Be Still: Daily Devotional

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.

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Today is September 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 Hebrews, chapter 3.  
 
1 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. 3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5 “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,” a bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.  
  
What have your thoughts been fixed on this week? What has occupied your concerns? Take a few moments of quiet now to review the worries, desires, and preoccupations that are filling your mind... 
  
The author of Hebrews exhorts us to fix our thoughts on Jesus. He reminds us that God is faithful, that he is worthy, that we can be confident in him. Listen again to this scripture, and to the confidences the author gives us about the character of God. 
  
For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. So often we forget that it is God who holds everything together. Whare are things in your life, right now, that you feel a need to master, or control, or fix? Can you invite God, the builder of everything, into those things? As we end our time of prayer, offer them over to the Lord. 
 
Music: "Sing His Name" - Vineyard Worship 
Vineyard Worship | Sing His Name (ft. Alexandria Faison, Tina Colón Williams & Tim Brown) | Live 

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 September 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 the book of 1 Kings, chapter 3.  
 
7 “Now, LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”  
10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.  
  
Solomon prayed to the Lord for a discerning heart, in order to govern in wise ways... and the scripture tells us that the Lord was pleased to answer this prayer. Solomon needed wisdom, he says, because he felt like ‘only a little child’. As we enter into our own time of prayer today, what is a place where you feel that way... a situation where you are in need of wisdom or discernment for a task ahead of you that you don’t feel equipped for? Talk to God about this. 
  
When you find yourself – like Solomon did – in over your head... is it your first inclination to be humble, and to ask God for what you need? Or is your first inclination to power through? To try to be more than you are? To fill gaps that you know you can’t fill? As you listen again to these words, listen for Solomon’s humility...  
  
As we close our time of prayer, talk to God about places or situations where you need a wise and discerning heart. Bring any places of overwhelm to Him... 
 
Music: "God of Rest" - Vineyard Worship  
GOD OF REST (Dios Del Descanso) | Official Lyric Video feat. Tina Colón Williams | Vineyard Worship 

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 September 10.


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 Joshua, chapter 8.  
  

So Joshua and the whole army moved out to attack Ai. He chose thirty thousand of his best fighting men and sent them out at night with these orders: “Listen carefully. You are to set an ambush behind the city. Don’t go very far from it. All of you be on the alert. I and all those with me will advance on the city, and when the men come out against us, as they did before, we will flee from them. They will pursue us until we have lured them away from the city, for they will say, ‘They are running away from us as they did before.’ So when we flee from them, you are to rise up from ambush and take the city. The LORD your God will give it into your hand. When you have taken the city, set it on fire. Do what the LORD has commanded. See to it; you have my orders.” Then Joshua sent them off, and they went to the place of ambush and lay in wait between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai—but Joshua spent that night with the people.  
  

Welcome to prayer today. Our Old Testament text is a war story. How do you feel when you come across stories in the Bible that feel out of touch, or strange… or like this one: a story of something violent? How do you feel that the Bible tells the story of a real history… one that is filled with the fallenness of this world?  
  
Into a world filled with violence and hurt, God revealed himself in history as Jesus – the peacemaker. The redeemer. The merciful. Listen to the text again and consider the way of this world. With the way that Jesus teaches us in the beatitudes. What do you do with the breath of this distinction from the Old to the New Testament?  
   
As we end our time together, take a few moments to intercede for areas in your life, or your family, or in the world around you, that are experiencing violence and war. Pray for the revelation of Christ. Pray for protection of the innocent. And pray for God’s kingdom – of mercy, shalom, and loving-kindness, to increase. 

Music: When You Call My 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

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Today is September 9.

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 Proverbs, chapters 8 & 9.  
  
  
      “Now then, my children, listen to me;  
         blessed are those who keep my ways.  
      Listen to my instruction and be wise;  
         do not disregard it.  
      Blessed are those who listen to me,  
         watching daily at my doors,  
         waiting at my doorway.  
      For those who find me find life  
         and receive favor from the LORD.  
      But those who fail to find me harm themselves;  
         all who hate me love death.”  
Wisdom has built her house;  
         she has set up its seven pillars.  
      She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;  
         she has also set her table.  
      She has sent out her servants, and she calls  
         from the highest point of the city,  
               “Let all who are simple come to my house!”  
         To those who have no sense she says,  
               “Come, eat my food  
         and drink the wine I have mixed.  
      Leave your simple ways and you will live;  
         walk in the way of insight.” 
  

This message from Proverbs is all about our need for wisdom. As you come to prayer today, do you need wisdom for any area of your life? Take time as we begin to bring to mind one or two situations that are tricky or complex, or where the way forward isn’t clear.  Invite the Lord now to bring you wisdom.  
   
“For those who find me, find life.” Proverbs presents wisdom in a personified way… as though wisdom is a person who is present to guide us, to counsel us, and to nourish us. It’s communicating to us that God himself is wisdom. The way of wisdom is not the way of intelligence. The way of wisdom, of insight, goes beyond mere data or language or memorization, or following the crowd of what culture tells us is wise. The way of wisdom is the way of the Lord and the way to life. The way of wisdom, the proverbs say, is also a way that requires our attention. Listen to the pay again and pay attention to all of the blessings that wisdom brings to us… 
   
This passage ends with a great encouragement for us. Wisdom isn’t for the intelligent. It’s not just for the specially gifted. Wisdom isn’t out of reach. No, wisdom calls calls out to us and wants to be found. She stands outside her house and calls to us, and her doors are wide open. And when we come, we feast on an incredible banquet! As we close our time today, be encouraged— God wants to give you wisdom. Be confident that he will speak to you and lead you today. He is with you!

Music: If You Say Go (We Wait For 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 September 8.

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 gospel of Matthew, chapter 8.

23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

As we enter prayer today, I’m going to ask you to enter into this story as well. Imaginative prayer helps for us to read scripture not just as familiar stories… but as actual events. Can you call to mind a picture of a small boat? Nothing fancy. Nothing modern. It’s small, handmade, and probably rickety. Imagine the waves picking up, and the wind driving rain into your face. Try to smell the stormy air. Imagine the fear of lightening, as the furious storm pounds you and your friends. Have you ever felt terrified? Have you been out in nature, subject to the elements with no shelter. Imagine that. You’re afraid for your life. Take a few moments to imagine this scene, and to try to become connected to this fear and sense of being out of control, with both your senses, and emotions.

Now comes an interruption. In their desperation, the disciples wake Jesus. Perhaps in their anger: how is this guy sleeping through such an all-hands-on-deck-moment? Save us, they cry. We’re going to drown!, they cry. Have you ever prayed a prayer like this? A prayer that feels like a last-ditch-effort? Listen again… and imagine now the frantic tone of their call to Jesus:

The Greek work that translates to: you of little faith is used multiple times in Matthew. We perhaps read it as an insult. Or a judgement. But read in context it has the ring of a something one dear friend might say to another… like a nickname of sorts. Now keep in mind, Jesus uses this word to describe his disciples – those who would become saints and martyrs. Their faith – though maybe little – was clearly sufficient! As small as a mustard seed, we might say. But the gospels remind us that even the tiniest seed of faith is all we need bring to God. Even the frustrated and frightened cry of ‘Lord save me!’ is sufficient. AS we end our time of prayer today, reflect on the goodness of God, and how Christ is present to all who call on His name: no matter the ‘size’ of faith we bring to Him.

Music Credit:
Peace Be Still - 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

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

More at pickerill.casa

Today is September 5.

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 Ephesians, chapter 4.  
 

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. 
 

Paul’s writing to the Ephesians paints a picture of a collection of Jesus-followers who are interconnected, who each know their giftings, and who hold together in their collective journey toward unity, maturity, and love. As you come to prayer today, take some time to think about how connected you are right now to the whole body of Christ?  
  
The early church was clear that corporate followership of Jesus – not individualistic spirituality – was a marker of maturity. Paul is writing to a group of people in Ephesus… not just individual Christians. Our culture is highly individualized, and more and more… a sense of belonging to the church is diminishing in the world around us. Listen to Paul’s words again, paying special attention to the fact that he wrote them to the corporate body of believers…that we are each meant to be in meaningful connection to.  
  
Here is Paul’s vision of the church: that the whole body grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. As we end our time of prayer today, what part of this statement might God be inviting you to consider more deeply in your life? Is it how you engage with ‘the whole body’? Might it have to do with how you ‘build up in love’? Or about how every part is meant to ‘do its work’? Talk to God about your relationship to His church, and listen to where He draws your attention. 
 
Music: Make Us One - Vineyard Worship: Make Us One (feat. Mike O'Brien) (Live) 

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 September 4.


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 gospel of Matthew, chapter 6.  
 

“This, then, is how you should pray:  
          ‘Our Father in heaven,  
         hallowed be your name,  
      your kingdom come,  
         your will be done,  
         on earth as it is in heaven.  
      Give us today our daily bread.  
      And forgive us our debts,  
         as we also have forgiven our debtors.  
      And lead us not into temptation, 
         but deliver us from the evil one. 
  
  
This is, for many of us, a familiar prayer. Simple, even. How is your prayer life these days? Are you regularly turning to the Lord, speaking to him, and listening? 
  
Listen again to this prayer, the prayer model Jesus gave to his disciples and to us. Try to listen to each line, really being attentive to what the scripture is saying. Pay attention to what word or phrase stands out to you today. 
  
If you are feeling disconnected with an intentional habit of prayer, take some time today to think about how you might reengage. For some, simply writing out this prayer, from Matthew 6, every morning would be a great start. For others, starting a simple journal of conversation with the Lord could be helpful. Keep in mind that Jesus orients to something incredibly important in just the first two words: we are praying to Our Father! He is good, and gracious, and generous, and he loves you as a good father loves his children.   
 
Music: Our Father - 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 September 3.

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 1 Timothy, chapter 4.  
  

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. 
  
  
As we begin, take a moment to slow down even more. Perhaps, if you’re able to, you can sit still and stop any multitasking. Perhaps you can take another slow deep breath. Remind yourself that God is near to you. Become aware of His presence. 
   
We begin with a reminder to rest because the passage today is all about striving for God, laboring for him. And we need to be reminded that our work comes out of an overflow of rest—God's rest. Paul is telling Timothy that spiritual training – spiritual formation – training in Godliness – is valuable. Essential even. A Christian is someone who becomes more and more like Christ. Christ meets us where we are, but he doesn’t leave us where we are. He changes us. As you listen to the passage again, consider your own spiritual training. Where are you strong? And where are you weak and in need of training and discipline? 
   
All of us in this world labor and strive for something. What are you striving for today? What is it that is taking up your thought-life, your energy and your time? How does that match up to the effort you put into training in Godliness? Speak to the Lord as we end, and invite Him to continue to draw you towards his grace to become like Christ… and not in the other things that we all to often strive for. 

Music: I Want To Be Faithful - 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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