Sunday, August 31
- Scripture: Philippians 4:4 – “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
- Reflection: As the month concludes, we are reminded to sustain our capacity for joy every day.
Although we have been discussing ways to cultivate fun and delight and even joy, we offer some reminders from the Mayo Clinic about cultivating joy again here (full article):- Focus on what you can control … focus your time and attention on things you can control. This can be easier said than done. Write out the details of a stressful situation and outline which aspects are in and outside your control. Then make an intentional decision to shift your attention to things you can change, including your attitude.
- Express gratitude … being thankful or showing appreciation for the things and people around you. This could be sending positive thoughts to someone special, writing a text message to a friend or listing three things you are grateful for each day. Practicing this daily helps your brain shift its focus to appreciation and blessings, instead of problems and challenges.
- Assume good intent. When stressed, any additional inconvenience or misunderstanding could be viewed as unjust and an intentional barrier to your joy. In most cases, people are simply doing their best with the information and skills they possess …
- Concentrate on building relationships … people need social connections with others … helping lift others creates a sense of purpose and joy. If building healthy relationships is at the core of your efforts, you can find happiness and joy in your life.
- Keep perspective. Some decisions or situations have serious, long-lasting effects on your life. But often, things that seem important today may only matter a little or not at all in five or 10 years … remember to keep perspective on which situations and decisions are monumental and which are not.
- Spiritual Practice Prompt: Reflect on the moments of playfulness, delight, and/or joy experienced this month. Create a gratitude list.
Song:
- “Best Day of My Life” by American Authors: https://youtu.be/Y66j_BUCBMY?si=N_xdpJ8ZCbhDGA3U
You are wrong if you think joy emanates only or principally from human relationships. God has placed it all around us. It is in everything and anything we might experience. — Jon Krakauer
There are moments when I wish I could roll back the clock and take all the sadness away, but I have the feeling that if I did, the joy would be gone as well. ― Nicholas Sparks
I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy. ― Tagore
August 31 Daily Devotional