Be Still: Daily Devotional

Today is April 28th.

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 1 Peter 2.

"13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor."

There are several tricky words in this text: submit, ignorant, slaves, fear, respect. What do you usually do when you come across parts of scripture that seem outdated or feel problematic? Do you dig in, research, and work to understand more deeply? Do you just skip over hard sections? Or do you feel offense, and immediately stop reading?

As you listen to the text again, can you listen to it from a curious vantage point? What is Peter telling the church about how to live as Christians? What tensions do you hear in the passage? Where do you personally feel challenged by Peter?

"13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor."

There’s something in this text about how our attitudes and actions as Christians are meant to be a reflection of our faith in God. Peter says elsewhere that we’re a peculiar people. A chosen people. Christians are meant to be non-conformists. Stand out, Peter tells us, but for the right reasons… and in all we do, our actions should bring honor to God. We’re free, Peter tells us, but not for our own sake. For Christ’s sake. As we close our time of prayer ask yourself: how does your life demonstrate the peculiar nature of a follower of Jesus? Are there places where your decisions, your behaviors, your attitudes… look more like the rest of the world than like a follower of the narrow way of Jesus?

Music Credit:
"You Have Our Yes" - 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 April 27th

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 Psalm 23

"1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[a] I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Instead of a reflection, you’re going to hear this scripture two more times. This time, I’ll read it from the Message translation. I’m going to read it very slowly, and want you to pay attention to particular words or phrases that stand out to you. Trust that the Spirit of God is with you, drawing you to parts of this holy text that He intends for you to notice today.

The Message

"1-3 God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction.
4 Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid
when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure.
5 You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing.
6 Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life."

This line is the one that sticks out to me: ‘you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction’. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed, like I’ve run too far too fast! This reminds me that God allows me to slow down, to get my heart rate back to normal, and then that I can rely on Him to direct my next steps, my decisions, my actions. It’s not all up to me and my fast moving, fast thinking, or fast activating. This reminds me who God is, and who I am. You’re going to listen to the Psalm one final time. Try to slow down and simply abide in these words:

"1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[a] I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."


God is pursuing you with His goodness and His love. He is with you in the valley of the shadow of death and even there, in the dark spaces of life, His beauty and love chase after you and protect you. Can you set an alarm to remind you to take a few more times today to slow down, take a deep breath, and read or recite this psalm again? If you’ve never memorized a scripture, this is a great one to start with.

Music Credit:
Good Shepherd (Lead On) - 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 April 26th.

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 John chapter 21.

"21 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee.[a]It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus[b]), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish."

Let’s take a moment and try to step into this familiar story. Some of the disciples – career fishermen – went out to fish and caught nothing. These guys weren’t fishing for sport – if they didn’t catch, they didn’t eat. Imagine how they felt: imagine their weary muscles. Imagine how exhausted they were. Imagine the smell of the air, the stink of the disciples themselves, the frustration of an empty haul, and the feeling of empty stomachs. It had been a bad night. Imagine yourself in the scene with them. What is your attitude like in frustrating moments like these?

This next bit in the story makes me laugh… these frustrated fishermen have been up all night, have nothing to show for it, and Jesus calls out to them: ‘friends, haven’t you caught any fish?’ As you listen to the passage again, consider why Jesus would ask a question that he very well knew the answer to…

"21 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee.[a]It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus[b]), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish."


“Throw your net on the other side of the boat and you’ll find fish…” What a silly thing to say! Fish don’t congregate only on one side of a boat. Plus, Jesus was a carpenter, not a fisherman. Why listen to Him? Why follow His instruction? I think that the disciples had begun to notice a pattern: when Jesus says to do something… and you do it… remarkable things happen. How do you respond to the instruction of the Lord when it doesn’t make sense to you? Have you seen enough of His goodness to just say ‘yes’? Or do you struggle to follow in faith? As we end our time of prayer, review places where you may have struggled to obey God’s instruction… and invite God back into those places with a willing and teachable heart.

Music Credit:
"We Say yes" - 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 April 25th.

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 1 Peter, chapter 2.

1 Peter 2:1-3

"2 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good."

This passage offers us a picture of an exchange: impure, for pure. Evil, for good. Peter makes us think of a newborn infant, being filled up with healthy and whole nutrition that leads to their growth and development. Think for a moment about the past few days: what kinds of things are ‘filling’ you up? What has your attention? What do you watch, or listen to, or scroll past?

Are the things that fill you up things that are leading to your spiritual flourishing? Does what you watch, listen to, or scroll past lead toward spiritual maturity and Christlikeness? Or are you putting your attention in places that stir up things like malice and envy? Let’s listen to this brief scripture one more time… pay attention to the one word or phrase that stands out to you.

"2 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good."

I have a friend who is an amazing cook. When he brings a new snack to our small group, after each bite someone literally says: “oh my gosh, this is SO GOOD!” Have you experienced that, ever? Maybe eating at your favorite restaurant? Or at your grandmom’s house? Peter is using words to remind his listeners that we’ve tasted the goodness of God himself… they’ve experienced it in a real and impactful way. And he’s remind us that we should exchange the darkness, the impurity of the world for the refreshing, revitalizing, and reassuring goodness of God. As we end our time of prayer, plan to take time today to reflect on moments in your spiritual life where you’ve ‘tasted’ the goodness of God. You might even want to journal for a few moments right now about those moments.

Music Credit:
"We Are Hungry" - 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 April 24th.

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 Genesis chapter 18.

Genesis 18:1-1
"18 The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. 3 He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord,[a] do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.”
“Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.” 6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs[b] of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.”
7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.
9 “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him.
“There, in the tent,” he said.
10 Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”

Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him.11 Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?”
13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

Can you imagine yourself in this scenario? One in which you, like Sarah, feel like God is speaking something impossible, almost laughable, to you? If there a situation in your life right now that feels this way, how are you navigating it?

As you listen to the scripture again, consider all the questions that Sarah must have had running through her mind: how do these visitors know what I’m thinking? How on earth could I have a baby at this stage of life? Why now, and not earlier? Is this really God? What kind of questions to you bring to God today?

"18 The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. 3 He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord,[a] do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.”
“Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.” 6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs[b] of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.”
7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.
9 “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him.
“There, in the tent,” he said.
10 Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”


This passage ends with a question: ‘is anything too hard for the Lord?’. In our minds, we know the answer to that question is: of course not! God is all powerful. All knowing. Ever-present. God is the creator of all that is. There is nothing too difficult for God. But in our hearts? In our hearts, sometimes we feel doubt. Our circumstances lead us to wonder if we’re out of God’s ability or desire to help. And our pain, or unanswered prayer, or sense of hopelessness in difficult circumstances, can cause us to languish in a place of spiritual despair. As we end our time of prayer, can you bring that which feels beyond God’s control, or that which leads you to doubt or that which causes you to ask your own hard questions… can you bring that to God? Take a moment and bring all of your questions and doubts to God.

Music Credit:
Nothing Is Too Hard 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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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 April 21

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 Job chapter 19.

"7 “Though I cry, ‘Violence!’ I get no response; though I call for help, there is no justice. 8 He has blocked my way so I cannot pass; he has shrouded my paths in darkness. 9 He has stripped me of my honor and removed the crown from my head. 10 He tears me down on every side till I am gone; he uproots my hope like a tree. 11 His anger burns against me; he counts me among his enemies. 12 His troops advance in force; they build a siege ramp against me and encamp around my tent.
…
23 “Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll, 24 that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock forever! 25 I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. 26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; 27 I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!"

The scriptures aren’t afraid of expressing emotions. God is an emotional God and he is not ashamed of emotions. Even emotions that we are sometimes uncomfortable with, the Bible doesn’t shy away from. How comfortable are you in expressing your feelings to God? Does it make you uncomfortable to express certain emotions to God?

The book of Job is full of intense lament. And what Job is lamenting is that God is against him. It is God who has blocked him. It’s God who has stripped him. God tears him down. God’s anger burns against him. God’s armies lay siege to him. Have you ever been a time in your life when you’ve felt that God is against you? As you hear the passage again, listen for Job’s turn from lament to hope.

"7 “Though I cry, ‘Violence!’ I get no response; though I call for help, there is no justice. 8 He has blocked my way so I cannot pass; he has shrouded my paths in darkness. 9 He has stripped me of my honor and removed the crown from my head. 10 He tears me down on every side till I am gone; he uproots my hope like a tree. 11 His anger burns against me; he counts me among his enemies. 12 His troops advance in force; they build a siege ramp against me and encamp around my tent.
…
23 “Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll, 24 that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock forever! 25 I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. 26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; 27 I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!"

This is one of the earliest glimpses of resurrection that we see in scriptures. After my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. I myself will see him, with my own eyes. Amid devastation, a word of hope, that suffering isn’t the last word. Resurrection is. As you go through your day today, hold on to this word of hope.

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.


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 April 20

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 Hebrews, chapter 9.

"21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. 23 It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him."

Animal sacrifice is so foreign to us that passages like this offend our sensibilities. But the idea of sacrifice, that sometimes one has to sacrifice him or herself for the sake of another, remains with us today. Think of a fire fighter who literally sacrifices his life to save a person from a burning building. The scripture says that Christ appeared at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Think of yourself in the burning building—he broke in and rescued you so that you don’t smother to death from the inhalation of your own sin. And by rescuing you, he sacrificed himself. When you consider this notion of sacrifice, what does it stir up inside of you?

As you hear the passage again, can you thank Christ that the shedding of his blood has brought forgiveness to you?

"21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. 23 It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise Christ would
have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him."

Sometimes we think that we must sacrifice something to make God pleased with us. That’s what the priests used to do. But we have Christ who entered the holy place in heaven and sacrificed himself. There is no sacrifice that you could bring to make God love you any more than he already does. He loves you completely just as you are.

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.


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 April 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 Mark chapter 12.

"28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Do you ever feel confused by what it means to be a God follower? Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the demands of being a Christian? What am I to believe and what am I to do? Today’s reading is the whole teaching of Jesus and the Bible summed up. God is who he has revealed himself to be—one God existing in three persons—Father, Son, and Spirit. We are to love God with our whole being and we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. This is the whole teaching of scripture summed up.
But we know that summing it up and living it out are two different things. Imagine for a moment that love is like a fire that can become very hot or, if unattended to, can become very cold. How warm or cool is your love for God? As you hear the passage again, ask God to blow fresh wind on your fire of love.

"28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Now think for a moment about people you are surrounded with in your life. Family, friends, colleagues or neighbors. How warm or cool is your love for these people God has placed around you? As you go through your day today, ask God to renew you with his love that his love may flow through you into one other person’s life today.

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.


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 April 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 Psalm 115

"2 Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?” 3 Our God is in heaven;
he does whatever pleases him. 4 But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. 5 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. 6 They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. 7 They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats. 8 Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.
9 All you Israelites, trust in the Lord— he is their help and shield. 10 House of Aaron, trust in the Lord— he is their help and shield. 11 You who fear him, trust in the Lord— he is their help and shield."

An idol is anything that we turn to for purpose or provision in place of God. The Israelites lived among nations who fashioned idols out of wood or stone or silver and gold. The idols often looked like a person—with hands, feet, ears and mouths. They were believed to be filled with spiritual power. But even though these idols looked like a person, they couldn’t speak, hear, or move—they were nothing but statues. Yahweh reminded the Israelites that even though he was pure spirit without a physical body, he was alive. He heard, and spoke, and moved among them and on their behalf.

We have the same challenge today as the Israelites did. We don’t see God with our physical eyes so naturally we wonder, God, do you exist? And if you do exist, how can we hear you speak and see you move? When we doubt that God is with us or when we don’t see God do what we want him to do, we naturally turn god-substitutes. As you hear the passage again, call to mind a god-substitute that you turn to for purpose or provision rather than God.

"2 Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?” 3 Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. 4 But their idols are silver and gold,
made by human hands. 5 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. 6 They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. 7 They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats. 8 Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.
9 All you Israelites, trust in the Lord— he is their help and shield. 10 House of Aaron, trust in the Lord— he is their help and shield. 11 You who fear him, trust in the Lord— he is their help and shield."

As we close our time today, can you make the refrain of the psalm your refrain? As you walk through your day today, say to the Lord, “I put my trust in you… You are my help and my shield.”

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


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

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