Be Still: Daily Devotional

Today is January 7. 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 Ephesians, chapter 4.         Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful...

Today is January 6th.       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 Christians throughout history have celebrated the Epiphany, the commemoration of the Magi’s visit, the first manifestation of Christ as savior of Gentiles as well as Jews....

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.

Today is January 3rd. 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 Genesis, chapter 3. Genesis 3:6-10 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, an...

Today is January 2nd. 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 Gospel of John, chapter 1. The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him sa...

Today is January 1 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 Numbers, chapter 6. The Lord said to Moses,  “Tell Aaron and his sons,‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites." Say to them: “The Lord bless you and keep you;  the Lord...

Today is December 31st.   Hey friends, can we together take a moment to make some space to be thankful to all of the folks around Vineyard Columbus who helped co-create the Be Still devotional this year?    To the production crew: Richard Smith, Drew Nichols, Abram Murphy, Logan Stone... and to Pastor Paul Cullen who selects the worship, AND to volunteer writer Emily Selvey AND to Marsha Martin wh...

Today is December 30th. 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 Titus, chapter 2, the MSG version.    11-14 God’s readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation’s available for everyone! We’re being shown how to turn our b...

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.

Today is December 27. 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 96.     1 Sing to the Lord a new song;      sing to the Lord, all the earth.  2 Sing to the Lord, praise his name;      proclaim his salvation d...

Today is December 26.   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 Isaiah, chapter 9.    The people walking in darkness      have seen a great light;  on those living in the land o...

Today is December 24th in the final week of Advent.   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 Gospel of John, chapter 1. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the wor...

Today is December 23rd in the final week of Advent. 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 Gospel of Luke, chapter 1.  28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled...

LOVE Fourth Sunday of Advent Today, this final Advent Sunday, we reflect on the love of Christ. Paul exhorts the Colossian church… 12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgi...

This is the Saturday examen for the season of Advent.  I’m glad you’ve joined us for a time of reflection and prayer. Pray along with me. Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. We who have so much to do and seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day, We who are anxious over many things… look forward to your coming among...

Today is December 20th in the 3rd week of Advent. 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 Gospel of Luke, chapter 2.     There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had...

Today is December 19th in the 3rd week of Advent. 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 Gospel of Luke, chapter 2.     “When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusale...

Today is December 18th in the 3rd week of Advent. 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 2.     “When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,...

Today is December 17th in the 3rd week of Advent.   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 Gospel of Luke, chapter 2.     “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping w...

Today is December 16th in the 3rd week of Advent. 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 Gospel of Luke, chapter 2.     “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first...

JOY | Third Sunday of Advent Today is the third Sunday of Advent. Today, we’re being reminded that some of the most ordinary things can also be the most holy: the laughter of kids, a filled room at the food pantry, and a busy kitchen. It’s through things like the laughter of children and the sharing of a meal that we discover a deeper joy that can transform the mundane into the miraculous. Psalm 3...

This is the Saturday examen for the season of Advent. I’m glad you’ve joined us for a time of reflection and prayer. Pray along with me. Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. We who have so much to do and seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day, We who are anxious over many things… look forward to your coming among u...

Today is December 13th in the second week of Advent. 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 3.     “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him sho...

Today is December 12th in the second week of Advent. 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 Isaiah, chapter 60.    “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD h...

Today is December 11th in the second week of Advent. 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 Gospel of Matthew, chapter 4.      “Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived...