Be Still: Daily Devotional

Today is October 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 2 Chronicles, chapter 20.

2 Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. 3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.

“LORD, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7 Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9 ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’

12 Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

As we enter into prayer today, bring to mind an army that is attacking you. What is uncontrollable and is threatening your peace right now? Maybe it’s that you have too many people relying on you, more work than you can finish, or that you’re being treated poorly by someone? What do you do to try to fix it, knowing you can't? When do you get frustrated and finally cry out, and let God take over? Jehoshaphat didn’t hesitate to go to God. Are you able to bring the thing that is attacking your peace before the Lord today?

"For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” The entire nation cried this out to the Lord. They faced an army so large they knew there was nothing they could do. There was no hope for them but God. It's a lot more difficult to give up when the army is more subtle, and only threatening your mind, not your life. As you listen again, put yourself in this story and imagine how you would like to handle the battle that you are in.

“But our eyes are on you.” Today, when the army invades, pause and fix your eyes on the Lord. At the first sign of trouble, before you are overtaken, ask Him for help and see how he moves.

Music Credit: "I Lift My Eyes Up" - 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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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 October 6

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 1 Peter, chapter 4.

8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Take time as we begin to contemplate this famous verse: love covers over a multitude of sins. What does that speak to you, today?

There is a lot in these few verses: about love, hospitality, being grumpy, service... listen again to the text and think about what particular part of it connects with you today? What do you think the Lord wants to say to you? Is there a particular situation or person he’s reminding you to ‘love deeply’?

Above all, Peter writes, love each other deeply. Is that easy for you? Difficult? Do you ever think about the nature or quality of your love for other Christians? How about, for other Christians that you disagree with? As we end this week of prayer, ask God to fill you with His love, that you might overflow with Him and not have to rely on your own human strength to love others.

Music Credit:
"What You Ask" - Vineyard Worship/Samuel Lane (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 October 5

Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

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 19.

3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.

All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

7 The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.

This is one of those passages that seems so strange to us! They remind us that the God we worship is far bigger than we are, and that His ways are beyond us. In this passage God seems to provide, through an angel, miraculous nourishment for Elijah, who was on the run for his life. What do stories like this bring up for you? Do they increase your faith? Do you struggle to understand? Bring whatever it is you feel to the Lord.

This is a story, in its simplest form, about the power and provision of God. God’s power is beyond our comprehension. And God’s capacity for provision is beyond our comprehension. As you listen to the scripture again, bring an area of your life to him where you need to see his power or provision.

Elijah’s words: “I have had enough, Lord” feel so real! Sometimes, we feel just like that. We feel worn, or afraid, or alone. And in that place, God can visit us with his power and provision, just as he did Elijah, when the journey feels like its too much. As we end in prayer, talk to God about times you feel ‘I have had enough, Lord!”

Music Credit:
"You're Carrying Me" - 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 October 4

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 Matthew, chapter 24.

4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

These words are weighty, maybe even frightening. They describe a time of war, deception, and natural disaster. They also describe significant persecution, anger, and wickedness. Dark days, indeed. It sort of reminds me of the nightly news, to be honest. I often leave the headlines feeling a sense of overwhelm, or dread. How about you? How do you feel when you consider the events of the world around us?

Jesus doesn’t seem surprised at this litany of bad news. He is warning his disciples, as a matter of fact, to expect it! And he says that the result of all of the chaos and destruction is that ‘love will grow cold’. Why do you think this is the case? Why does our love grow cold in times of upheaval? Does that ring true to you?

What do you think it takes to stand firm? Do have your love stay warm, strong, and vibrant? End this time of prayer considering how it is you might ‘watch out’, as Jesus says in the text... and how you might ‘stand firm’. Ask God to give you His wisdom and His gift of faith for this.

Music Credit:

"Breathe In, Sing Out" - 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 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 Credit:
"Your Dwelling Place" - 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 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 Credit:
"Your Love" -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 29

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 Revelation, chapter 12.

10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have come the salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Messiah.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
who accuses them before our God day and night,
has been hurled down.
11 They triumphed over him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.
12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens
and you who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea,
because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury,
because he knows that his time is short.”

This week, our scriptures have been focused on facing trials, rebuilding walls and towns, restoring relationships, and having God as our fortress. Consider how often scripture speaks to those of us who follow Jesus, and assumes we’re in a place of hardship, distress, or need. Revelation paints a prophetic picture of this last battle – and points to the triumph of Christ overall. What emotions does all of this bring up in you? Bring one of those emotions before the Lord.

It’s often easy for the language of our faith to become commonplace, to devolve from true faith into shallow religion or ritual. Revelation reminds us that our faith in Christ has implications that we can barely get our minds around: That God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son – and through Him – the salvation, power, and kingdom of God, and the authority of the Messiah has broken into the world to save that which is lost. Listen again and ask God to allow it to rightly orient you to the mystery of your faith.

Our faith in God’s power will often come into conflict with our faith in worldly power. Worldly power coerces, but faith in Christ leads us to consenting to God’s power. Worldly power brings conflict, but faith in Christ bears peace that passes understanding. Worldly power uses might and the sword... but faith in Christ is made up of a reconciliation born out of humility and sacrifice. As we end our time of prayer today, allow these truths to draw you toward Christus Victor – Christ who is victorious in all and overall.
Music Credit:
"You Give Us Peace" - Heaven & 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

Today is September 28

Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

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 Zechariah, chapter 8.

4 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each of them with cane in hand because of their age. 5 The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.”
6 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvelous to me?” declares the LORD Almighty.
7 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west. 8 I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.”

This Old Testament passage contains something most of us might miss... a significant and interruptive promise. In Zechariah’s time Jerusalem’s walls were ruined and the city was not safe and secure. It would not have been filled with old men and old women or, safe for boys and girls playing in its streets. The prophet is speaking to a people who are still living in the wreck and rubble... with a wall that won’t be properly rebuilt around their city for another sixty or so years. How do you think these words of promise and hope would have sounded to them?

God is reminding His people that He is faithful, and He is righteous. That he has the power to save and restore that which seems lost. But even as He reminds them of this, they still must hold to his words with patience, and in hope. How is that for you? To trust in God’s character and to hope in His words even as you look around, and things aren’t yet fulfilled?

Many people today live on streets that are not safe for the old or the young. Many people live in places of wreck and rubble. Think about what that means for many us, who are followers of God and God’s kingdom and who have resource to be builders, or helpers? When we hear these promises of God, as Christians, they’re meant to remind us that we ourselves are called the body of Christ in the world. And just as Jesus is faithful and righteous, we are called to demonstrate His faithfulness, and His righteousness. How might you be called, this week, to be a part of that Kingdom work in the world – and on the streets – around you?

Music Credit:
"The Gospel" - 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