Be Still: Daily Devotional Vineyard Columbus

Today is June 7.

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 Luke, chapter 21.


As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”


Sometimes we give to God out of an abundance, and sometimes, we give the very little we’ve got left. How are you coming to prayer today? Do you feel like you are able to be abundantly present to the Lord? Or do you come feeling very small, or impoverished?

Take time to imagine yourself in the place of the poor widow. You are standing in the temple, waiting to give your ridiculously small offering, You are a woman, a widow, and poor, which likely means you feel out of place among all the rich. Can you imagine how she is standing, eyes downcast? How others might be looking at her out of the corner of their eyes? Can you imagine, how very small she might be feeling as she places her coins into the treasury? Listen again, and try to feel the smallness that she may have felt.

Jesus ends with words that draw us back to the upside-down nature of the kingdom of God: to the rich, she gave almost nothing. To Jesus, she gave close to everything. Jesus sees things with different eyes. He sees YOU with different eyes. And He sees what you give, and how you give it, in an upside down sort of way. As we end, that about what it means to give to God out of abundance, vs what it means to give out of poverty. Ask Him for eyes that see what He sees in this world: where two very small coins can amount to extravagant and honored worship.

Music: Above All Else - Vineyard Worship - (YouTube)

Today is June 6.

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 Ezekiel 11.


I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.


That’s quite a picture: God removing a heart of stone, and replacing with a heart of flesh. Can you meditate quietly for a moment and hold a picture of each sort of heart in your mind? Can you consider: what’s the condition of your heart today as we enter into prayer?

I once heard someone say that we like to think we can build picket fences around our hearts: to let some things IN, and keep other things OUT. But, they said, we can’t do that. We either keep our hearts soft to all, or they become hard to all – not like a picket fence, but like a concrete barrier. Sometimes, our hearts grow hard from good use. They become spiritually calloused, as it were. Listen again, and listen for the invitation of God.

We used to pray for our children, when they were young, to be soft-hearted and thick-skinned. A soft heart sees beauty in the world, it allows for vulnerability and tenderness, it invites communion. A hard heart is often cynical, walled-off, judgmental, and in pain. End today's prayer by getting curious about the condition of your heart. If you don’t feel self-aware, perhaps ask a good friend, a close colleague, or a family member like your kids how they are experiencing you right now. Give them permission to speak honestly, and do the work of listening in humility.

Music: I Will Hold On - Vineyard Worship - (YouTube)

Today is June 5.

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 86.


Hear me, LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you. You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer, LORD; listen to my cry for mercy. When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me. Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.


The psalmist says that among the gods, there is none like you, Lord. Our secular culture has plenty of gods: money, lust, power, fame, cynicism, freedom, individualism. Do those god’s answer the call of the poor and needy? Do those gods show mercy? Do they answer those in distress?

Among the gods there is none like you, Lord: a god – THE GOD – who is so absolute in His love for His creation that he answers, he rescues, he forgives... Listen again, and wonder a bit about why we so often forget how good and gracious our God is.

How do you come to prayer, today? Are you poor and needy? Are you in distress? Take these last few minutes and allow God to remind you of His goodness, His graciousness, and His love.

Music: Thanks and Praise - Vineyard Worship - (YouTube)

Today is June 4.

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 99. 
 
 
      The LORD reigns,  
         let the nations tremble;  
         he sits enthroned between the cherubim,  
         let the earth shake.  
      Great is the LORD in Zion;  
         he is exalted over all the nations.  
      Let them praise your great and awesome name—  
         he is holy.  
       The King is mighty, he loves justice—  
         you have established equity;  
         in Jacob you have done  
         what is just and right.  
      Exalt the LORD our God  
         and worship at his footstool;  
         he is holy.  
  
  
The psalmist is reorienting us to something deeply powerful: God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth... is exalted far about the nations. What does that mean, when the nations of our world seem to be in such disarray? What does it mean that we don’t trust in our nation, any nation, any politic? What does it mean that we trust in God, the king, who is mighty, who loves justice, who establishes equity, and who does what is good and right? What does it mean for you, today, to put your trust in the Lord? 
   
What are things, on a national level, that fill you with anxiety, or frustration, or fear, or even anger? What makes those negative feelings worsen? Perhaps social media? Watching the news? Arguing with family members? Could you imagine giving those things up? Could you imagine instead using that time to abide with Christ, the risen King? To pray and meditate on His kingdom? To commit your trust – over and over and over again – to Him... in faith, hope, and love... instead of in any nation or leader or earthly kingdom? Let’s listen to the scripture again: 
   
We don’t use the word exalt a lot these days, but I think of it like this: what I give my attention and my emotions and my energy to, I’m exalting. Sometimes we exalt athletic teams. Or influencers. Or politicians. To exalt the Lord our God means to give him the best of your attention, your emotion, and your energy. As we end our time of prayer today, consider one way you might need to reallocate attention, emotion, or energy toward the Lord today. Here is a pro-tip: unplug from social media and reduce your screentime. You’ll be amazed how much space you may find...

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: "Exalt The Lord" - Vineyard Worship - (YouTube)

Today is June 3.

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 Samuel, chapter 2.  
 

Then Hannah prayed and said:  
          “My heart rejoices in the LORD;  
         in the LORD my horn is lifted high.  
         My mouth boasts over my enemies,  
         for I delight in your deliverance.  
       “There is no one holy like the LORD;  
         there is no one besides you;  
         there is no Rock like our God.  
       “Do not keep talking so proudly  
         or let your mouth speak such arrogance,  
         for the LORD is a God who knows,  
         and by him deeds are weighed.  
       “The bows of the warriors are broken,  
         but those who stumbled are armed with strength.  
      Those who were full hire themselves out for food,  
         but those who were hungry are hungry no more.  
         She who was barren has borne seven children,  
         but she who has had many sons pines away.  
       “The LORD brings death and makes alive;  
         he brings down to the grave and raises up.  
      The LORD sends poverty and wealth;  
         he humbles and he exalts.  
      He raises the poor from the dust  
         and lifts the needy from the ash heap;  
         he seats them with princes  
         and has them inherit a throne of honor.  
          “For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s;  
         on them he has set the world.  
      He will guard the feet of his faithful servants,  
         but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness.  
          “It is not by strength that one prevails;  
          those who oppose the LORD will be broken. 


Hannah’s prayer reminds us of the strength and faithfulness of God, and of way the kingdom of God interrupts the kingdom of this world. In the kingdom of God, the needy and the poor are lifted up. In the kingdom of god, it is not by our own strength that we prevail. Draw near to the Lord in this moment and try to center yourself in His strength and faithfulness, instead of in your own capacities and power. Pay attention to one area that you are feeling particularly self-reliant about. 
   
Are there things going on in your life, or in the world around you, that feel impossible? Do you ever feel overwhelmed or in need of God’s deliverance? Let the words of scripture speak to you, and remind you of God’s power and provision.  
   
The foundations of the earth’s are the Lord’s. Scripture roots us deeply in the reality that the earth and all that is in it were made with intention, are held with intention, and are imbued with intention. When we are reminded that the foundations of the earth are the Lord, and when we’re reminded that the Lord’s character is good and perfect and just... we can be reminded that he rescues, and He redeems. Perhaps God’s redemption feels far off today for some who are listening. Would you pour out your heart to the Lord, and invite Him to tend to your soul in this time of waiting?

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 - a...

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.