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 August 16.


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 Psalm 112.  
 

      Praise the LORD.   
         Blessed are those who fear the LORD,  
         who find great delight in his commands.  
       Their children will be mighty in the land;  
         the generation of the upright will be blessed.  
      Wealth and riches are in their houses,  
         and their righteousness endures forever.  
      Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,  
         for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.  
      Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,  
         who conduct their affairs with justice.  
       Surely the righteous will never be shaken;  
         they will be remembered forever.  
      They will have no fear of bad news;  
         their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.  
      Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;  
         in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.  
      They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,  
         their righteousness endures forever;  
         their horn will be lifted high in honor.  
 

As I pray for you, I am struck by this verse: they will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. As you take some quiet with the Lord today, are there places of fear, or of bad news that you might bring before Him? Take a few moments to talk to God about those things. 
  
Consider the word ‘steadfast’. It means to be ‘firmly fixed’. Now consider the condition of your own heart before the Lord. Before we read the scripture again, ask God to share with you some words or descriptions or realities about the state of your own heart…… Be honest with God. He is near to you whatever the condition of your heart….  
 
Now, take a deep breath…. And listen again to the words of the psalm: 
  
Even in darkness, light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous… Today, if you bring fear, or bad news, or darkness to this time of prayer, take a moment now and allow the light of God to break over your heart like a new dawn, for his light to flood you throughout the day.  
 
Music: "You Are God" - Vineyard Soul - (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 August 15.


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 gospel of John, chapter 14.  
 

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.  
 

Jesus is talking here with his disciples… those he called his friends. Sometimes, when we read this passage, we might think about it in an exacting way: ‘does this mean, if I pray for anything I want, and then say ‘in jesus name!’ I’ll get it? Instead of thinking about this scripture in an exacting way, can you think about the depth of what Jesus is trying to communicate to his friends? He seems to be trying to get them to understand that even when he is gone to His father, when he appears far off, that he wants them to continue to ask him for things…  Are there any requests that you have for Jesus, as you come to Him in prayer now?  
  
Throughout scripture, God teaches His people that He is their provider. He is our good shepherd. And He says that not only can we ask for His provision, but also that we can hear his voice. Listen again to His words, and as you do, try to consider what it was like for the disciples to hear Jesus say these things… Imagine His gentle and earnest tone of voice, and how it would have felt to them that Jesus would say such generous words to them. 
  
Think, as we end, about what it means that Jesus says to you… “you may ask me…” Take some time to quiet your heart, and bring your requests to Jesus. 
 
Music: "Heaven's Work" -Vineyard Soul - (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 August 14.


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 Romans, chapter 14.  
 

Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 
  


The Apostle Paul is guiding the church in Rome about their posture with one another when they disagreed about ‘disputable matters’. Disputable matters would be those practices we have as Christians that we follow according to our own conscience. They aren’t over primary matters of orthodoxy, but things that are of secondary importance. In this case, he’s talking about certain dietary limitations some Christians put on themselves, but that other Christians didn’t feel were necessary. Paul is helping to define their posture of love, service, and humility toward one another… even when they disagreed about certain things. As you come to prayer today, search your heart for any places where you feel ‘in dispute or disagreement’ with a Christian sister or brother.  
  
In some ways, it’s comforting to remember that Christians through the ages have struggled with disputable matters, quarreling. In other ways, it’s a frustrating truth that even those of us who confess ‘Jesus is Lord’ can disagree about so many things! We live in a cultural climate of great dispute. Great disagreement. Listen again to Paul’s exhortation and ask the Holy Spirit to draw your attention to the posture He calls us to as His followers.  
  
I pray that we followers of Jesus would have great spiritual sensitivity to ‘know when we are no longer acting in love’ toward one another. Are there ‘matters of dispute’ in today’s church that you find particularly distressing? Bring those concerns to God and ask for his people and his church to be marked by love and unity in Christ.  
 
Music: "All The Same" - 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 August 13.
 
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 2 Samuel, chapter 18.  
  

While David was sitting between the inner and outer gates, the watchman went up to the roof of the gateway by the wall. As he looked out, he saw a man running alone. The watchman called out to the king and reported it. The king said, “If he is alone, he must have good news.” And the runner came closer and closer. Then the watchman saw another runner, and he called down to the gatekeeper, “Look, another man running alone!”  
The king said, “He must be bringing good news, too.”  
The king asked, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”  
Ahimaaz answered, “I saw great confusion just as Joab was about to send the king’s servant and me, your servant, but I don’t know what it was.”  
The king said, “Stand aside and wait here.” So he stepped aside and stood there.  
Then the Cushite arrived and said, “My lord the king, hear the good news! The LORD has vindicated you today by delivering you from the hand of all who rose up against you.”  
The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”  
The Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up to harm you be like that young man.”  
The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!” 
  
  
Perhaps this passage is difficult to understand. To put it simply, King David is waiting for news about his son, Absalom. And the news he receives is bad... King David, the text tells us, is shaken, goes to his room to be on his own, and weeps. David’s life is full of emotion, and pain, and victory – and like in this passage – all those are often comingled. Talk to the Lord about how much emotion David demonstrates. How do you deal with your own emotions? With grief, or pain? 
   
The Bible is not afraid to narrate the truth of the world. The Bible doesn’t paint a picture of a spiritual life that is simplistic, or escapist, or void of difficulty. The Bible, which is a story about where we are coming from, and where we are heading, and what story we are a part of... is filled with the kind of disorder and emotional reality that are lives are filled with. Listen to the story again and consider how it describes David. Imagine him: a father... waiting.... for news. 
   
There is a lot of rich history and theology to this passage, but what I find striking is the plain grief. David was shaken. David wept. Oh my son, David cried out. Do you hold any areas of grief in your life right now? Do you know anyone else who does? How might you be present to your own grief, or to the grief of someone you care about? Ask the Lord to guide you in the ways of all comfort today.

Music: Great Are You Lord - 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

More at pickerill.casa

Today is August 12.

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 Ephesians, chapter 5.  


For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 
  

The contrast of light and darkness in the Scripture is connected with our actions, our deeds. Good deeds are done often in the light and are like light. They shine God’s goodness all around. But bad deeds are often done in the dark and are like dark. They cover us with shame and darkness. Take a moment and consider your own life... think about a time when you did something good out of a good heart. How did that make you and others feel? Now, think for a moment about a time when you did something bad out of a bad heart. How did that make you or others feel?  
  
The Apostle Paul uses the image of light and darkness to describe that feeling. When we do bad things out of a bad heart it’s like cold darkness covering over us. But when we do good things from a good heart? It’s like warm light shining all around. In fact, he says we are the light in the Lord when we shine by doing good. As you hear the passage again, feel the light in this passage.  

All of us sin and at times walk in darkness. What’s important is to know that you can come into the light, right now! You don’t have to hide, or be ashamed, or be afraid? Why? Because we know that God always has forgiveness for us. When we confess, he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sin and make us clean. So right now, as we close our time. Confess your sin to him and be clean. And now that you are clean, today, ask God to help you not only walk in the light, but be light to others.

Music: Eternal Light - 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

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 August 9.


 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 Psalm 95.  
 
 
      Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD;  
         let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.  
      Let us come before him with thanksgiving  
         and extol him with music and song.  
       For the LORD is the great God,  
         the great King above all gods.  
      In his hand are the depths of the earth,  
         and the mountain peaks belong to him.  
      The sea is his, for he made it,  
         and his hands formed the dry land.  
       Come, let us bow down in worship,  
         let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;  
      for he is our God  
         and we are the people of his pasture,  
         the flock under his care.  
  
  
To be under the care of a good and gracious God is a wonderful thing! Think for a moment as we begin: do you have a sense of God’s goodness sin your life? Do you have an experience of His care that you can reflect on?  
  
As you listen to this passage again, ask the Lord to highlight a word or phrase to you... something that you can consider, or even meditate on, through your day...  
 
In His hands are the depths of the earth.... The sea is His, for He made it... the mountain peaks belong to him... God is all, and all is in the care and keeping of God. Many times we forget the truth of our position under the care of God. As you end this time of prayer, draw yourself back to this truth: God holds you in the palm of his hand... and You can cast all your anxieties onto the Lord, because he cares for you!


Music: Bless His Name/To Hime Who Sits On The Throne - 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 August 8.


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 Romans, chapter 8. 
 

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
  

Many Christians, especially those of us who have grown up in the West, are not really prepared for suffering, especially suffering for our faith. But throughout the New Testament, suffering for Christ is a given. The Apostle Paul writes to the church in Philippi and says: “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him.” Paul sees suffering as a gift, something that is granted, because it’s a way that we can identify with Christ. Now, consider for a moment how you think about suffering. What is your reaction when you experience hardship or suffering?  
 
Paul here says, can suffering separate you from Christ? Trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, sword? No way. We are more than conquerors! What circumstance in your life is keeping you from the love of God? As you listen the passage again, can you invite Christ to transform your mind that you might think of yourself as more than a conquerer?   
  
As we close our time, what if you make this your prayer today, and you repeat it quietly through the day…Nothing can separate me from the love of Christ. Nothing can separate me from the love of Christ. Nothing can separate me from the love of Christ. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen  
  
Music: What Can Seperate - 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 August 7.


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 John, chapter 9.  
 

Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.” They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?” “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”  
 

They still did not believe. These people had witnessed a great miracle... one that was provable. And yet, they did not believe. Their hearts seem hard, and they seem very keen to cast blame, and to cause trouble.... instead of being in awe over such a remarkable thing as the restoration of sight. As you come to prayer today, can you examine the condition of your heart? Are you at peace? Angry? Cynical? Feeling full of blame toward someone? Can you invite Jesus to draw near to you, however it is you find yourself today? 
 
As you listen to the story again, imagine yourself as the man who received healing. He’s been blind since birth, and now can see. And yet no one is asking him about THAT! They’re complaning, interrogaing him, involving his parents, there’s all sort of commotion. Imagine how you would feel if you were this man. Imagine your encounter with this healing power. Imagine the sense of perspective about life you would have in a situation like this. Can you imagine the tone with which he speaks his words at the end of this text? 
 
The miraculous gifts of the Spirit are a demonstration of the reign and rule of God in the world. Jesus came declaring that the kingdom of God is at hand! One response to that is a cynical one. Full of doubt, or interrogation. Another response is one that is full of faith... that says, perhaps: ‘i don’t know... I was blind but now I see!’ Take time as we end to invite God’s spirit to increase your gift of faith... To give you holy perspective... and to cause your heart to soften and to be filled by His love. 
 
Music: I Speak Jesus - 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