DAILY DEVOTIONALS for JULY
Wednesday, July 9
- Scripture: Isaiah 40:31 – “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
- Reflection: Cultivating hope through our relationships with God is a powerful strategy for renewal. We are advised in scripture never to give in to despair. Yet like other spiritual practices, maintaining hope requires ongoing habits, which we can learn.
When we place our trust in God, we find strength for daily challenges and the courage to face them anew. We build resilience in the face of challenges. We retain or regain a sense of purpose and creativity and agency.
What are some ways to foster the perspective of hope, especially if we’re feeling helpless and despairing? Professionals offer the following recommendations (full article: https://time.com/6327444/how-to-be-more-hopeful/):- First, give yourself permission to be hopeful. …notes David Feldman, a professor of counseling psychology at Santa Clara University in California who studies hope. “The truth is, whether or not we allow ourselves to hope, at some point we’re going to be disappointed. I don’t think the solution is never allowing ourselves to feel hopeful or giving up on hope altogether.” Feldman—who designed a widely used single-session “Hope Workshop”—thinks of hope as the psychological engine that drives progress in our lives. …
- Set at least one meaningful goal. … First, in order to be hopeful … people must think in a goal-oriented way.
Make it a point to always be working toward at least one goal that’s intrinsically meaningful … it shouldn’t be something you have to do—like crossing off your work to-do list—but something you want to do. - Brainstorm solutions. Another key element … is “pathways.” … that means having the perception that there are plans or ways of getting you from where you are to your goals.” … If you’re struggling to make a plan, or you keep being blocked—by someone else, or an unfair system, or bad luck—Feldman suggests sitting down with a pen and paper and giving yourself an hour to brainstorm solutions.
- Call your support team. … people who are hopeful tend to have a lot of “agency,” which means the motivation to actually achieve their goals. Getting a good night’s rest, following a healthy diet, and meditating can all promote agency, … So can tapping into our own positive beliefs about ourselves; there’s a certain power to reminding yourself: “I got this.”
Sometimes, however, the strongest source of agency is other people. … Having someone you care about tell you they believe in you “can give you a kick in the behind … Make a list of your biggest supporters … so when you’re feeling unmotivated, you know exactly who to call for a boost. - Seek out success stories. Mary Beth Medvide has long been curious about the ways hope manifests in the lives of marginalized groups, like first-generation immigrants. … In part, she found, they cultivated hope by seeking support from their parents and specific teachers. But they also got a lot out of meeting or learning about other people who had done well for themselves. “By seeing other people succeed—like maybe a senior, when they were a sophomore—they felt like they could succeed … Make it a point to read books about or even befriend people who have overcome adversity to achieve their goals, and you’ll likely feel more hopeful about your own future …
- Tap into your imagination. Hellman thinks of imagination as “the instrument of hope.” Let’s say you set a goal … Spend a few minutes reflecting on or talking about what would happen if you achieved it. “… “You and I have this wonderful capacity to play a movie in our head. And when you can see yourself in the future, that is the very essence of hope.”
- Spiritual Practice Prompt: Spend time learning more about the success story of someone who has accomplished milestones related to the goal you may be working toward. Sources might include watching a biography, reading an article or book, or listening to a podcast. (Be careful of online sources of info; check your facts.) What is one lesson from this person’s experience that you can translate into your own life?
Song:
- Rise Up by Andra Day: https://youtu.be/lwgr_IMeEgA?si=hWFgb6lFu0Q50Vqw
We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope. — Martin Luther King, Jr.
July 9 Daily Devotional