I have always been a worrier and as a Christian I know that we are not supposed to worry. God promises to take care of us. I will often give my problems to him in prayer, only to continue worrying about them. That’s really telling God that I don’t trust him to handle things, or that I think I can control problems better than him. We all know that is not the case!

I often let worrying steal the peace and joy that the Bible promises Christians. This is an area of my walk with Christ that is a daily struggle. I don’t really want to be a glass half empty kind of girl. I don’t want to be negative and consumed with worry. God doesn’t want that for us!

Matthew 6:26-27, 31-34 (NIV)

26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Spending time in prayer and in God’s word helps me to combat my own negative thoughts and it always helps me to be able to share my concerns with a Christian friend that I know will pray for me, as well. It also helps me to count my many blessings and praise him for those blessings! It's hard to be despondent when you are being thankful.

Try it! Stop letting worry steal your joy! Start by reading Matthew 6:25-34 today.