Be Still: Daily Devotional

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

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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

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 February 25.
 
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 Samuel, chapter 24.    
   

After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.” 2 So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats. 
  
3 He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. 4 The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe... 
  
8 Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. 9 He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? 10 This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11 See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. 12 May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. 13 As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you.   
  

David and Saul have a relationship marked by power, distrust, and significant dysfunction. Are there any relationships in your life right now that feel out of joint? As we enter into a time of prayer today, take an extra few moments to reflect on as many relationships as come to mind. If a broken relationship does come to mind, or perhaps it's an individual who you feel like is bent on doing you in justice, pray specifically for them, and for the situation right now. 
   
Along with all of this dysfunction, David and Saul's relationship had a massive bit of miscommunication in it. They're both chasing each other around, and they're both feeling chased. listen to the text again and pay attention for particular parts of the story that stand out for you, or a word or phrase that seems particularly meaningful. 
   
Human relationships, because of sin, will always experience breakdown and dysfunction. The natural way of the world is toward entropy… And that means that it takes work to build good and healthy things. As we end our time of prayer today, ask yourself how much energy, you are putting into the most important relationships in your life. Are you doing the kind of work that represents the importance of that relationship if you feel like there is a gap in your practical investment in relationships in your life, take time today to pray and ask for wise counsel about how you can do good work to build good and healthy relationships. 


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 February 24.
 
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 Genesis, chapter 33.    
   

Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two female servants. 2 He put the female servants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. 3 He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. 
  
4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.   
   

Today, we witness a powerful moment of reconciliation between Jacob and Esau. Despite their past conflicts and Jacob's fear of Esau's anger, Esau runs to embrace his brother with love and forgiveness. This story reminds us of the importance of forgiveness and the healing it can bring to our relationships. Reflect on a time when you experienced reconciliation with someone. How did it impact your relationship and your heart? 
 
Jacob's act of bowing down to Esau seven times shows his humility and desire for peace. It highlights the importance of humility in mending broken relationships. As you listen to the story again, consider areas in your life where you might need to approach someone with humility and seek reconciliation. How can you take the first step towards healing a strained relationship?  
   
Today, take a step towards reconciliation with someone you may have had a conflict with. It could be a simple gesture of kindness, an apology, or reaching out to start a conversation. Pray for the courage and humility to seek peace and forgiveness, and trust that God will guide you in this process. 

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 February 21st

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 118:5-14

"5 When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place.
6 The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? 7 The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. 9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. 10 All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down. 11 They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down. 12 They swarmed around me like bees, but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them down. 13 I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. 14 The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation."

The Psalmist is pouring his heart out to God. He feels hard pressed, surrounded, pushed back, and about to fail. He also has seen the Lord answer him in those places... and he writes “the Lord helped me.” Where is it that you feel overwhelmed, as though you were surrounded by a swarm of bees?

Where do you need the Lord’s help today?

The psalmist is honest about both sides of the coin: he feels hard pressed, he cries to the Lord... and also, the Lord answers, and brings the psalmist into a spacious place. As you hear the passage read again… listen to the rhythm of personal complaint, and God’s answer. Does your own spiritual life ever follow this rhythm?

"5 When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. 6 The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? 7 The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. 9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. 10 All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down. 11 They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down. 12 They swarmed around me like bees, but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them down. 13 I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. 14 The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation."

“It is better to take refuge in the Lord…” Think about the things that you take refuge in. Maybe it’s your savings or retirement account, or maybe a trusted friend, or a perhaps you take refuge in something feels protective but is actually harmful—maybe eating or drinking too much. Or maybe isolating from others feels like a safe refuge, but you still feel deep longing for connection. What would it look like for you today to surrender the things you trust in, for God’s refuge? Take a moment now and tell God that you want him to be your refuge in the storm.

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:
Your Love - Vineyard Worship Deaturing Tim Brown (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 February 20th.

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 8:5-13

"5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”
7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”
8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment."

The centurion was a military man, a man with power and authority. Roman centurions had a reputation for meting out harsh punishment. The Roman historian Tacitus tells a story of a centurion who had been given the nickname "Cedo Alteram", which basically means: "Fetch Me Another"… because he punished those under his service so harshly that he often needed to replace them. So consider this: the centurion came to Jesus and did two remarkable things: first, he asked for help. Second, he showed empathy with his suffering servant. Does this surprise you? Ask God for insight into the centurion: what was going on in this encounter withJesus that allowed such a man in such a hardened role to demonstrate humility and compassion?

We often hear the centurion praised because of His faith in Christ to heal his servant. As you hear the passage read again… consider how his faith in Christ must have transformed the centurion himself... and healed not just the servant, but perhaps his own hardened heart as well.

"5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”
7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”
8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment."

The centurion was part of a culture that valued brute strength, authority, and power above all. Humility was a despised weakness. But Christ made it a paramount value, transforming our whole understanding of how God’s kingdom works. Invite God to speak to you about how you exercise power and authority in your own life and relationships. Ask God to transform any hardness or harshness in you, into the virtues of humility and empathy, just like the centurion demonstrated.

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:
Surrender - 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 February 19.
 
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 Luke, chapter 11.    
   

37 When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. 38 But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal. 
  
39 Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you. 
  
42 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. 
  
43 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces. 
  
44 “Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.” 
   
  
To summarize this scripture, Jesus is calling out the reality that talk is cheap, and that the interior is way more important to God than the exterior. The Pharisee was surprised that Jesus didn’t wash his hand. Notice here that the text does not tell us that he said anything to Jesus about it. He was just surprised. Somehow, supernaturally, Jesus must've sensed judgment coming from this Pharisee because he responded in a way that was addressing judgment and not handwashing. Not only that he addressed the silliness of paying so much attention to the surface, when everything beneath the surface can be corrupt. In Jesus's word… You can wash the outside of a cup, but if the inside is filled with mold and mess… It's still unclean. In the same way we can look really great on the outside… And have some pretty messed up internal realities. As you come to prayer today, think about your inside and your outside. Think about your secret self, or your private self… And the public persona that you walk around showing. How are those two selves to one another? 
 
Listen to the scripture again and pay attention to the intensity with which Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees. In the last line of our text, he says "Woe to you because you were like unmarked Graves, which people walk over without knowing it". That's a picture of being dead on the inside. Pay attention to how it makes you feel as you listen to the text. 
   
In particular, Jesus says to these guys that while they give a 10th of all their herbs and spices… They are not generous to the poor. And they neglect mercy and justice. They do everything on the outside to look right, but they're actual behavior and the state of their heart isn't clean before the Lord, as we end our time of prayer today, take some time to reflect on the state of your own private self. Ask the Lord to help you continually become transformed, not just exteriorly… But in the very core of your being, into the likeness of Christ. 

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 February 18.
 
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 Ezra, chapter 1.    
   

1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing: 
  
2 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: 
  
“‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. 3 Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them. 4 And in any locality where survivors may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.’” 
  
5 Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. 6 All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings. 
  
7 Moreover, King Cyrus brought out the articles belonging to the temple of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his god.  
  
 

In Ezra, we see how God moves the heart of King Cyrus to fulfill His divine plan. Cyrus wasn’t an Israelite King; he was Persian. This reminds us that God can use anyone, even those who do not know Him, to accomplish His purposes. It encourages us to trust in God's sovereignty and His ability to work through unexpected people and circumstances. Consider a time in your life when God used an unlikely person or situation to bless you or guide you. How did that experience strengthen your faith? 
 
The willingness of the people to support the rebuilding of the temple with their resources is a powerful example of communal faith and generosity. It challenges us to consider how we can contribute to God's work today. It’s countercultural to give your time and money and energy to the work of building God’s kingdom. It says here, “everyone whose heart God had move” participated. As you hear the passage again, consider a time that God has moved your heart in the past, or, how do you sense him moving you now to invest in building his kingdom?  
 
Today, take a step to support God's work through your local church community. It could be serving in a ministry, or giving cheerfully, or simply offering your skills to help someone in need. Pray for guidance on how you can best use your resources to serve others and glorify God. 

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