DAILY DEVOTIONALS for JULY
Sunday, July 27
- Scripture: Isaiah 55:12 – “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”
- Reflection: This verse paints an image of surrender to God’s guiding presence. Rest is not only a state of being, but a pathway into celebration and freedom. Trusting God’s leadership allows us to experience joy and peace, even through life’s hardships.
Do you need reminders about cultivating joy? From this article presented by Mindful come 3 basic tips for activating daily joy (full article: https://www.mindful.org/3-simple-ways-to-cultivate-joy-every-day/):- Shift Your Frame of Reference: I’ve made a case for finding joy in the nooks and crannies of our lives because too often, we reserve jubilation for milestones—a wedding day, the birth of a child or a hard-won promotion, etc. When we think of joy as belonging only to big events, we sideline the many small pleasures strewn along the way. Finding joy in our daily routines makes it far more accessible and creates a positive feedback loop. The more we attend to joy in the ordinary moments of our lives, the more we experience it, and the more joyous we become.
- Slow Down: It can take the brain a few seconds to register that something good is coming your way. Slowing down lets your heart, mind, and body to acknowledge pleasure is present. Savoring the flavor of juicy peach allows you to enjoy it more as does pausing to feel your bare feet in the grass or lingering over the lines of a beautifully written poem.
- Non-Problematic Joy: Sometimes, finding joy is as simple as noticing what’s not wrong. In the wild swings between pleasant and unpleasant, we often neglect the contentment of the neutral middle. Most mornings, for example, my teeth feel fine, the sun rises with confidence, and birdsong fills the air. While these experiences might not thrill us, paying attention to them encourages an appreciation and gratitude for all that’s still right in the world. As Chade-Meng Tan writes in Joy on Demand: The Art of Discovering the Happiness Within, “Knowing you are not entirely at the mercy of agitation can bring some joy.”
- Spiritual Practice Prompt: Choose one of the ways you access joy, whether it’s music or a walk outside, and let yourself experience that state of being.
Song:
- Joy by Andy Grammar: https://youtu.be/-cjB1EIfhes?si=fBhd9_2PFBY4P3G7
- Can’t Steal My Joy by Josiah Queen: https://youtu.be/qiAw7an2opU?si=dU3K7PjsJJjiuzWM
- Sing in the Spirit by Bethel Music: https://youtu.be/k7zu8WXjf-0?si=3v4tq8LHQ6CqNTl1
“Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God.” — Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
July 27 Daily Devotional