Be Still: Daily Devotional

Today is November 21.

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 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? 
      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?  
  
Scripture so often talks about fear, one of the most basic of human emotions. Fear can be acute – being afraid in a frightening situation – or chronic – being afraid in an ongoing way where fear or anxiety becomes a chronic part of our emotional landscape, even if there’s nothing in front of us to be afraid of. Do you struggle with fear, or anxiety, or worry? Is there a situation right now that makes you feel afraid? Bring that to the Lord. 
 
Now take whatever situation that has come into your mind… perhaps a specific thing you are worried about? Or a fear you have? Or chronic anxiety? And as you listen again to the words of this psalm, imagine offering it to the Lord, laying it down at His feet. 
 
What can man do to me? One the one hand, we might answer: A LOT! Humanity does horrific things, mankind can be cruel. On the other hand, we might consider what the Psalmist is pointing toward: that regardless of what happens in this mortal world, God is trustworthy. We can remember that in this mortal world we will have trouble. And there are things to fear. AND we can ask God for the power to trust in his eternal love, His eternal justice and mercy, and His eternal shalom. This is not a simple thing. As we end, I have two encouragements for you. First, if you are afraid of a particular situation or person… and if you have reason to be afraid, if anyone is hurting or harming you… please reach out to a pastor, counselor, or safe friend and talk to them… so that someone else knows and can help you. Second, if you know that you are safe… but yet struggle with fear or anxiety or worry… take time through your day to offer it – over and over – to the feet of Jesus. 
 
Music: "Be Still" - Vineyard Worship 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1gofYxnWpE&list=OLAK5uy_lORjIs-fhaoAb6ot2t54vI3oFG2Cvhwms&index=3 

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

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Today is November 20.

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 19.  
 
While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”  
They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”  
3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”  
“John’s baptism,” they replied.  
4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 
       
Paul tells the church in Corinth to Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts. Here, Paul traveled to Ephesus and prayed that they may be filled by the spirit. These believers had heard the Gospel message and were baptized into that knowledge by John… and now they experienced the presence and the power of God through the spirit. As you come to prayer today, do you feel the presence and power of God’s spirit?  
   
We know that God is near to us always – He is behind and before, above and beneath. Wherever you are, God is. At the same time, scriptures like these remind us that there is also an experience of God’s spirit… not just an intellectual assent, but an actual experience, of the truth in the nearness of God. As you listen to the passage again, imagine this group new disciples moving from a head knowledge about God, to an actual experience of God. 
  
Paul traveled in order to pray over these new believers, to impart God’s spirit to them, and to encourage them. Imagine how their faith was built up by Paul’s willingness to be present to them. As you go through your day today, pray that God would bring someone across your path that you can encourage through the Holy Spirit. Look for ways this week to be one like Paul, who is intentionally blessing others, and praying over them: Come Holy Spirit.  
 
Music: "Fall Afresh" - Vineyard Worship/Samuel Lane 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YUirsQjXmU 

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

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Today is November 19.
  
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 Hebrews, chapter 10.   
  

32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.  
36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For,  
“In just a little while,  
    he who is coming will come  
    and will not delay.”   
38 And,  
“But my righteous one will live by faith.  
    And I take no pleasure  
    in the one who shrinks back.”   
39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.  
  

The writer of Hebrew is exhorting the Christians following a sobering caution for those who fall away from faith in Jesus. Then, he turns toward encouragement for those who are hanging on in their faith through obedience. As you come to prayer today, take a moment to reflect on the condition of your faith. Are you demonstrating the fruits of the spirit? Are you practicing obedience to the way of Christ? Are there areas where you are shrinking back?  
    
A major theme of the letter to the Hebrews have been the need to "hold fast" during suffering and hardships. The original audience of this letter were most likely persecuted Jewish Christians of the early church. Most had already experienced some level of hardship for the sake of their faith. Sometimes we listen to scripture and forget the real suffering and persecution the early church lived through. Listen again and consider how these words would sound if you were suffering for your faith in prison.  
    
Are you facing such challenges? Hardships? Even suffering for your faith in Jesus today? If not now, do you remember facing such opposition for your faith in the past? We don’t need to look far than the very grace of God which carried us through those challenging moments. Recount them today as you come to the Lord in prayer today.   
  
Thank God for the grace given to us. Pray for those who might be suffering for their faith today. If someone comes to mind today, would you reach out to them and share an encouraging word? 

Music: "You Don't Have to Lose Heart" - 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 November 18.
  
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 3.   


1 Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me!  
2 Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.”  
3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.  
4 I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain.  
5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.  
6 I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.  
7 Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.  
8 From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.  
  

This Psalm is David’s heart cry to God as his own son, Absalom, began a violent revolution sending a 12,000-man army to kill his father David and take his throne. Imagine the deep pain of betrayal that David felt in that moment. Have you ever experienced a personal betrayal? Consider what you felt like in that moment?   
    
In David’s moment of deep pain and betrayal, when he was most exasperated about his circumstances, he cried out to God. Not only does he cry out to God, but he declares his faith that God will rescue him, God will deliver him. As you listen to the passage again, listen for David’s faith in God and ask God to increase your own faith.  

What challenges are you facing today? Even if it’s not tens of thousands people are assailing you, sometimes if can feel like ten thousand challenges are assailing you. Today, can you respond like David to the growing opposition you face? Today, can you call out to the Lord and as for his protection and deliverance?  

Music: "My Soul Depends on You" - 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 November 17.

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 of Isaiah, chapter 30.

21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

If you are a follower of Jesus, scripture tells you that you can hear his voice. Does that give you confidence? Do it feel confusing? Does God’s voice feel near to you today? Or perhaps far?
 
When we pray, “Come Holy Spirit”, we are inviting the spirit of God to increase His presence with us. We are praying: More! We are praying that we would become aware of, and attentive to, the fact that He is with us, He will lead us. God sees you, and God loves you. A friend of mine says it like this: “God is just crazy about you!”. Sometimes we forget that. Sometimes we don’t feel it to be true. But nevertheless… the Lord is near to you…

I am going to pray for you right now…. Lord, would you increase your presence with my sister, my brother? God, show yourself as the good father who you are. Spirit, fill them with your power, your life, and your vision. Jesus… would you lead this one? You are their good shepherd. Would you encounter them with a new infilling of your power and your love? In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Music Credit:
"Breathe On Us" - Heaven and Earth (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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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 November 14  

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 37.   
  
      3 Trust in the LORD and do good;   
         dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.   
      4 Take delight in the LORD,   
         and he will give you the desires of your heart.   
       5 Commit your way to the LORD;   
         trust in him and he will do this:   
      6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,   
         your vindication like the noonday sun.   
   
God is faithful, and trustworthy. As you come to prayer today, take a bit of time to reflect on your experience of God’s faithfulness. Can you recall a specific memory where you saw God’s faithfulness to you? Take some time to sit with and remember that experience.  
   
The Psalms remind us time and time again to keep our eyes on God, and His character. We often come to prayer distracted, minds full or anxious. Can you slow down, and focus deeply on your time of prayer? Can you listen to the Psalm again, paying attention to each word. You might want to rewind, and play it back several times today.  
  
God is faithful, and trustworthy! He is our all in all, the bright morning star, the bringer and redeemer of life and truth and beauty and goodness. We can trust in Him. Right now, I sense an invitation for you to ask the Spirit to increase your faith. To deposit in you a faith that is a gift of grace, not something you muster up…… take time as we close to intercede for the church to grow in faith, hope, and love. Pray for your local church, and for other faith communities in your city.  
  
Music: "All The Ways" - Vineyard Worship 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TzLh0Za5jg  

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 November 13 
 
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 Isaiah, chapter 26.   
  
      7 The path of the righteous is level;   
         you, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth.   
      8 Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws,   
         we wait for you;   
         your name and renown   
         are the desire of our hearts.   
      9 My soul yearns for you in the night;   
         in the morning my spirit longs for you...   
          
The people of God have always done the work of walking in His ways, waiting for His presence, and longing for more of Him. This is the way of the ‘now and the not yet’. It is a way of both faithful obedience, and a faithful longing for more of His kingdom to come. What is it that stirs up your sense of longing for God’s kingdom to come?  
   
I feel very aware of the places of violence and pain in our world – the struggle in families – the experience of loneliness that pervades our culture. These realities make me long for the righteousness of God, for His presence, and for the shalom – the peace – that only He can bring. These realities also make me come alive to my own sense of calling to participate in the work of God’s kingdom. Listen to the reading again, and ask God to stir up in you a holy longing for more of Him.   
   
Where the presence of God is, is His power as well. We are called to wait on Him, to walk in His ways, to be people of His kingdom. Take time today to intercede for a new empowering of the church by the spirit of God, and for a fresh wave of his kingdom in the world around us.   
  Music: "No Rush" - Heaven & Earth 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1v0I-02AJA 

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

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Today is November 12.
  
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 Genesis, chapter 24.


12 Then he prayed, “Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. 14 May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.”  
15 Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milkah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. 16 The woman was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again.  
17 The servant hurried to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.”  
18 “Drink, my lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink.  
19 After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.”  
26 Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord, 27 saying, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.”  
  
  
The servant in this passage prays to the God of Abraham. He asks Abraham's God to give him success in this mission for Abraham in finding a wife for his Son Isaac. This servant asks that God would, in doing so, show his kindness and faithfulness toward Abraham. Is there something in your life that you would like to ask for God to bless? A situation where you need wisdom, or you need God’s provision for you or someone else?   

The prayer that Abraham’s servant prays is so humble, and so full of simple faith. “Lord make me successful today. And show kindness to my master Abraham.” Is that a prayer that you could pray for yourself? And for someone that you love? Do you believe that God would hear your prayer, and answer your prayer? As you hear the passage again, could you pray that prayer for you and for someone you know?   
    
The prayer is not just full of simple, humble faith, but also a prayer that is specific. On a very particular day, in a very particular situation, in a very particular moment, he prayed for particular things to happen. As you go through your day today, look for a very particular situation that you or someone you love are facing, and take a step to pray a very particular prayer for them, and ask for a particular outcome. And watch and see what the Lord does. 

Music: "Invitacion Fountain" - 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 November 11.
  
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 113.


1 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, you his servants; praise the name of the Lord.  
2 Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore.  
3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.  
4 The Lord is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens.  
5 Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high,  
6 who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?  
7 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap;  
8 he seats them with princes, with the princes of his people.  
9 He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children.  
  

Psalms 113-118 are often known as the Egyptian Hallel, mainly because of their connection with Passover celebrations which commemorate Israel’s deliverance from Egypt in the Exodus narrative. The psalms were sung as part of the Passover ceremony by all the Jews thereafter. There is no doubt that these exact words were sung by Jesus and his disciples during the Passover meals. As you come to prayer today, consider that you are entering into the presence of ‘a great cloud of witnesses’ in the faith. Take a moment to become aware of the long history of our faith.  
    
Listen to this Psalm once again – the very words that Jesus himself sang: consider how Israel – the poor, needy and lowly are lifted by God who is over all things. Think of where you might feel poor, needy and lowly and think of the God who sits enthroned on high above heavens and the earth.  
    
The Psalmist declares that the unchanging God never becomes unworthy of our praise. For the child of God with open eyes, time only reveals even more reasons to praise God. For the Psalmist, what amazes him is that God is exalted so high that he stoops low to see not only the earth but also the heavens, and yet at the same time he cares for the every day person. Can you receive this truth in your heart today? In whatever areas you are feeling poor and needy, express your heart to God and know that this almighty God knows you and cares for you.

Music: "You're Worthy of My Praise" - 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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