Be Still: Daily Devotional Vineyard Columbus

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)

Today is the fourth day after Pentecost Sunday.


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 Romans, chapter 8.  
 

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.  
Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 
  

This reading calls to mind the Old Testament scripture that sets the choice of life and death, blessings or curses, before God’s people. This seems like an easy multiple choice test. But it’s not, is it? Our flesh is powerless without God’s spirit. Are there areas in your life, as you come to prayer today, where you feel powerless over an area of sin? Talk to the Lord about that. 
 
Listen to the reading again, and think about what it means – practically – to have your mind set on what the Spirit desires. What does that look like in real life?  
   
As you end prayer today, pray that your mind would be governed by the Spirit, and full of life and peace. If someone comes to mind who you know is struggling with a mind that is NOT full of peace, pray also for them by name.


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: "Presence and Peace" - Vineyard Worship - (YouTube)

Today is the third day after Pentecost Sunday.
 
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 104.  
 

      How many are your works, LORD!  
         In wisdom you made them all;  
         the earth is full of your creatures.  
      There is the sea, vast and spacious,  
         teeming with creatures beyond number—  
         living things both large and small. 
      All creatures look to you  
         to give them their food at the proper time.  
      When you give it to them,  
         they gather it up;  
         when you open your hand,  
         they are satisfied with good things.  
      When you hide your face,  
         they are terrified;  
         when you take away their breath,  
         they die and return to the dust.  
      When you send your Spirit,  
         they are created,  
         and you renew the face of the ground.  
       May the glory of the LORD endure forever;  
         may the LORD rejoice in his works—  
      he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,  
         who touches the mountains, and they smoke.  
       I will sing to the LORD all my life;  
         I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.  
      May my meditation be pleasing to him,  
         as I rejoice in the LORD.  


The Psalmist says “All creatures look to you to give them their food in the proper time.” As you come to prayer today, remember that God provides for all living things. Are there areas of provision you are worried about today? Are there places where you doubt God’s goodness to provide for you? Bring those areas of care and concern to the Lord.  
   
Often times our lives are full of worry and anxiety about practical needs: medical bills, work issues, housing frustrations. God is our provider, and the Psalmist says he opens his hand to us. As you listen to the passage again, consider how wonderful and powerful and gracious God is as he provides for your needs. 
   
As we end your time of prayer today, thank God for His provision in your life. Consider how God has specifically provided for you. Thank him for the things that you often take for granted. As you go about your day, be diligent to recall that every good and perfect gift comes from your Father in heaven.

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)

Today is the second day after Pentecost Sunday.

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 1 Corinthians, chapter 12.  
 

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.  For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.  Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.


Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. f the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.


On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 
  
  
Now you are a part of the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. As you come to prayer today, think about your relationship with and connection to your local church – which is the expression of the body of Christ in the world. Talk to the Lord about your relationship to church, and where you are finding your own ‘part’ of the whole. 
   
Paul tells the Corinthians – and us –that there should be no division in the body. Listen again to the scripture, and allow it to become a prayer for the unity of the Spirit in your local church.  
  
As we end our time of prayer today, pray for your local church leaders and for other churches in your area of the world. Pray that they would ‘hold together’ in Christ, that they would demonstrate a unity in the spirit that transcends our diversity, and that we would hold one another with equal concern.

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: "Make Us One" - Vineyard Worship - (YouTube)

Today is the first day after Pentecost Sunday.

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 Joel, chapter 2.  
 
 
 The LORD replied to them:  
          “I am sending you grain, new wine and olive oil,  
         enough to satisfy you fully;  
         never again will I make you  
         an object of scorn to the nations.  
         Surely he has done great things!  
               Do not be afraid, land of Judah;  
         be glad and rejoice.  
         Surely the LORD has done great things!  
               Do not be afraid, you wild animals,  
         for the pastures in the wilderness are becoming green.  
         The trees are bearing their fruit;  
         the fig tree and the vine yield their riches.  
       Be glad, people of Zion,  
         rejoice in the LORD your God,  
         for he has given you the autumn rains  
         because he is faithful.  
         He sends you abundant showers,  
         both autumn and spring rains, as before.  
       The threshing floors will be filled with grain;  
         the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.  
  
       “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—  
         the great locust and the young locust,  
         the other locusts and the locust swarm—  
         my great army that I sent among you.  
       You will have plenty to eat, until you are full,  
         and you will praise the name of the LORD your God,  
         who has worked wonders for you;  
         never again will my people be shamed.  
       Then you will know that I am in Israel,  
         that I am the LORD your God,  
         and that there is no other;  
         never again will my people be shamed. 
 

This is a beautiful passage describing God’s restoration. After a long drought, the Lord is going to send his rain again. After a period of famine, God will bring about a feast. After a period of shame, God will bring his joy. As you come to prayer today, invite God to examine the state of your heart, your mind your physical body, and your relationships. Pay attention to any areas that need renewal or repair. 
   
How would you describe the season in your life that you’ve been going through? Drought or rain? Famine or feast? Shame or joy? Listen to the text again, and pay attention to the words or phrases that God highlights for you.
   
Pentecost is a season of outpouring and renewal. As we close our time of prayer, and as we enter into this season of Pentecost, ask for more of God’s Spirit to be poured out on your life, on your family, and on God’s people throughout the world. Pray that he will renew and revive us.

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: "Restore" - 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.