The Daily Still - Guided Christian Meditation, Reflection, and Devotionals

This meditation focuses on practicing unrushed rhythms.   Slowing down the pace of life, as well as the information we take in, promotes a quiet soul. Studies show, calm, quiet moments are a trigger to our brain — minimizing the body's physical response to stress, lowering blood pressure, heart rate and stress hormones. This produces better concentration and overall emotional health.   Our souls n...

Creating intentional space to quiet our souls prepares an environment that is imperative for a healthy inner life, as well as our external lives. Stillness births transformation, a process that cannot be rushed. Change takes place slowly as we surrender to our Maker's loving Grace.   SCRIPTURES Psalm 131:2 ESV Psalm 46:10 CEV John 14:8 NIV Psalm 119:114,119 The MSG Acts 17:27-28 NIV Romans 8:26-28...

This Daily Still meditation focuses on the nearness of God and the holy hush it ushers into our souls as we pay attention to the Divine all around us. We invite you to pause and breathe in deeply, as you quiet your soul in order to notice the Glory of God.   

We are honored to offer a special encore guest meditation by writer and poet Cole Arthur Riley. Cole is the New York Times best selling author of "This Here Flesh - Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories that Make Us." In today's podcast episode, Cole shares a meditative reading from the chapter of her book on Rest. We invite you to enter into a place of centering stillness, becoming aware of t...

Today's meditation focuses on Psalm 145:5-6 and God as our Redeemer. The God of the Universe stepped down from glory and became human flesh in the person of Jesus - the "Redeemer and Savior" of the world.   We are in the Easter season of the Church, known as "Eastertide." As we participate in the seasons of the Church, we join with those who have gone before us in practicing sacred rhythms that ar...

Today's meditation focuses on Psalm 96, Declaring the Glory of God, as we reflect upon the resurrection of Christ and make space for joy and celebration. We are in the Easter season of the Church called Eastertide, a period of 50 days of celebration that spans from Easter to Pentecost, proclaiming Christ's victory over death. Christ is risen! Our Savior lives. And the Kingdom of Heaven is now! Thi...

"He is risen! He is risen indeed!" The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said." - Matthew 28:5-6 On Easter Sunday, all sorrow of holy week is turned to joy and praise. Holy Week reveals contrasts: The crucifixion and the resurrection, death and life, sin and salvation, sorrow and hope....

"Wait on the mercy of your Lord Jesus Christ." - Jude 21 On this day, the Lord Jesus Christ lays in the tomb after his death on the cross. But God is always at work behind the scenes and beyond what we can see or imagine. And so we wait in hope of the glorious resurrection. What are you waiting for in your life and hoping to be true? "I wait quietly before God…for my victory comes from him." - Psa...

Today we look at the cross and remember the price Jesus paid, as He took our sin upon Himself. "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5 NIV As Jesus continued his journey through passion week, His throne would be a cross, and his crown would be made of thorns. Jesus...

The Last Supper, shared by Jesus and His disciples, is commemorated on this Holy Thursday. This meal was rich in symbolic meaning. We are all invited to come together as one family, to the table of our Lord. Matthew 26:26-30 (NIV) - "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, 'Take and eat; this is my body.' Then he too...

Matthew 26:6-13 NIV – (Jesus Anointed at Bethany) "While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the...

On Holy Tuesday, the religious leaders tried to discredit Jesus' power and ultimate authority. But Jesus clearly states his deity and authority in John 14:6. He is the way, the truth and the life. He died so that we can have personal access to the Father. Jesus invites us to trust in Him. Silence and solitude is a place of resting and trusting in God. We invite you to pause for a few moments of si...

On Monday of Holy Week, Jesus tells his disciples – "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don't doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, 'May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen. You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it." - Matthew 21:21-22 Jesus suffered so all people, his entire creation, co...

Today we offer an encore Palm Sunday Meditation from our Holy Week Series. This meditation focuses on Psalm 121, known as a Psalm of Ascent. These Psalms were sung by Hebrew pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem and possibly while ascending the steps of the Temple. It's remarkable to note, that Jesus and His disciples would have prayed and sung these same scriptures. "I lift up my eyes to the mountai...

Today we hold space for grief. Grief, suffering, and loss touch all parts of our world in communal and personal ways. This week here in the United States, right in our hometown of Nashville, TN, we have experienced the tragedy and trauma of gun violence. We can become desensitized and unable to process so much tragic news. Often words alone seem inadequate. We need silence in the presence of a lov...

Today we are pleased to present an encore guest meditation by Aaron Niequist. Aaron is a liturgist, writer, and pastor who recently graduated from General Theological Seminary in NYC. After leading worship at Mars Hill Church (Grand Rapids, MI) and Willow Creek Church (Barrington, IL), he created A New Liturgy - a collection of modern liturgical worship recordings. He then curated a discipleship-f...

Today is a special episode celebrating 1,000,000 downloads! We are so grateful to you our Daily Still community from all over the world who have tuned in and made this possible. We began the podcast, 180 episodes and almost 4 years ago, with the desire to help others recognize the voice of God in their own life. In this episode, host Cindy Helton will be answering some of your questions and sharin...

The Daily Still Podcast is celebrating 1,000,000 listener downloads!  We're so incredibly thankful to you, our listening community!   Next week we're planning a special episode to celebrate this milestone and we'd love to have you be a part of it! If you have any questions you'd like to ask our host, Cindy Helton, or if you'd like to share how these meditations have helped you on your stillness jo...

In this week's meditation, Jesus addresses the topic of worry. We can't escape fear and worry in this world. Fear causes us to try and attempt to control our circumstances. This subconsciously leads to not trusting that God is in control. Jesus teaches us to release our fears and trust HIm, and turn from anxious thoughts towards faith.    Scripture References: Matthew 6 NLT, Matthew 6:34 CSB, John...

This week's meditation looks at revival, both personal and in the Church as a whole. We are in the Lenten Season of the Church, a season set apart for the purpose of returning to God and paying attention to Divine Presence in our lives.   Lent is a journey of grace, allowing us to follow the way of Jesus. We are invited to personally bear witness to Christ's miraculous life of love and transformin...

In the Sermon on the Mount, after Jesus told his followers not to worry, he then instructed them to seek first the Kingdom of God above all else. There seems to be a connection between not worrying and Kingdom living. Jesus taught that the kingdom of God is now.  It's a particular level of human consciousness in our every day living and thinking that seeks the way of Christ.  When is it hardest fo...

This week's meditation continues with the Sermon on the Mount, which is a collection of the teachings of Jesus as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew.   Find a quiet space, calm the noise around you and within you, as you listen to these words of Jesus. Consider what penetrates your heart and how you you might be encouraged to respond to this teaching.   Scripture references: Matthew  5:13-16 The Me...

This week we focus on the words of Jesus given in his sermon on the mount. Jesus taught a counter-cultural way of living that brings joy and blessing, comfort and peace.    As you listen to Jesus, picture yourself as part of the crowd sitting on the hillside that day. Do you come up close to the teacher, or do you remain further back in the crowd? Listen for new insight in this familiar teaching. ...

The Supernatural, Divine Presence of Jesus brings hope in the waiting. Courage in our fears. Strength in our weakness. Confidence in our doubts. Comfort in our hardships. Rest in our weariness. Guidance on our journey. Love with us always.   Jesus in us. For us. Guiding us.   Today we invite you to join us in meditating upon breath prayers of affirmation and trust.    I am the way, the truth, and...

"You can be sure that I will be with you always. I will continue with you until the end of time." Matthew 28:20 ERV Last words are important. As Jesus days on earth were coming to an end, He often told His disciples of what was to come. His words were important for His followers to hold onto in times of fear and doubt and loneliness. "Remember, I am with you always." Insert your name and repeat th...