DAILY DEVOTIONALS for JULY
Friday, July 4
- Scripture: Isaiah 30:15 – “This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.’”
- Reflection: This passage by one of the greatest of Israel’s prophets reveals the paradox of strength found through quietness and rest. This was a teaching offered to people living in crisis, oppression, and exile. It probably seemed against all reason to relax, to be assured that God was present to them and would provide what they needed to remain resilient.
In fact, the ‘rest’ found through the practice of repentance, which means a turning toward or a returning to God, requires the willingness to surrender and trust. Aligning ourselves and turning toward God (repentance) cannot be accomplished by frantic action or self-reliance. To give ourselves into relationship with Holy Love, we must become vulnerable. Yet this builds up our tenacity and grit.
Our culture may emphasize success through our own independent and solo efforts, prizing self-reliance, yet God shows us another way: strength in letting go. Strength through connection to Godself. Strength through sharing our burdens and opening ourselves to relationship with God. - Spiritual Practice Prompt: At the end of the day, reflect on moments when you responded with quietness and trust. Or if you didn’t have that experience, identify times when you might alter your reactions to choose trust, vulnerability, and calm. What difference would such a response make?
Song:
- A Matter of Trust by Billy Joel: https://youtu.be/6yYchgX1fMw?si=n1VBFk2xiYSwt5QW
The child is in me still and sometimes not so still. — Fred Rogers
July 4 Daily Devotional