But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. Luke 21:14-15

These verses tell us that we are able to make a decision not to worry. The Amplified Bible puts it this way, “Resolve and settle it in your minds not to meditate and prepare beforehand how you are to make your defense” (verse 14).

To meditate means to roll something around in our mind. Worry is simply rolling unpleasant possibilities around in our minds. Not to prepare beforehand how we will respond to those who disagree with us is a real step of faith. We are then forced to rely on whatever God brings to our minds. By not preparing a defence and not rolling different scenarios around in our minds, means we are open to receiving wisdom from God.

However, worry can sneak up on us and we find all sorts of negative possibilities seeping into our minds uninvited and unwelcome. The instant we become aware of this happening, we can make a decision to stop thinking on these things and deliberately think of something good.

Paul wrote, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Then he added, “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 4:6-8). The way to stop worrying is to present our requests to God, leave them there, and then deliberately choose to think on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy.