DAILY DEVOTIONALS for JULY
Wednesday, July 16
- Scripture: Matthew 6:34 – “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
- Reflection: The Bible, while urging people to be prepared, and to partner in our own wellbeing, also emphasizes that we should trust in God’s care. To some extent, this is the practice of mindfulness. Focus on the present. Stay grounded. Find your center.
Of course, sometimes events occur over which we don’t have immediate control. How do we respond? In part, as people of faith, we name our concerns in prayer. We express our belief that God’s grace will help us to close the gap and provide what is necessary for each of our lives.
Other times, we begin to fret over events that aren’t occurring yet. We become overwhelmed by the possibility of future mishaps and catastrophes. We lose perspective.
Psychology Today writes about worry: “Worry can be thought of as the cognitive component of anxiety. We tend to worry when we aren’t sure what’s going to happen but we think that we may experience a negative event, such as a failure, loss, illness, or injury … When you feel anxious, it’s more in your body—your heart may start beating faster, or your breath may shorten. Worry, on the other hand, is more in your head. It’s a kind of mental anguish that most of us experience, but few know how to overcome.”
Author Dr. Melanie Greenberg continues, “Worry can magnify stressors by bringing up more and more negative possibilities. One negative thought leads to another … Worry makes you feel as if the worst is already happening …”
She concludes, “What is one thing you can do instead of worrying? One of the most helpful things you can do instead of worrying is problem-solving … defining the problem in a way that you can do something about it … you can generate some possible solutions and think through the likely consequences of each (e.g., “What is most likely to happen if I do X?”). Finally, you can implement your favorite solution, whether it involves taking action, discussing the situation, finding out more information, or working to accept something you cannot change.” (full article: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-mindful-self-express/201903/why-worrying-is-unhelpful-and-one-thing-you-can-do-instead#:~:text=Worry%20makes%20you%20feel%20as,often%20worry%20turns%20into%20rumination)
Begin by naming your fears and worries. Lift them up in prayer, in private or in community. Then balance them out with your gratitude. This is a practice we keep every week in worship!
Just naming worries and fears allows you to start clearing away how much space and energy they consume. It also permits more resilience to be present, here and now, to your current setting and circumstances and relationships, rather than focusing on the ‘maybe’ of possible outcomes and ‘borrowed fears’ about future problems that aren’t an issue just yet. When we find resources and relationships that lead to hope and a sense of empowerment or agency, then we are experiencing God’s grace and provision for us. When we stay connected to what’s happening now, grounded in our reality, we can also respond when necessary to existing challenges. We learn not to spend too much time and attention on losses or issues that haven’t even occurred yet, and may never happen at all. And we learn to find the positives that help give us hope along the way. - Spiritual Practice Prompt: Today, set aside 5-10 minutes to meditate on gratitude for the day’s blessings. State them aloud. Pray them. Journal them. Build the spiritual practices that resist worry and anxiety, and build perspective and resilience. Trust that God will care for you, not just today, but in the future, and always.
Song:
- “Tomorrow” by Chris Young: https://youtu.be/ydT_DGnFS0A?si=HqUiVhWP-ZAQ9P4-
Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, shift your energy to what you can create. — Roy Bennett
July 16 Devotional