such a discipline (as our
minds have a tendency to focus on the difficulties). If
you know you find it hard to be thankful or recollect
positives, why don't you try writing down three
things you are thankful to God for each evening?


6. Actively 'take captive every thought' (2
Corinthians 10:5)
We can so easily let thoughts come and go in our
minds, feeling that we have no control over them,
but the Bible is very clear that we have a part to play
in ensuring that what we think about is beneficial
and edifying to us:
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is
right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever
is admirable – if anything is excellent or
praiseworthy – think about such things." (Philippians
4: cool

Have you ever stopped and reflected on what your
mind has lingered on in the previous 10 minutes? It
can be really revealing – and challenging!

7. Change what you meditate on
We can think that reading and meditating on the
Bible is far too difficult a practise to do daily, but we
are often very well versed in meditating on our
problems and worries! We simply need to re-
educate our minds to focus on those things that will
help us rather than hinder us.
Why not try replacing a specific worry with a
scripture that speaks directly to it? Each time the
worry pops into your head, speak the scripture to it.
Worry is one of those things that we know the Bible
tells us not to do, but we can so often struggle to be
free of. Putting some of the above simple ideas into
action can help us form new habits. Because worry
is a habit in itself – and a toxic one at that. Learning
to recognise when a worry rears its ugly head, and
being equipped with some simple ways of replacing
or dealing with it, can be so helpful.