By prayer . . . present your requests to God.
—Philippians 4:6
“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 [heart] and your [mind] in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:6–7).
Have a look at Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase of these verses:
“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life” (MSG).
Try putting prayer up front instead of relegating it to the last thing you do when all else fails.
Pray or forfeit the blessings of prayer.