Be Still: Daily Devotional

Today is the 31st day of Lent.

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 the Book Revelation, chapter 11.

Revelation 11:15-19
"15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”
16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. 18 The nations were angry, and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great and small— and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”
19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm."

The book of Revelation, with its epic apocalyptic imagery, stirs great emotion. Maybe those emotions are unsettling. Nations raging against God. God rewarding the faithful and judging the dead, destroying those who destroy the earth. Flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, earthquakes. Notice what this imagery stirs up in you.

Maybe we feel fearful of these images because we realize that we are small and out of control. But keep in mind that these images in the book of Revelation were given to bring comfort to those who were small and out of control. It’s a reminder that God will make everything right again when we can’t.

This is the moment when his reign and rule are fully established. As you hear the passage again, imagine your voice added to the voices in heaven that proclaim “he will reign forever and ever”!

"15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,
16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. 18 The nations were angry, and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great and small— and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”
19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm."

When we pray “your kingdom come, your will be done”, this is what we are praying for—that God’s reign and rule would be fully established in the world, and in our lives. As we close our time, think of one area of your life, or a situation in the world where God’s kingdom has not been fully established. Pray “your kingdom come, your will be done” over that situation.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of your saving help again and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen


Be Still: Daily Devotional with Eric and Julia Pickerill.
Originally produced at Vineyard Columbus and republished by permission.

Subscribe: Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-still-daily-devotional/id1662156224 | Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1vRcmmVmxUU579ZsOFcT1X | Amazon https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c57a529f-db23-427f-87fb-e01cb8ca6b78

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Today is the 30th day of Lent.

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 the Book of Colossians, chapter 1:9-14

"9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[a] 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[b] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

In this passage, Paul gives us several examples of what it looks like to please God: that we bear good fruit, that we grow in our knowledge of God, that we are strengthened by the Spirit, that we demonstrate endurance and patience, and that we are filled with joyful thanksgiving. Which of these is an area in your spiritual life that feels most vibrant, most alive? Can you see areas of good fruit being born in your day-to-day life? … Is your time of study and growth in knowledge going well? … do you feel strengthened by the Spirit’s presence regularly? … Are you practicing endurance and patience right now? … Is your life marked by joy and thanksgiving? Where are you thriving?

Like anything else, we tend to focus our spiritual attention on things that come naturally to us, and we often need to put extra effort toward other areas. As you listen to the passage read again, identify one marker that feels like an area of weakness, or of gap in your life.

"9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[a] 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[b] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

I love how often scripture speaks of joy! CS Lewis wrote that Joy is the serious business of Heaven. The Apostle Paul, who by all accounts was likely a pretty intense fellow, wrote often of joy. Joy is a fruit of the spirit. It must be cultivated. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the Welsh minister and doctor, wrote (quote) "in any definition we may give of New Testament joy, we do not go to a dictionary; we go to the New Testament instead. This is something quite peculiar which cannot be explained; it is a quality which belongs to the Christian life in its essence, so that in our definition of joy we must be very careful that it conforms to what we see in our Lord. The world has never seen anyone who knew joy as our Lord knew it, and yet He was “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” So our definition of joy must somehow correspond to that… Joy is something very deep and profound, something that affects the whole and entire personality. In other words it comes to this -There is only one thing that can give true joy and that is contemplation of the Lord Jesus Christ. He satisfies my mind; He satisfies my emotions; He satisfies my every desire. He and His great salvation include the whole personality and nothing less, and in Him I am complete. Joy, in other words, is the response and the reaction of the soul to a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (end quote) (Life in Christ Studies in 1 John by Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

We live in an age that is marked for many by anxiety, depression, isolation, and exhaustion. As we end, would you invite God to give you the gift of His joy… Not a joy that pretends, or a joy that ignores, or a joy that denies… but a joy that can be present to you, no matter your circumstances, by the power of God’s spirit?

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of your saving help again and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Be Still: Daily Devotional with Eric and Julia Pickerill.
Originally produced at Vineyard Columbus and republished by permission.

Subscribe: Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-still-daily-devotional/id1662156224 | Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1vRcmmVmxUU579ZsOFcT1X | Amazon https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c57a529f-db23-427f-87fb-e01cb8ca6b78

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Today is the 29th day of Lent.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace through the power of the Holy 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 Gospel of Matthew, chapter 9.

Matthew 9:27-34
"27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
“Yes, Lord,” they replied.
29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; 30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” 31 But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.
32 While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. 33 And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”
Consider that these two men had likely been blind for many years, perhaps their whole lives. And consider that they were outcasts because of it, marginalized in their society. And consider that maybe they had prayed over and over again that their condition would change, but it hadn’t. What do you think that did to their faith?
Yet Jesus asks them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” What do you think it was about Jesus, about this moment, that allowed them to say, “Yes, Lord”? As you hear the passage again, call to mind one area of your life that you’ve given up praying about. You don’t think change is possible. Imagine that Jesus is addressing you with the question, “Do you believe.”
27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
“Yes, Lord,” they replied.
29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; 30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” 31 But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.
32 While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. 33 And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”

As you go through your day today, continue to bring to God that thing in your life that you’ve given up on. Ask him to increase your faith, to stir up in you what you don’t have in yourself—faith that he truly is able to do all things.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of your saving help again and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.


Be Still: Daily Devotional with Eric and Julia Pickerill.
Originally produced at Vineyard Columbus and republished by permission.

Subscribe: Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-still-daily-devotional/id1662156224 | Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1vRcmmVmxUU579ZsOFcT1X | Amazon https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c57a529f-db23-427f-87fb-e01cb8ca6b78

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Today is the 28th day of Lent

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 Isaiah, chapter 42:14-21

"14 “For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back. But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant. 15 I will lay waste the mountains and hills and dry up all their vegetation; I will turn rivers into islands and dry up the pools. 16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. 17 But those who trust in idols, who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned back in utter shame.
18 “Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, and see! 19 Who is blind but my servant, and deaf like the messenger I send? Who is blind like the one in covenant with me, blind like the servant of the LORD? 20 You have seen many things, but you pay no attention; your ears are open, but you do not listen.” 21 It pleased the LORD FOR THE SAKE OF HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS TO MAKE HIS LAW GREAT AND GLORIOUS."

This is a passage filled with the passion of God: both His judgment and frustration against those who trust in idols… and his presence and provision for those who love Him. We hear a familiar theme in these verses about those to whom God has revealed Himself, but who nonetheless pay Him no attention: “you have seen many things, but you pay no attention; your ears are open, but you do not listen...” Think back over your life as a follower of Jesus: what are the ‘many things’ that you have seen God do? How has He protected you, or provided for you? … Are those things easy for you to forget? To take for granted?

Have you ever experienced what it’s like when someone doesn’t pay you the proper attention? Maybe you are a parent, or a child, or a teacher, or a friend… and someone you love isn’t listening to your words of compassion, of concern, or of wise counsel. What is it like to love someone deeply… yet to experience them as not paying attention to you? As you listen to this passage again, consider God’s demonstrations of persistence and patience as we, over and over, fail to pay him attention.

"14 “For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back. But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant. 15 I will lay waste the mountains and hills and dry up all their vegetation; I will turn rivers into islands and dry up the pools. 16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. 17 But those who trust in idols, who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned back in utter shame.
18 “Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, and see! 19 Who is blind but my servant, and deaf like the messenger I send? Who is blind like the one in covenant with me, blind like the servant of the LORD? 20 You have seen many things, but you pay no attention; your ears are open, but you do not listen.” 21 It pleased the LORD FOR THE SAKE OF HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS TO MAKE HIS LAW GREAT AND GLORIOUS."


I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. Isaiah’s words remind us that God is not only patient with us, and not only persistent with us, but that he is so very kind to us. While we don’t pay attention, while we turn away… He continues in his faithfulness. Could you, today, commit yourself to maintaining focus on your followership of Jesus… to keep ‘paying attention’ to Christ? And as we end our time of prayer today, consider writing this scripture down and working to memorize it this week: I will turn the darkness into light before them, and make the rough places smooth.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of your saving help again and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Be Still: Daily Devotional with Eric and Julia Pickerill.
Originally produced at Vineyard Columbus and republished by permission.

Subscribe: Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-still-daily-devotional/id1662156224 | Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1vRcmmVmxUU579ZsOFcT1X | Amazon https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c57a529f-db23-427f-87fb-e01cb8ca6b78

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Today is the 27th day of Lent

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 Isaiah 59

"9 So justice is far from us,
and righteousness does not reach us.
We look for light, but all is darkness;
for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.
10 Like the blind we grope along the wall,
feeling our way like people without eyes.
At midday we stumble as if it were twilight;
among the strong, we are like the dead.
11 We all growl like bears;
we moan mournfully like doves.
We look for justice, but find none;
for deliverance, but it is far away.
12 For our offenses are many in your sight,
and our sins testify against us.
Our offenses are ever with us,
and we acknowledge our iniquities:
13 rebellion and treachery against the Lord,
turning our backs on our God,
inciting revolt and oppression,
uttering lies our hearts have conceived.
14 So justice is driven back,
and righteousness stands at a distance;
truth has stumbled in the streets,
honesty cannot enter.
15 Truth is nowhere to be found,
and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.
The Lord looked and was displeased
that there was no justice.
16 He saw that there was no one,
he was appalled that there was no one to intervene;
so his own arm achieved salvation for him,
and his own righteousness sustained him.
17 He put on righteousness as his breastplate,
and the helmet of salvation on his head;
he put on the garments of vengeance
and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak."

Lent is a season that acknowledges the absence of God in the world. Isaiah acknowledges that
reality in his poetry. We look for light, but all is darkness. We look for justice, but find none. For
deliverance, but it is far away. Have you ever experienced a season in your life, a situation that
was full of darkness, or without deliverance? Can you recall what that experience was like for
you?

But God doesn’t leave us in darkness. He was appalled that there was no one to intervene. So
he put on righteousness and salvation and stepped into the world himself. In Christ, God
intervened. As you hear the passage again, think about this from God’s perspective. What it
was it like for God to see our hopelessness, and for him to be moved to intervene.

"9 So justice is far from us,
and righteousness does not reach us.
We look for light, but all is darkness;
for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.
10 Like the blind we grope along the wall,
feeling our way like people without eyes.
At midday we stumble as if it were twilight;
among the strong, we are like the dead.
11 We all growl like bears;
we moan mournfully like doves.
We look for justice, but find none;
for deliverance, but it is far away.
12 For our offenses are many in your sight,
and our sins testify against us.
Our offenses are ever with us,
and we acknowledge our iniquities:
13 rebellion and treachery against the Lord,
turning our backs on our God,
inciting revolt and oppression,
uttering lies our hearts have conceived.
14 So justice is driven back,
and righteousness stands at a distance;
truth has stumbled in the streets,
honesty cannot enter.
15 Truth is nowhere to be found,
and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.
The Lord looked and was displeased
that there was no justice.
16 He saw that there was no one,
he was appalled that there was no one to intervene;
so his own arm achieved salvation for him,
and his own righteousness sustained him.
17 He put on righteousness as his breastplate,
and the helmet of salvation on his head;
he put on the garments of vengeance
and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak."

If you find yourself in a situation where it feels like God is absent, remember that God has
already moved on your behalf through Christ. And remind yourself that he will move again. As
you walk through your day, ask God to stir his hope in you that he will come again.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from
your presence and take not your holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of your saving help again
and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Be Still: Daily Devotional with Eric and Julia Pickerill.
Originally produced at Vineyard Columbus and republished by permission.

Subscribe: Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-still-daily-devotional/id1662156224 | Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1vRcmmVmxUU579ZsOFcT1X | Amazon https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c57a529f-db23-427f-87fb-e01cb8ca6b78

More at pickerill.casa

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.

Be Still: Daily Devotional with Eric and Julia Pickerill.
Originally produced at Vineyard Columbus and republished by permission.

Subscribe: Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-still-daily-devotional/id1662156224 | Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1vRcmmVmxUU579ZsOFcT1X | Amazon https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c57a529f-db23-427f-87fb-e01cb8ca6b78

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Today is the 24th day of Lent.

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 1st Samuel, chapter 15.

"Samuel replied:
“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idol
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”
24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them. 25 Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord.”

Throughout scripture God condemns hypocrisy in our worship—when the outside form of worship doesn’t line up with the inward reality of our lives. We sometimes think that means that our inside feelings should match our outward worship—that when we sing to God, that we should have passionate feelings about God. But Samuel says that’s doesn’t solve our problem of hypocrisy. He says that what God delights in isn’t having the right feelings about him, but being obedient to him, doing the thing that he says. Consider for a moment a place in your life where you are being obedient to the Lord.

Now, consider for a moment a place where you are being disobedient to the Lord. Is there a place where God is asking something of you but you feel resistant to obey? Maybe out of fear of what it may cost you. As you listen again, ask God for a spirit of courage to trust and obey the Lord in what he is asking of you today.

"Samuel replied:
“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”
24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them. 25 Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord.”

As you continue through your day, ask for a soft heart to God’s voice and be obedient to one thing that he speaks to you. It could be a small thing that feels insignificant, like saying a kind word to someone in a moment of frustration. Whatever the Lord places on your heart, ask for grace to be obedient to him in that moment.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of your saving help again and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Music Credit:
If You Say Go - Vineyard Worship (YouTube)


Be Still: Daily Devotional with Eric and Julia Pickerill.
Originally produced at Vineyard Columbus and republished by permission.

Subscribe: Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-still-daily-devotional/id1662156224 | Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1vRcmmVmxUU579ZsOFcT1X | Amazon https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c57a529f-db23-427f-87fb-e01cb8ca6b78

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Today is the 23rd day of Lent.

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 Psalm 23.

"1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

This King James version of Psalm 23 is familiar to many. The Shepherd takes us on a journey in these short few verses. From green pastures of abundant grazing to still restful waters, along arduous paths of righteous obedience, through the shadow of death’s mountains. As you consider your life’s journey at the moment, how would you describe the view? Is it peaceful or tumultuous? Are you full and abundant, or in deprivation? Are you protected, or is danger lurking?

David took comfort in the Shepherd’s rod and staff. The Shepherd’s rod warded off danger when David threw it at attacking predators. And the staff was a tool of rescue, pulling the sheep from precarious and dangerous situation. As you hear the passage read in a different version, think of a situation where you need God to ward off danger, to rescue you from a precarious situation.
(CEV)

"You, Lord, are my shepherd. I will never be in need. 2 You let me rest in fields of green grass. You lead me to streams of peaceful water, 3 and you refresh my life.
You are true to your name, and you lead me along the right paths. 4 I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won't be afraid. You are with me, and your shepherd's rod makes me feel safe.
5 You treat me to a feast, while my enemies watch. You honor me as your guest, and you fill my cup until it overflows. 6 Your kindness and love will always be with me each day of my life, and I will live forever in your house, Lord."

The last scene is one of a homecoming after a long journey. You arrive safely at home, savor an abundant feast, and you enjoy God’s presence forever. As you walk with God today, allow this picture of homecoming to give you energy to walk with him in trust.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of your saving help again and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Music Credit:
Breathe In, Sing Out - Vineyard Worship (YouTube)


Be Still: Daily Devotional with Eric and Julia Pickerill.
Originally produced at Vineyard Columbus and republished by permission.

Subscribe: Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-still-daily-devotional/id1662156224 | Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1vRcmmVmxUU579ZsOFcT1X | Amazon https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c57a529f-db23-427f-87fb-e01cb8ca6b78

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Today is the 22nd day of Lent.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace through the power of the Holy 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 2.

“10 Go west and look in the land of Cyprus; go east and search through the land of Kedar. Has anyone ever heard of anything as strange as this? 11 Has any nation ever traded its gods for new ones, even though they are not gods at all? Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God
for worthless idols! 12 The heavens are shocked at such a thing and shrink back in horror and dismay,” says the Lord. 13 “For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me— the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!"

God regularly speaks to his people about “living water”. It’s an interesting expression. But think about how important water would have been in that environment for survival. Much of the Holy Land was desert. The closest body of water to Jerusalem was so full of salt that they called it the Dead Sea; no plants or living creatures could survive in it. And God speaks to his people again and again and, in place of dead water or having a lack of water, he offers them abundant, living water. The scriptures speak of this living water flowing from God’s throne in heaven. How do you think people would have felt when they heard this offer of living water?

At the same time, the scriptures speak of people turning away from this living water. Digging their own wells. Storing water in cracked containers. Becoming sick on the water they drink. That’s a powerful image. As you hear the passage again, think about the wells you have dug to find life rather than drink from God.

“10 Go west and look in the land of Cyprus; go east and search through the land of Kedar. Has anyone ever heard of anything as strange as this? 11 Has any nation ever traded its gods for new ones, even though they are not gods at all? Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols! 12 The heavens are shocked at such a thing and shrink back in horror and dismay,” says the Lord. 13 “For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me— the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!"

As you continue through your day today, try and hold a simple phrase in your mind—“I’ll drink from you, Lord.” And throughout the day today, repeat it quietly to the Lord. “I’ll drink from you, Lord.”

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of your saving help again and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Music Credit:
Mighty River - Vineyard Worship (YouTube)

Be Still: Daily Devotional with Eric and Julia Pickerill.
Originally produced at Vineyard Columbus and republished by permission.

Subscribe: Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-still-daily-devotional/id1662156224 | Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1vRcmmVmxUU579ZsOFcT1X | Amazon https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c57a529f-db23-427f-87fb-e01cb8ca6b78

More at pickerill.casa

Today is the 21st day of Lent.

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 1st Corinthians chapter 10.

"1 I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground. 2 In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses. 3 All of them ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ."

The Apostle Paul is reminding us that we are a part of a much bigger story than we could imagine. Aren’t you in awe when we read the stories of what God did with those people? But Paul says, It’s not just their story; it’s your story. Those people who passed through the Red Sea, who followed the cloud, who miraculously survived in the desert on the way to the Promised Land, they didn’t know it at the time, but it was Christ who was with them. And the same is true for you and me today. In your journey from bondage to baptism, from wilderness to promised land, it is Christ who is there with you every step of the way. How does it make you feel to be connected to this story that lives through the ages?

As you hear this short passage again, ask God to show you the ways that he has been miraculously involved in your life up until now.

"1 I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground. 2 In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses. 3 All of them ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ."

Think of someone you know who is journeying through life but doesn’t know Christ, or maybe they have lost their way in the wilderness. Maybe it’s been some time since they’ve seen God’s miraculous provision in their life. As we close our time today, pray for Christ to reveal himself to them.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of your saving help again and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Music Credit:
The Name - Vineyard Worship (YouTube)


Be Still: Daily Devotional with Eric and Julia Pickerill.
Originally produced at Vineyard Columbus and republished by permission.

Subscribe: Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-still-daily-devotional/id1662156224 | Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1vRcmmVmxUU579ZsOFcT1X | Amazon https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c57a529f-db23-427f-87fb-e01cb8ca6b78

More at pickerill.casa