Be Still: Daily Devotional

Today is December 14 - in the second 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 book of Ephesians, chapter 5. “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons o...

Today is December 13 - 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 should not per...

Today is December 12 - 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 has risen up...

Today is December 11 - 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 in Capernaum b...

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 8 in the first 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 3. “In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiber'i-us Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tet...

Today is Dec 7 in the first 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 book of Isaiah, chapter 55. “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money...

Today is December 6th in the first 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 book of Isaiah, chapter 40. “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her wa...

Today is December 5 – in the first 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 several verses from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 15.“He calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to th...

Today is December 4 - in the first 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 Mark, chapter 1.“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger befor...

Today is Saturday, 2nd of December, one day before the first Sunday of Advent. We’ll prepare our hearts for this season of holy anticipation by praying the words of Henri Nouwen. You can repeat each line after 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...

Today is December 1 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 9. 18 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?” 19 They replied, “...

Today is November 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 the gospel of John, chapter 1. 35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37 When the two...

Today is November 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 book of Isaiah, chapter 42. “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring just...

Today is November 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 gospel of Luke, chapter 8. 4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this pa...

Today is November 27 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 71. 14 As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. 15 My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long— though I know not how to r...

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 November 24 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 Acts, chapter 20. 22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city...

Today is November 23 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 6. One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kern...

Today is November 22 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 book of Isaiah, chapter 35. The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, 2 it will burst...

Today is November 21 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 56. 3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mort...

Today is November 20 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 Acts, chapter 19. While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive...

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 November 17 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 30. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” If you a...

Today is November 16 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. 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit...