Thursday, August 28
- Scripture: Habakkuk 3:18 – “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
- Reflection: Even amidst challenges, we are invited to find strength, resilience, and joy through spiritual beliefs and practices. For people who identify as Judeo-Christian, our relationship with Godself, which endures, becomes a core component of that resilience. Yet research shows, that spiritual beliefs and practices, from whatever background they arise, become sources of fortitude. Not everyone uses God-language or religious concepts to express and enact their beliefs.
One military resource describes it this way (full article). “That special something that you call upon to pull you through the darkest of hours and most trying of times; that special something is what’s called our spiritual resilience. Often times, people believe that spiritual resiliency is based solely on religion, but in all actuality, one’s ability to be spiritually resilient is achieved through a multitude of different focuses… one’s personal beliefs, values, relationships and or religious faith … For some it may mean activities that reinforce a sense of purpose, meaning and connection like volunteerism, community involvement, appreciation of nature, meditation and prayer… Understanding what strengthens you deep within is quintessential in developing your resilience and can be simply accomplished by asking yourself, “What motivates, enlightens, and gives my life meaning?” - Spiritual Practice Prompt: Write a spiritual statement that answers the question: “What motivates, enlightens, and gives my life meaning?”
Song:
- Strong by Anne Wilson: https://youtu.be/iFk2iYq4Zjk?si=XYP2T0vn96zSgKbx
I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it. – Maya Angelou
I don’t think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains. ― Anne Frank
It’s your reaction to adversity, not adversity itself that determines how your life’s story will develop. – Dieter F. Uchtdorf
August 29 Daily Devotional