DAILY DEVOTIONALS for JULY
Tuesday, July 15
- Scripture: Psalm 37:7 – “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways ….”
- Reflection: When we compare ourselves with others, either positively or negatively, we are judging. We are reinforcing critical, inner voices that insist on perfection or unsustainable standards of achievement. We become hostages to the sense that we are not enough. We are sometimes overwhelmed by the sense that we cannot accomplish what we aspire to do. We feel less-than, messy, and undeserving.
Instead, through patience, we may engage in compassion for self and others. We can learn to drop the ‘good vs bad’ categories and the ‘successful or unsuccessful’ binaries.
Resilience emerges as we begin to understand our current situation through an honest assessment of existing circumstances. We name where we are and what’s actually going on. Then we can begin to identify sustainable goals, and break those down into achievable, incremental steps. We can progress to a sense of agency and hope.
Patience becomes an act of trust. Instead of fretting about what others are doing, or what we think we should have done, or cannot do, we focus on what is possible. Along the way, we trust that God is present in this experience. Stopping, taking inventory, stepping back to see the bigger (whole) picture, then making a viable and workable plan, become spiritual practices.
We may not create immediate results. Patience also involves pacing ourselves, and waiting. It invites time for stillness and listening. - Spiritual Practice Prompt: Practice waiting in silence for five minutes today, simply trusting God’s timing. Use this time to release anxieties and reaffirm your reliance on Holy Love.
Song:
- Wait Here for You by Christy Nockels: https://youtu.be/J3OEGnH5x8g?si=zLP0JKwRcrZx9jrN
Patience is not simply the ability to wait – it’s how we behave while we’re waiting. — Joyce Meyer
July 15 Devotional