Day 4

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-16

Do you have a place you go or a strategy you try that helps you calm down those feelings of anxiety? Not only can intentional times of rest help, but there are some strategies that can make a big difference in the way that we internalize and handle anxiety. Here is one way to experience the “shelter of the Most High” or the presence of God.

Settle your body and mind; allow yourself to become aware of God’s presence.

Sometimes settling our body and mind is really difficult, especially when we have a lot going on. One trick is to focus on our breathing. When we breathe slow and deep, we let our body and souls know that it is ok to relax and rest in God’s presence. Sounds simple, right? We all know how to breathe!

It can be a bit strange at first, but learning how to breathe with your belly instead of with your chest can be very helpful. All you have to do is slowly take three seconds to breathe in through your nose, making sure to fill your belly with air . . . and then take three seconds to slowly breathe out through your mouth.

Now, as you continue to breathe deep and slow, take a moment to simply notice God’s presence with each breath that you take.

During this breathing exercise, remind yourself that God is your refuge and fortress in whom you trust.