Advertise on podcast: Be Still: Daily Devotional

**After much prayer and reflection, we want to share that Be Still will conclude on February 17, 2026. Since 2023, it has been a gift to walk together through daily moments of Scripture, prayer, and stillness. We are deeply grateful for every listener who has made space to meet with God through this devotional. The full archive of episodes will remain available as a resource for anyone who wishes to continue engaging with Be Still. While new episodes will no longer be released, we trust the Lord will continue to use these moments to draw hearts closer to Him. Thank you for being part of this journey.** _________ This is a version of the five-step Daily Examen that St. Ignatius practiced. 1. Become aware of God’s presence. 2. Review the day with gratitude. 3. Pay attention to your emotions. 4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. 5. Look toward tomorrow.

**After much prayer and reflection, we want to share that Be Still will conclude on February 17, 2026. Since 2023, it has been a gift to walk together through daily moments of Scripture, prayer, and stillness. We are deeply grateful for every listener who has made space to meet with God through this devotional. The full archive of episodes will remain available as a resource for anyone who wishes to continue engaging with Be Still. While new episodes will no longer be released, we trust the Lord will continue to use these moments to draw hearts closer to Him. Thank you for being part of this journey.** _________ Today is February 6th.   The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.    Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”     Today’s reading is from 2nd Corinthians chapter 4.   But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.   In ancient times, things of value were hidden in clay jars… which were common objects not worthy of holding treasure. Paul is writing to the church in Corinth and telling them that we ourselves are like ‘jars of clay’ – ordinary people who hold the treasure of Christ in us, through the Holy Spirit. How does it make you feel when you hear that God has chosen you as a vessel to hold his love and his power? Paul also describes how fragile these vessels are. He described himself using words like hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, struck down? Do any of those words describe how you feel today? Are you perplexed by something today? Do you feel hard pressed by a particular situation you are facing? As you hear the passage again, can you offer your situation to Jesus, and ask Him to make you aware of how His life is at work in you in the midst of what you are facing?   Paul isn’t describing a totally hopeless situation – he juxtaposes the challenges that he is facing alongside the hope that he has found through life with Christ. As you walk through your day today, ask God to fill your mortal body with the life of Christ, that you may know the hope of his presence, no matter what challenge you are facing.   Lord God, Almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.   Music - Sing Out - Heaven & Earth - (YouTube)

**After much prayer and reflection, we want to share that Be Still will conclude on February 17, 2026. Since 2023, it has been a gift to walk together through daily moments of Scripture, prayer, and stillness. We are deeply grateful for every listener who has made space to meet with God through this devotional. The full archive of episodes will remain available as a resource for anyone who wishes to continue engaging with Be Still. While new episodes will no longer be released, we trust the Lord will continue to use these moments to draw hearts closer to Him. Thank you for being part of this journey.** _________ Today is February 5. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.” Today’s reading is from the book of 2 Kings, chapter 4. One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. She said to her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us.” One day when Elisha came, he went up to his room and lay down there. He said to his servant Gehazi, “Call the Shunammite.” So he called her, and she stood before him. Elisha said to him, “Tell her, ‘You have gone to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you? Gehazi said, “She has no son, and her husband is old.” Then Elisha said, “Call her.” So he called her, and she stood in the doorway. “About this time next year,” Elisha said, “you will hold a son in your arms.” “No, my lord!” she objected. “Please, man of God, don’t mislead your servant!” But the woman became pregnant, and the next year about that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her. I recently heard a story of someone who went on a mission trip to serve a church in a different country. And he was blown away at the hospitality he was shown. He arrived to a host family of modest means who opened their home to him. Not only did they welcome him into their home and family, they insisted that he sleep in their bed, while they slept on the couch. The story in today’s reading is similarly a story of radical hospitality, where a couple made a room for Elisha to stay whenever he passed through town. Think about a time where someone showed you hospitality to you in a way that caused you to pause and say, “Wow this is really extravagant!” In this story we see that biblical hospitality isn’t just about the details—not just about cleaning the bathroom or sweeping the floors, planning a special meal, or preparing a room for a guest. When we make space for others and when we serve others, we make space for God, and we serve God. As you listen to the passage again, pay attention to how a simple act of hospitality made room for God, and how it changed a couples’ life forever. Being hospitable doesn’t require you to offer up a nice room in your home or even prepare a fantastic meal. Think less of it as a formula and more of an invitation. As we close our time today, ask God how he might be inviting you to show hospitality to someone in your life. Who is one person who God is highlighting? Ask him to speak to you about how you can extend the grace of hospitality. And as you do, remember that you are making room for God to move. Lord God, Almighty and Everlasting Father, You have brought me in safety to this new day. Preserve me with Your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin nor be overcome by adversity. And in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of Your purpose through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. Music: All The Same - Vineyard Worship - (YouTube)

**After much prayer and reflection, we want to share that Be Still will conclude on February 17, 2026. Since 2023, it has been a gift to walk together through daily moments of Scripture, prayer, and stillness. We are deeply grateful for every listener who has made space to meet with God through this devotional. The full archive of episodes will remain available as a resource for anyone who wishes to continue engaging with Be Still. While new episodes will no longer be released, we trust the Lord will continue to use these moments to draw hearts closer to Him. Thank you for being part of this journey.** _________ Today is Tuesday, February 4. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you.        Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”           Today’s reading is from the Book of Psalms, chapter 56.         3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.  4     In God, whose word I praise—  in God I trust and am not afraid.      What can mere mortals do to me?     5 All day long they twist my words;      all their schemes are for my ruin.  6 They conspire, they lurk,      they watch my steps,      hoping to take my life.  7 Because of their wickedness do not let them escape;      in your anger, God, bring the nations down.     8 Record my misery;      list my tears on your scroll—      are they not in your record?  9 Then my enemies will turn back      when I call for help.      By this I will know that God is for me.     10 In God, whose word I praise,      in the Lord, whose word I praise—  11 in God I trust and am not afraid.      What can man do to me?     The psalmist begins by declaring: "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you". This verse highlights a fundamental choice we face in moments of anxiety. Do you turn inward and let fear dominate, or do you, like the psalmist, intentionally choose to place your trust in God? The psalmist acknowledges the reality of human threats and schemes, but immediately redirects his focus to the power and faithfulness of God. Can you identify any place of fear that God is inviting you to re-orient, away from fear and towards trust in God?      The psalmist is vulnerable and honest with God. He asks God to notice his suffering, and declares that God will turn back his enemies when he calls for help. Do you believe that God sees your suffering, and that he will fight for you? As you hear the scripture again, consider a place in your life where you feel vulnerable, or even under attack, and trust that God is fighting for you.     Take some time today to actively praise God, either through singing or spoken words, even if you don't feel like it. If you are feeling overwhelmed or afraid, write down the things that are causing your fear and ask God to notice your pain. Make a choice to trust in God’s power and presence. Ask God to show you how to rely on his word and to quiet your fears. Music: Great Are You Lord - Vineyard Worship

**After much prayer and reflection, we want to share that Be Still will conclude on February 17, 2026. Since 2023, it has been a gift to walk together through daily moments of Scripture, prayer, and stillness. We are deeply grateful for every listener who has made space to meet with God through this devotional. The full archive of episodes will remain available as a resource for anyone who wishes to continue engaging with Be Still. While new episodes will no longer be released, we trust the Lord will continue to use these moments to draw hearts closer to Him. Thank you for being part of this journey.** _________ Today is February 3rd May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.” Today’s reading is from 1 Corinthians 16 "13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love." This is a short reading, set at the end of Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth. In between greeting individuals, Paul gives these imperatives to the young church: Be on your guard. Stand firm. Be courageous. Be strong. Do everything in love. The first four of these instructions sound like words a coach might offer their players: both offensive and defensive instructions. When you hear these kinds of exhortations, how do they make you feel? Does one of the four feel particularly relevant to you right now? Do everything in love. Imagine being on your guard, standing firm, being courageous, and being strong… all wrapped up in demonstrations of love. Does this feel possible to you? To be strong and courageous… and loving? To stand firm and be on your guard… in a loving way? As you hear this brief passage read again… think about what comes most naturally to you. Are you more naturally ‘on your guard’, or ‘loving’. Which do you need to practice with more intentionality? "13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love." Jesus himself is our model for strength, courage, and love. And it is only through the Holy Spirit that we are able to follow in His way…. Bring to mind a specific situation or relationship in your life in which you need strength, courage, or love—or possibly, all three! As we end, pray and ask God to give you the ability to demonstrate Christlikeness. Lord God, Almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Music Credit: Make Us Like Jesus - Vineyard Worship (YouTube)

**After much prayer and reflection, we want to share that Be Still will conclude on February 17, 2026. Since 2023, it has been a gift to walk together through daily moments of Scripture, prayer, and stillness. We are deeply grateful for every listener who has made space to meet with God through this devotional. The full archive of episodes will remain available as a resource for anyone who wishes to continue engaging with Be Still. While new episodes will no longer be released, we trust the Lord will continue to use these moments to draw hearts closer to Him. Thank you for being part of this journey.** _________ Today is February 2nd. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.” Today Christians celebrate the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple. Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 2. When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took [Jesus] to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” This is a beautiful passage that tells the story of both consolation and desolation. Simeon experienced consolation when the awaited Christ child was presented to the Lord in the Temple. And we can imagine that Mary, mother of Christ, experienced desolation at Simeon’s words about her son, and about a sword piercing her soul. Imagine how Simeon felt when he took Christ into his arms. Now, imagine how Mary felt hearing the prophetic words of Simeon. Jesus is present to us in times of both consolation and desolation. As you hear the passage read again, ask Jesus to draw near to you in whatever season you find yourself. Jesus was presented to Simeon as an infant – but Simeon, who was filled with the Holy Spirit, received him as messiah and as the consolation of Israel. When Jesus first was presented to you, how did you perceive Him? Did you feel moved by the Spirit, like Simeon did? Did you marvel at what was said about him, like His parents did? As you end your time of prayer, reflect on how it was that you first received Jesus: as consolation? As messiah? How else might you describe your first experience of Jesus? Lord God, Almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Music: How Glorious You Are - Vineyard Worship - (YouTube)

This is a version of the five-step Daily Examen that St. Ignatius practiced. 1. Become aware of God’s presence. 2. Review the day with gratitude. 3. Pay attention to your emotions. 4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. 5. Look toward tomorrow.

Today is January 30th. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.” Today’s reading is Psalm 43. Vindicate me, my God, and plead my cause against an unfaithful nation. Rescue me from those who are deceitful and wicked. You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy? Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. The writer is moving between hope and anxiety, faith and doubt, in this psalm. He asks God to vindicate and rescue him from his enemies. In both this Psalm, and the one right before it, the writer is describing a sort of spiritual depression: the sense that God is far off. How do you feel, knowing that even the writer of this Psalm experienced the feeling of being rejected by God? Does that knowledge feel like a consolation or desolation for you? As you hear the passage read again, pray along with the psalmist. Can you make verse three of this psalm a prayer for yourself today? Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me. Do you know someone in a time of spiritual depression who might be encouraged by this passage? Who might need the faithful care of God? Pray for them today as well. Lord God, Almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Music: You Don't Have To Lose Heart - Vineyard Worship, Joshua Miller - (YouTube)

Today is January 29. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.” Today’s reading is from the book of Acts, chapter 21. Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. 21 They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs. 22 What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, 23 so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow. 24 Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. 25 As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.” 26 The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them. This passage reminds me of the demands that are placed on us by other people. People are coming to the Apostle Paul and placing extraordinary demands on him, saying “If you want to prove yourself faithful to God, you need to do this… you need to do that.” Consider for a moment an extraordinary demand that is being placed on you today by someone else... from a family member—a parent or sibling or the demands of parenting a child. Or the demands from your job… from a boss or coworker. Can you allow yourself to feel the pressure of those demands for a moment? Bring all of that to the Lord today and tell him how you feel. How does Paul respond in that moment? We know from his writings that he was motivated by Christ’s love. Not by people pleasing. Not by his own reputation. In other words, if he ever goes above and beyond, it’s because of Christ, not because of some external demand. Listen to the passage again, and ask yourself where Christ is in the midst of the demands you are facing. As we close our time of prayer, remember this: You have the same Holy Spirit as the Apostle Paul. If you don’t know how to respond to a demand from someone on you, if you are confused about a decision you need to make, remember that the Holy Spirit lives in you and guides you. Ask him to guide you by his Spirit and through his Word. And trust that he will show you what to do today. Lord God, Almighty and Everlasting Father, You have brought me in safety to this new day. Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin nor be overcome by adversity. And in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ, ou Lord. Amen. Music: "If You Say Go" - Vineyard Worship - (YouTube)

Today is January 28. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you.        Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”           Today’s reading is from Psalm 119, beginning in verse 89.    Your word, Lord, is eternal;      it stands firm in the heavens.  90 Your faithfulness continues through all generations;      you established the earth, and it endures.  91 Your laws endure to this day,      for all things serve you.  92 If your law had not been my delight,      I would have perished in my affliction.  93 I will never forget your precepts,      for by them you have preserved my life.  94 Save me, for I am yours;      I have sought out your precepts.  95 The wicked are waiting to destroy me,      but I will ponder your statutes.  96 To all perfection I see a limit,      but your commands are boundless.           This psalm in it’s entire is the longest psalm in the bible, and it’s focused on glorifying God and his word. The words for word… sometimes ‘law’, sometimes ‘precepts’, sometimes ‘statues or commands’ – together build a picture that the psalmist is glorifying God’s revelations, God’s discernment, His instructions. The psalmist is saying than in a world where everything changes, where rules change where values change, where people change… God’s word is stable. It’s the only stable thing we have, actually. As you come to prayer today, think about all of the ever-changing things in the world around you. Does that ever feel disorienting?       Our world, for many people, feels like a sea filled with waves, storms, and winds blowing in opposite directions. It doesn’t feel like anything has a firm foundation: even truth. Or virtue. It feels like nothing is enduring. Cultural rules change faster than we can keep track! So do allegiances. The psalmist is describing what we feel – that sense of homelessness, the sense of confusion, the same that we don’t ever have a firm foundation for truth. Listen again for the consolation that the psalmist has found in God’s enduring revelation. God doesn’t change. God always loves mercy and justice. God always is compassionate. God always is willing and wanting to forgive. God always, always, always, offers grace.       Many of us grew up in religious environments where God’s word felt like a bunch of arbitrary rules. Or we grew up in secular environments where cultural norms felt like a bunch of arbitrary rules! Either way, the revelation God brought to the world in Christ is that God’s word isn’t a list of rules…. God’s gracious revelation to us is in Christ, our brother. The spirit, our helper. And they are an ever-present foundation, a tall strong tower to find protection in. I would love for you to, this year, work to read scripture with these sorts of eyes… to read the Bible looking not for a list of rules, but for the steady, firm, and consistent presence of your good and gracious Father God. If you don’t read the Bible regularly, would you consider giving yourself a time each week to sit down, read, journal, and pray. If you don’t understand what you read, look for the passage on a web resource called The Bible Project and there’s a good chance you’ll find a video that will help you understand what’s going on in the book or text you’re looking at. Music: Dwell - Vineyard Worship

Today is January 27th       May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.       Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”       Today’s reading is from Psalm 71, The Message Version     You got me when I was an unformed youth,       God, and taught me everything I know.  Now I’m telling the world your wonders;       I’ll keep at it until I’m old and gray.  God, don’t walk off and leave me       until I get out the news  Of your strong right arm to this world,       news of your power to the world yet to come,  Your famous and righteous       ways, O God.  God, you’ve done it all!       Who is quite like you?  You, who made me stare trouble in the face,       Turn me around;  Now let me look life in the face.       I’ve been to the bottom;  Bring me up, streaming with honors;       turn to me, be tender to me,  And I’ll take up the lute and thank you       to the tune of your faithfulness, God.  I’ll make music for you on a harp,       Holy One of Israel.     The Psalmist considers his own life with God: from his youth to the end of his life… in times of trouble and in times of honor. Take a moment to orient yourself today: how old are you? How long have you been following the Lord? Do you feel like you are ‘staring trouble in the face’, or ‘streaming with honors’, or somewhere in between?     Reading the Psalms helps us to remember that God is near to us in every season of life: young or old; troubled or encouraged; full of doubt, or full of faith. As you hear the passage read again… listen for a word or phrase that helps give words to the season you find yourself in today. Remind yourself that even now, God is with you.      You got me when I was an unformed youth,       God, and taught me everything I know.  Now I’m telling the world your wonders;       I’ll keep at it until I’m old and gray.  God, don’t walk off and leave me       until I get out the news  Of your strong right arm to this world,       news of your power to the world yet to come,  Your famous and righteous       ways, O God.  God, you’ve done it all!       Who is quite like you?  You, who made me stare trouble in the face,       Turn me around;  Now let me look life in the face.       I’ve been to the bottom;  Bring me up, streaming with honors;       turn to me, be tender to me,  And I’ll take up the lute and thank you       to the tune of your faithfulness, God.  I’ll make music for you on a harp,       Holy One of Israel.     The Psalmists are often turning their attention from ‘looking at trouble’ to ‘looking at life’. The Biblical writers don’t deny trouble, darkness doubt, or pain… but, at the same time, they show us how to broaden our attention to include the faithfulness of God, and to the news of His power to save. Is there a situation in your life where you are forgetting to turn your eyes to God’s faithfulness? As we end, remember a time where you’ve seen God’s provision in a time of trouble. Ask God to help you keep your eyes turned toward Him.     Lord God, Almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.       Music: Invitacion Fountain - Vineyard Worship/Steve Jones Invitacion Fountain (feat. Steve Jones) (Live) 

Today is January 26th. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.” Today’s reading is from 1 Corinthians 10. For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness… These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! Paul is reminding the church in Corinth that even the ancients of the faith from the time of Moses did not always demonstrate faithfulness… even after they had experienced miraculous things like their deliverance out of Egypt, and God’s provision for them in the desert. Do you ever struggle between faithfulness and faithlessness? “Be careful that you don’t fall!” How do these words make you feel? Do they feel kind, like words spoken by an attentive caregiver, who wants you to stay safe and sound? Do they make you feel defensive? As you hear the passage read again… consider your own spiritual foundation: does it feel firm? Insecure? David, the shepherd King and OT Psalmist, prayed that God would search Him and know His heart. Today, invite the Spirit of God to search you and know you in the same way. To show you places where you are standing firm? Can you also invite God to call to mind areas in your life where you should exercise spiritual care? Lord God, Almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Music: Take My Life - Vineyard Music/Scott Underwood - (YouTube)

This is a version of the five-step Daily Examen that St. Ignatius practiced. 1. Become aware of God’s presence. 2. Review the day with gratitude. 3. Pay attention to your emotions. 4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. 5. Look toward tomorrow.

Today is January 23rd. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.” Today’s reading is from the book of Jeremiah, chapter 22. This is what the Lord says: “Go down to the palace of the king of Judah and proclaim this message there: 2 ‘Hear the word of the Lord to you, king of Judah, you who sit on David’s throne—you, your officials and your people who come through these gates. 3 This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place. 4 For if you are careful to carry out these commands, then kings who sit on David’s throne will come through the gates of this palace, riding in chariots and on horses, accompanied by their officials and their people. 5 But if you do not obey these commands, declares the Lord, I swear by myself that this palace will become a ruin.’” The Prophet Jeremiah is communicating the heart of God to the palace of the King of Judah: to do what is just and right in the eyes of God… to rescue the oppressed and protect the vulnerable. The power of God is demonstrated in counter-cultural ways throughout scripture, and in this case, Jeremiah is speaking the truth about power to the people in power. He is reminding them that the power they have is meant to serve those who are vulnerable—orphans, widows, refugees, children… Jeremiah is speaking a warning to those in power about how they prioritize these people. What might Jeremiah say to us today? As you hear the passage read again… ask God to help you hear these words in your own life. Consider what it means for you to ‘be careful’ to carry out His commands to do what is just and right with vulnerable people in your life. There are times as Christians when we will be called to say or to do something that is counter cultural. Can you recall a time that you’ve stepped out or taken a risk to demonstrate the upside-down nature of the kingdom of God? Ask God to give you both conviction and courage to ‘do what is just and right’ in His eyes today. Lord God, Almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Music: "Roll Like A River" - Vineyard Worship - (YouTube)

Today is January 22. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.” Today’s reading is from Psalm 46. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Welcome to prayer today. As you come to pray, consider how it is you are drawing near to the Lord. Do you come seeking refuge or help? Do you come full of fear? Do you come with a sense of victory, or strength? Talk to God about the condition of your mind, your body, and your heart. Listen to the scripture again allow the words to strengthen and encourage you... Is there an image that stands out to you? The Lord Almighty is with us. He is with you. God – the uncreated creator of all that is, the eternal and almighty God: he draws near to you. He is your fortress. He is your strong tower in times of trouble. AS you end your time of prayer today, ask God for His protection – for his ever-present help over your family or friends, over your local church, and over your sisters and brothers in faith... Pray in particular for those who are vulnerable, who are in trouble. And as you pray, offer God your time, money, or energy toward situations that are in need of practice acts of mercy or justice. Lord God, Almighty and Everlasting Father, You have brought me in safety to this new day. Preserve me with Your mighty power that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity. And in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of Your purpose through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Music: Nothing Is Too Hard For You - Vineyard Worship - (YouTube)