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. - Philippians 4:6,7
It’s easy to grab a clean shirt from our closet to get dressed in the morning. And, depending on our plans for the day, we can tailor our selections to fit the occasion. A workout at the gym? Sports attire. A job interview? A well-groomed, professional outfit. Movie night at home? A pair of sweats and a T-shirt. A jaunt to the beach? Swimwear, of course. We know how to dress for a multitude of circumstances. But how do we dress for the stress we face?
There may not be an outfit in our wardrobe we can slip into to equip us for stress. But we can position ourselves to receive a provision of peace from God that far exceeds our outer clothing. When we bring our worries, our anxiety or the stress that surrounds us daily to God in prayer, when we ask Him for what we need, and thank Him for all He has done, we are given an incredible peace that only He can give. Peace that is truly beyond our understanding, yet it clothes us with protection from stress in our hearts and minds.
With modern life creating increasingly higher anxiety, God offers a genuine antidote through our relationship with Him. Peace can be ours when we open the closet doors of our hearts and reach for the One who wants to adorn us with His best.
CLOSING PRAYER
Father in heaven, today I bring the stress I’ve been carrying to You. I lay it at your feet, knowing with certainty You will help me through it. I breathe in Your marvelous peace and breathe out all the anxiety I was never meant to hold. Thank You for loving me and caring for me in all Your wonderful ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen.