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One of the things most women have in common is the “gift” of worry. We can overwhelm ourselves with worry over serious issues to the silliest of things. We can worry about relationships, health, finances, and family. We can worry about politics, community issues, and social media drama. Give us a topic and we can figure out how to worry about it. In reality, worries are simply prayers we haven’t prayed.

When we worry, our priorities are out of whack. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (ESV). Many of us can say that verse from memory. Have you ever stopped to wonder what “these things” He is talking about are? Well, He spends the eight verses before this one talking about worry. Read Matthew 6:25-32. “All these things” is all of the things. Everything we worry about. And those things, if we continue to worry about them, can become idols in our lives. We must rearrange our priorities so we are praying more and worrying less.

Practically speaking, how can we just “not worry"? It isn’t a switch that can just be turned off; it is a bad habit that we need to break. Throughout the day, if you find that you are worrying about something, take it back to the Lord. Pray, “Lord, I’m giving You this worry (name it), and I am exchanging it for Your Peace,” then thank Him for holding onto that burden for you. At first, you may find that you are praying that prayer dozens of times each day. But as time goes on, you will train yourself to worry less and to quickly turn worry into a prayer and exchange it for the Peace of God. After a while, you will realize that the Grace of God has carried you through a season of worry and despair and that He continues to calm your storms.

Reflect: Are there things in your life that you worry about constantly?

Respond: What is holding you back from turning these things over to the Lord instead of constantly worrying about them?

Repent: Take a few minutes to ask for forgiveness for worrying about these things rather than taking them to the Father in prayer. Ask for the strength to hand them over and not take them back.

Resolve: This is not necessarily a one-and-done prayer. If you find yourself worrying about the same thing again in a few weeks (or days or hours), resolve to repent again (and again). Talk to the Lord about the struggle between faith and worry. Resolve to get better about handing worries over quickly.