DAILY DEVOTIONALS for JULY
Sunday, July 6
- Scripture: 1 Peter 5:7 – “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
- Reflection: In order to make space for hope and healing, we need to create room in our hearts, minds, and bodies.
Anxiety often feels like a relentless companion. It consumes our energy, draws away our attention from being present to significant experiences in the here-and-now. Anxiety can whisper to us in the language of fears and doubts.
Yet, we’re reminded in this letter, traditionally attributed to the apostle Peter, that we have a loving God who invites us to place our cares into the keeping of Holy Love. This hope allows us to step back, to breathe, and to lean into God’s infinite care and understanding.
Practical psychology suggestions about how to reinforce the habit of releasing anxieties include (full article: https://positivepsychology.com/how-to-let-go/#:~:text=Letting%20go%20involves%20accepting%20change,supports%20emotional%20healing%20%26%20future%20happiness):- … let go by practicing the six core principles of ACT. This way, we can help them strengthen their psychological flexibility. The six core principles are (Hayes, 2019):
- Defusing – learning to let unhelpful thoughts happen and then to let them pass by, like clouds in the sky
- Expansion – deliberately making room for unpleasant feelings and thoughts rather than avoiding them
- Connection – connecting with what is happening in the here and now
- Tuning in to our observing self – our pure, nonjudgmental awareness, not our thinking self
- Connecting with our values
- Taking committed action that is guided by these values
- Mindfulness worksheets: The following worksheets are helpful for working with adults … (more worksheets for children available here: https://positivepsychology.com/mindfulness-worksheets/ )
- Nature Play: Nature Play is a mindful walk where time spent in nature is valuable for heightening awareness and promoting mindfulness. These six simple steps encourage the individual to become more present and grounded by immersing the senses outdoors.
- FLARE for Anxiety and Fear: Working through the steps identified by the FLARE acronym encourages mindful acceptance of negative emotions (such as anxiety) rather than resistance, along with self-compassion.
- Funeral Meditation: Despite the daunting name, this meditation encourages individuals to embrace new challenges as opportunities rather than let life events hold them back.
- Emotional Mental Models: Mindful visualization can be performed across multiple situations and scenarios to improve emotional awareness and offer deeply personal insights. Reflect on what you would do with one year left to live or if you had enough money to do anything with your life.
- Square Breathing: Mindful breathing exercises activate the parasympathetic nervous system, invoking calm and relaxation. In this exercise, the adult practices inhaling, holding, and exhaling, each to a count of four, to encourage presence and grounding (Nestor, 2020).
- … let go by practicing the six core principles of ACT. This way, we can help them strengthen their psychological flexibility. The six core principles are (Hayes, 2019):
- Spiritual Practice Prompt: Take a deep breath and slowly release it. As you exhale, visualize releasing a specific worry or anxiety to God. Repeat this process as needed throughout the day. Alternately, use the square breathing technique above as a framework.
Song:
- “Don’t Worry Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin: https://youtu.be/d-diB65scQU?si=d-yvrHtdlwwBkLvn
Keep calm and carry on. — British WWII Slogan
July 6 Daily Devotional