Be Still: Daily Devotional

Today is October 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 Psalm 84.  
 
      1 How lovely is your dwelling place,  
         LORD Almighty!  
      2 My soul yearns, even faints,  
         for the courts of the LORD;  
         my heart and my flesh cry out  
         for the living God.  
      3 Even the sparrow has found a home,  
         and the swallow a nest for herself,  
         where she may have her young—  
         a place near your altar,  
         LORD Almighty, my King and my God.  
      4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;  
         they are ever praising you.  
  
As you draw near to God today, how aware are you of your need for him? The psalmist writes that their soul yearns, even faints... for the presence of the Lord. Can you take time to become aware of the presence of God with you now?  
  
How settled do you feel, today? Does the picture of a sparrow finding a home feel resonant to you? Do you feel at home, right now, with God? Or perhaps, do you feel far from home? Listen to the psalm again, and allow it to lead you to consider your sense of nearness to... or distance from... God.  
   

Blessed are those who dwell in your house. Take time as we end today to form a mental picture of what it could mean to dwell in the house of the Lord. Do you imagine a nest? Do you imagine a kitchen table? Do you imagine a mansion? Take some time to settle on an image, and invite God to meet you in it as you contemplate dwelling in the Lord’s house today. 
 
Music: "Your Dwelling Place" - Vineyard Worship  
Your Dwelling Place | Live from Anchour Studio feat. Anabeth Morgan | Vineyard Worship 


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

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Today is October 2 

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 Peter, chapter 1.  
 
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.  
  
Peter writes with such a vigorous hope – what he calls his ‘living hope’. As we begin with prayer today, take a few moments to reflect on the state of your own hopefulness? Or perhaps, your lack of hope about something in particular? Bring it all to the Lord. 
  
Peter also calls us to rejoice - ‘though now for a little while you may have to suffer grief’. He seems so able, at least in this text, to hold this tension between the hardships of this world, and the promise of the next world. Listen again and allow the spirit to draw your attention to a particular word or phrase....  
  
The phrase that stands out for me is ‘in his great mercy’. Especially in times of present hardship, or grief, or testing... it is sometimes difficult to find our footing in the mercy of God. But God IS merciful. He shields you by his power. And He loves you with an everlasting love. Consider for a while what it means for you to be found in His great mercy.  
 
Music: "Your Love" -Vineyard Worship  
Your Love (feat. Tim Brown) 

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

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**This devotional contains an editing error. The scripture read was supposed to be from Psalm 5 and that devotion refers to it but the edited in reading is from the book of John. We are working to fix this.**

Today is October 1st.

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 Psalm, chapter 5.


Listen, God! Please, pay attention!
    Can you make sense of these ramblings,
    my groans and cries?
    King-God, I need your help.
Every morning
    you’ll hear me at it again.
Every morning
    I lay out the pieces of my life
    on your altar
    and watch for fire to descend.


Music: I Need You - Vineyard Worship - YouTube

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 30.


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 Esther, chapter 4.  
  

5 Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.  
6 So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. 7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.  
9 Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, 11 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days passed since I was called to go to the king.”  
12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”  
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”  
17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions. 
  

Imagine today that you are in Esther’s place… having to stand up to the King in a time of great trouble for your entire people, fasting and praying and scared.... The task before you is all risk:  You are frightened, in over your head, and alone. . Esther is hungry, frightened, clear about the risks before her… and brave. Take a few moments to identify with what that may have felt like. 
   
Recall a time the Lord called you to obedience to Him, even though it felt like a risk. Listen to the story again with your own experience in mind. Pay attention for a word or phrase that stands out to you.  
   
As we end our time of prayer, consider any position of leadership, or authority, or privilege you may have. Do you ever consider that you have been placed where you are in order to walk out in bravery? What does it mean to you, that perhaps you have come to your own position ‘for such a time as this’? 

Music: Anything and Everything - 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 September 27 

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 2 Chronicles, chapter 14.  
 
2 Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. 3 He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. 4 He commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his laws and commands. 5 He removed the high places and incense altars in every town in Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under him. 6 He built up the fortified cities of Judah, since the land was at peace. No one was at war with him during those years, for the LORD gave him rest.  
7 “Let us build up these towns,” he said to Judah, “and put walls around them, with towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the LORD our God; we sought him and he has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered.  
  
This is a story that starts with Asa turning from Idolatry of foreign Gods to the one true God. It is easy to shift our worship from the one true God to other idols – maybe money, or power, or some other temptation. As we begin prayer can you examine your life for places where you might be centering yourself around something other than God? 
 
Why do you think it is so easy for us to shift our orientation from God to other things? In ancient times, people worshipped physical idols. What are things that people in our culture worship, other than worshipping God? Consider, as you listen again, how Asa dealt with those false idols. 
  
Asa reoriented the city from idols to the one true God, and the city was built up and prospered. God gave the city rest as it oriented back to God. What does that speak to you about your own life? Where do you search for peace? As we close our time of prayer, might you give yourself fully to God, so that you might receive his rest?  
 
Music: "You Have Our Yes" - Vineyard Worship  
YOU HAVE OUR YES [Official Lyric Video] | Vineyard Worship (Feat. Marc James & Cathy Burton) 


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 26  

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 James, chapter 1.   
  
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.   
  
As we enter our time of prayer, take a moment to think of a way you are persevering; something you are doing despite the desire to give up. Does it test your faith?  
  
What is it that keeps you going?  Is it God?  
 
How present is God to you in the times you want to quit? How close do you allow Him to get when you're gritting your teeth?  Sometimes, we don't even understand why we are persevering. How close do you feel to the Holy Spirit then? Are you persevering willingly in those moments?  
   
As we close our time of prayer, ask God for the wisdom to persevere. Maybe you need to know why you have to work so hard to be mature and complete. Maybe you need to know how to keep going. Ask for some of the generous knowledge He offers. It’s always available.  
  
Music: "You Don't Have to Lose Heart" Vineyard Worship  
You Don't Have To Lose Heart | Official Lyric Video | Vineyard Worship 


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 25  

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 18.   
  
15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.   
18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.   
19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”  
  
In this verse, Jesus very straightforwardly tells us exactly how to deal with conflict. He doesn't even use a story to get this point across. It's that important. How do you deal with the sins of your fellow Christians? Do you point out flaws like Jesus would, talk privately, and then let God do the work in their heart? Or do you ask another person their advice, let the person know publicly, and then angrily cut them out of your life forever? 
   
"Treat them as you would a pagan or tax collector." As you hear the scripture again, consider how Jesus treated the pagan and the tax collector; like enemies? Like lost sheep in need of saving. He didn't condemn or shame. He forgave, freed and loved even people who betrayed Him, if they had faith and turned to God, because if someone is truly focuses on Him, they show up and do their best in this life to glorify Him, even though they can’t be perfect.  
   
As we close our time of contemplation think about this: 
Do you have the faith to be forgiven for your sins by turning toward God?  
Is it harder to forgive or be forgiven? Try doing one or the other today.   
  
Music: "Throne of Grace" - Vineyard Worship  
Throne of Grace 

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 24.


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 Ecclesiastes, chapter 4.  
  

      9 Two are better than one,  
         because they have a good return for their labor:  
      10 If either of them falls down,  
         one can help the other up.  
         But pity anyone who falls  
         and has no one to help them up.  
      11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.  
         But how can one keep warm alone?  
      12 Though one may be overpowered,  
         two can defend themselves.  
         A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. 
  

Welcome to prayer. Let’s begin by getting oriented to the Lord’s presence. HE is near to you, even now, wherever you find yourself. Invite Him to draw you further into awareness of His goodness.  
   
Our reading today is a well-known passage from Ecclesiastes, that speaks to the goodness of life in community. Two are better than one, the author says. But for so many in our world today, loneliness feels like more of a reality than community does. How do you come to prayer today? Do you feel ‘kept warm’ by community? Or do you feel alone? Talk to the Lord about this as we read the passage again. 
   
“Pity the one who falls and has no one to help them up…” do you know someone who is feeling particularly alone right now? Are you ever in a place to be present to someone who has ‘no one else to help them’? our world is full of lonely people. As we end our time of prayer today, ask God for eyes to see those who need a friend. And for those who feel lonely, invite the Lord into that as a conversation, and allow Him to minister His presence to you. 
 
Music: Dwell - Vineyard Columbus - 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 23.


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 128.  
  
  
      1 Blessed are all who fear the LORD,  
         who walk in obedience to him.  
      2 You will eat the fruit of your labor;  
         blessings and prosperity will be yours.  
      3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine  
         within your house;  
         your children will be like olive shoots  
         around your table.  
      4 Yes, this will be the blessing  
         for the person who fears the LORD.  
       5 May the LORD bless you from Zion;  
         may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem  
         all the days of your life.  
      6 May you live to see your children’s children—  
         peace be on Israel. 
  
  
Four times this Psalm speaks blessing. God’s desire and heart is blessing. In the Bible, blessing is the flourishing and multiplication of life. Take a moment and settle yourself in the reality that God desires to bless, to bless, and not to curse. To cause your life to flourish and multiply.  
   
Blessing is practical and multi-dimensional. In this Psalm it’s the flouishing of family, of relationship, of provision, of prosperity, and of peace. As you listen to the Psalm again, ask the Lord to draw your attention to a particular phrase that you can hold onto today, an area where you would like to see the blessing of God in your life. 
   
Blessed are all those who walk in obedience to the Lord, the psalmist writes. As we end our time of prayer today, would you invite God to draw you further into obedience? What is one area where the Lord is asking for you to trust and obey him? Pray for grace today that you might persevere in obedience and experience the overflow of his blessing.  

Music: All Things - 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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