Be Still: Daily Devotional Vineyard Columbus

Today is May 30.
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 139.  
 

      You have searched me, LORD,  
         and you know me.  
      You know when I sit and when I rise;  
         you perceive my thoughts from afar.  
      You discern my going out and my lying down;  
         you are familiar with all my ways.  
      Before a word is on my tongue  
         you, LORD, know it completely.  
      You hem me in behind and before,  
         and you lay your hand upon me. 
  

As you come to prayer today remember that the Lord is with you. Even now, he knows you, and He is familiar with you. How does that truth make you feel right now? Is it comforting? Or on the other hand, does it make you feel nervous? 
   
You hem me in behind and before... picture a seam being sewn around you. God’s protective presence is not just near to you, it surrounds you. The picture is of a good father, His hand resting on his child’s shoulder, leading the child in right ways. Is there something happening in your life right now where you need the Lord’s guidance, or direction? Listen again to this beautiful scripture and consider His nearness to you. 
   
God is Almighty, Father, and Creator of everything that is. And this God knows you. Knows me. He knows the entirety of the cosmos, and at the same time, He is familiar with you. As we end our time of prayer today, you might want to talk to God about your sense of His presence with you. Talk to Him about areas you need Him to lean you in. Thank Him for his presence.
  
Lord God, Almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Music: "Here In Your Presence" - Vineyard Worship - (YouTube)

Today is May 29.


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 4.  
 

He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear. Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” 
 

As you come to prayer today, which image feels more connective to you: a lamp, either hidden or on it’s lampstand. Or a measuring cup... being used by you, and then toward you? 
 
As you listen to the words of this text again, ask God to illuminate them with His spirit. Be attentive to the word or phrase that stands out to you. 
   
Jesus tells his listeners to ‘consider carefully what you hear.’ As we end our time of prayer, ask God to increase your understanding of scripture. As Him to stir up your gifts of discernment and wisdom when you read the Bible. And finally, ask Him to teach you how to ‘consider carefully’ his words to you.

Lord God, Almighty and Everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Music: "All Things Rise" - Vineyard Worship - (YouTube)

Today is May 28.

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 Exodus, chapter 25.  
 

“Make an atonement cover of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law that I will give you. There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites. 
 

Welcome to prayer today. As you enter into your time with the Lord, consider one small phrase from our OT text. God says “I will meet with you” to his people. Invite the Lord to draw near to you right now, to meet with you.  
   
The details of this text are so specific, but ultimately there is one general thing that it draws our attention to: the face that God was continually making ways to be present to His people. Think about your own spiritual story. Through what experiences, or people, or ministries, have you experienced the presence of God? 
   
In the New Covenant of the new testament, we have access to God through grace in Christ Jesus. As you end your time of prayer, thank God for drawing near to you when you could not draw near to Him. Offer prayers of gratitude to the Lord 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. 

Music: "King Of Heaven" - Vineyard Worship - (YouTube)

Today is May 27th.

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 Revelation, chapter 4.  


After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:  
“ ‘Holy, holy, holy  
is the Lord God Almighty,’  
who was, and is, and is to come. 
 

As we come to prayer this morning, consider what it means that you are joining in with a heavenly choir – an unimaginable chorus of worship for the uncreated creator. Take some time to allow yourself to adjust to that mystery and truth. 
   
Listen again to these words from Revelation and allow them to move your awareness of God from the incarnational – the close by – to the transcendent – the almighty...  
 
He was, and is, and is to come. God is your security. He is before all things, in all things, and beyond all things. As you come to the end of prayer today, spend some time meditating on the omnipotence of God. Ask God to increase your understanding and experience of His power.

Lord God, Almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Music: "Doxology Anthem" - Vineyard Worship - (YouTube)

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.

The fifth day after Pentecost Sunday.


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 Isaiah, chapter 2.  
 

In the last days   
         the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established  
         as the highest of the mountains;  
         it will be exalted above the hills,  
         and all nations will stream to it.  
 Many peoples will come and say, 
         “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,  
         to the temple of the God of Jacob.  
         He will teach us his ways,  
         so that we may walk in his paths.”  
         The law will go out from Zion,  
         the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.  
      He will judge between the nations  
         and will settle disputes for many peoples.  
         They will beat their swords into plowshares  
         and their spears into pruning hooks.  
         Nation will not take up sword against nation,  
         nor will they train for war anymore.  
       Come, descendants of Jacob,  
         let us walk in the light of the LORD.  
 
Welcome to prayer. As you take time to get still today, share what is on your heart and mind with the Lord. Perhaps there is a worry that is on your mind. Or a challenge that you are facing. Or a loved on that you are concerned about? Can you bring that to the Lord as we begin?  
   
Isaiah’s vision in this passage is one that describes what God’s kingdom will be like when he fully comes again. God will be God over all. People will stream to worship him. He will judge between the nations and settle disputes. There will be no more war or famine. Listen to these words from Isaiah again, and allow the words that point to God’s kingdom to pour over you. Take note of particular words or phrases that stand out.  
   
As we close our time today, could you take a moment and consider the mountain of the Lord rising up above all the other mountains and the nations streaming to him? Take a moment and intercede on behalf of those you know who do not know God. Pray for the revelation of Jesus to come in dreams and visions and through the witness of family, neighbors and coworkers. Pray also for courage to share the gospel of Jesus –the good news – with someone in your life this week.

Lord God, Almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Music: "Come Lord Come" - Vineyard Worship - (YouTube)