·Whitney Hopler
1. Turn your worries into prayers.
You can’t stop worries from entering your mind – but when they do, you can choose to release them into God’s care by praying about them. Don’t let your concerns grow into anxiety that makes your life difficult. Instead of dwelling on what worries you, ask God to help you with each specific situation as soon as you notice you’re starting to worry. Make a habit of quickly turning your worries into prayers throughout each day. Clear worries out of your mind as often as you can by simply asking God to help. (Philippians 4:6-7) reveals that when you pray, God will give you powerful peace: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
2. Let go of the negative and focus on the positive.
Life is hard when you hold onto negativity, but it’s much easier when you pay attention to what’s positive. (Ephesians 4:31) advises letting go of negativity: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” Releasing the negative messages you encounter in our fallen world frees you up to experience the well-being God intends for you. Jesus reveals in (John 10:10) that “… I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” A full life is one that is free of the burdens of negativity and full of the positive blessings God wants to give you. By letting go of negativity and anchoring your thoughts in the positivity of God’s truth, you can experience the peace that comes from trusting God.
3. Embrace forgiveness.
Don’t let yourself be weighed down by shame or bitterness. By accepting God’s forgiveness and forgiving others as God forgives you, you can enjoy the freedom of living in God’s grace. Confess your sins regularly to God, repent of them by turning away from them, and accept the forgiveness God gives you. Move forward with confidence, trusting that God does not condemn you. (Romans 8:1) reveals that, “… there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” while God tells you in (Isaiah 43:25): “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” Get rid of any grudges you may be holding against other people who have hurt you. (Colossians 3:13) exhorts: “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” You can trust that God will bring justice to any unjust situation, so you don’t need to carry the burden of trying to do so yourself.
4. Be free when communicating with God.
Communicating with God should be a source of joy, not stress. Allow yourself the freedom of communicating with God however you like. God is always available to you, no matter how you communicate with him. You don’t need to worry about following any particular rules or guidelines for prayer and meditation. The Bible reveals in (2 Corinthians 3:17) that “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom”. This means that you can approach God freely, without any limitations. (Hebrews 4:16) tells you that you can “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” You can come to God confidently with your requests knowing that he is merciful and gracious, so he will help you. Feel free to check in with God for a few moments, even if you don’t have a lot of time. What’s most important is to be open and honest with God, and to listen for his voice. When you communicate with God in a way that feels natural and authentic to you, you can experience the wonder of his presence and the joy of his love.
