Today's inspiration comes from: |
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Today's inspiration comes from: |
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I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. — John 15:1–5 CSB Throughout the Old Testament, grapevines and vineyards were often used as a visual representation of God's people, who were planted and tended by Him. When Jesus spoke to His disciples in John 15, He used this familiar imagery but with a critical reframe: He told them that He was the true vine, they were the branches, and a relationship with God was possible only through an attachment to Him. In this passage, Jesus was about to go to the cross, and His disciples were about to face deep pain, fear, and confusion as they watched the One they had followed and loved be tortured and killed. This was not what they thought would happen when the Messiah arrived. This was not the way they wanted the story to go. The disciples didn't know all that was coming. There was so much they didn't understand. But Jesus knew. And He knew what they would need most to remain strong and secure and rooted in truth, and He said to them, Remain in Me. — v. 4 Silence Begin with a time of silence. Still your body... Slow your breathing... Quiet your mind. Focus on being fully present in this moment, right here, right now. |
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Remain in Me. — John 15:4 |
Remain in Me. — John 15:4 |
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Opening Prayer Lord God, Gardener of my soul, Tend my soul today as I turn my thoughts to You. Clear my mind of the weeds that entangle me, and help me to be fully present with You, just as You are fully present with me. I invite You to speak to me, to search my heart and shape my life. Show me what is true. Open my eyes to see You. Open my ears to hear Your voice. Open my heart to receive Your Word. Open my hands to accept whatever You give. Draw close to me, Lord, as I draw close to You. Amen. Read & Meditate Read through the Bible passage three times, taking time to pause and pray and quietly listen to the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart. Lectio 1: Read through the passage slowly. What is one word or phrase that stands out to you? Pause & pray In silence, meditate on this word or phrase. Lectio 2: Read through the passage a second time. This time, pray through the passage, reading phrase by phrase. Talk to God, pausing to listen and respond to Him as you read. Pause & pray In silence, bring your attention to the present moment. |
Lectio 3: Read through the passage a third time. Sit in stillness again as you contemplate the word or phrase that stood out to you and how it may apply to your life right now. Notice Notice your body: What are you feeling right now? Notice your thoughts: What are you thinking right now? Notice your circumstances: What is happening in your life right now? Compassionately consider these things, and listen to what the Holy Spirit may be revealing to you in light of today's reading and meditation. What invitation might God be extending to you today? God is inviting me to... Surrendering Prayer As I prepare to enter into the rest of my day, Lord, May I remain in You and grow with branches stretched toward You, with fruit that bears Your character, with roots that are strong and deep and secure in Your truth and love. May my pace be slow and unhurried, ever aware of Your presence with me. May my mind be attentive and clear, noticing the gift of every moment. May my heart be gentle and kind, showing compassion to myself and others. Today, I will release my need for control, and I will simply abide in You. Keep turning my thoughts to whatever is true. Transform me to be more like You. Amen. Embody Continue to contemplate the word and invitation God gave you today. Consider: What kind of fruit does your life bear right now? What's a practical way you can remain in Christ today? |
Excerpted with permission from Present in Prayer by Jennifer Tucker, copyright Jennifer Tucker. * |
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As you reflect and meditate on abiding in Christ, staying connected to Him, remember the cross. Remember His love for you. Remain in Him! ~ Devotionals Daily |
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A Guided Invitation to Peace Through Biblical Meditation (30 Devotional Meditations on Scripture to Guide You in Prayer) | |
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+ $10 off $45 with code SPRING10 |
Still your soul and rest your mind as you cultivate a purposeful prayer life by focusing your thoughts on God's Word. Do you notice that even when your body is not moving, your mind is racing? Anxiety, to-do lists, and the spiral of negative thought patterns often keep us from the stillness we long for. In Present in Prayer, award-winning author Jennifer Tucker invites you to allow the Holy Spirit to speak through God's Word and renew your mind through the practice of Christian meditation. As in her first book, Breath as Prayer, Jennifer shares a powerful prayer practice in this beautifully illustrated book that is deep yet accessible. Each of the 30 meditations offers you: - A gentle call to silence, an opening prayer, and a thoughtful reflection on a Bible verse
- Guided meditation on Scripture using the centuries-old practice of lectio divina—a framework of Christian meditation that helps you slow down and linger on God's Word
- A prayer of surrender and prompts for how to live out the truths God is speaking to you
- Inspired art to draw you into each meditation as you consider what is lovely, true, excellent, and worthy of praise
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"I have never done meditation before. This book helped me to learn on how to do it and the calming effect that it has." — Gail M. |
"This is such a wonderful prayer compliment as the author encourages a deeper and more meaningful time of meditation in His presence. Each chapter is full of encouragement and scripture verses. Time in His presence is critical for building our faith muscle; the enemy stands no chance when we cover ourselves in the full armor of God and stay prayed-up. The sword of the spirit is our most powerful tool!!" —Tina |
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With a beautiful foil-accented cover and full-color original illustrations throughout, Present in Prayer is an ideal gift for: - Anyone experiencing stress, anxiety, or overwhelming thoughts
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You're not in a hurry. You're on a journey. Cultivate a more purposeful and peaceful prayer life and greater intimacy with God as you focus your thoughts on His Word. |
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What if you could live more like Jesus—unhurried, unworried, and relaxed? In Relaxed with Megan Fate Marshman, you'll discover how the One who was never worried about a thing lived with calm confidence and trust in God—and how you can learn to do the same. You'll explore spiritual practices that help you let go of your worries and striving and walk with more trust and peace. Join Relaxed Online Bible Study and get access to seven teaching videos and other helpful tools—all FREE when you sign up! |
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