As Jesus said in John 16:13 NIV — But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears and he will tell you what is yet to come.”

I began this week by telling you about a time I shattered my cell phone and was forced to do without it for a couple days. I spent those two days remembering how to sit still and listen to God. God reminded me that our time together shouldn’t be filled up with me pouring out my thoughts and concerns, but also time to be quiet and listen to God. I encouraged you to do the same this week. Have you taken the time to sit and listen? Did you hear God speaking to you?

While texting with Julie and Ray this week, Ray gave a wonderful analogy. He said, “Like we use cell phones to talk with others, God uses the Holy Spirit to talk with us if we have a good connection and listen!” We have to be willing to be still and quiet to foster a good connection. Part of hearing from God is being open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. How is your connection? Are you listening? Spend a few moments listening to “Holy Spirit” by Francesca Battistelli and invite the Holy Spirit into your quiet time.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for our Advocate, the Holy Spirit. Open my eyes, ears, heart, and mind to the leading of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Psalm 46:10 NIV  — He says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” 

Today I am continuing the story of me being forced to do without my phone and easy access to the many email devotionals I received each morning. God wanted me to slow down from the busyness. In the quiet, God helped me realize I was trying to fill myself up with devotional after devotional. Without my phone, I was forced to be still and use this time to sit and listen for His marching orders. While He often speaks to me through the many devotional apps and emails, for this time He was speaking to me in a gentle whisper. 

How about you? Do you need to slow down, be still, and examine your busyness so that God can speak to you? I urge you to be still. In the quiet solitude and peace, God will guide and direct you in ways only He can. 

Take a moment to listen to “Be Still and Know” by Steven Curtis Chapman. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, Help me to be still today. In the stillness open my eyes to the ways You reveal Yourself to me in new and undeniable ways. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

1 Kings 19:11-12 NIV — The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

Today I will continue to tell you what happened when I was forced to do without my cell phone for 2 days. Yesterday, I shared that the first day without my phone, I was lost without immediate access to the devotional emails I receive daily. So I just sat and started thinking of a plan of action. Guess what I heard. NOTHING. Quiet. Solitude. PEACE. And then I heard God’s voice. Of course it was not an audible, loud, deep voice. But it was a movement of the Holy Spirit telling me to be still and quiet. So I listened. During that still and quiet time, God revealed to me that this is exactly what I needed right then. 

Today, I encourage you to take some time to turn off all the noise and listen for God in the quiet. Just as God spoke to Elijah, He will speak to you in a gentle whisper if you are open to listening. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for reminding me to be still and quiet. Today, I will be quiet and listen to hear Your gentle whisper. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Psalm 119:105 NIV — Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Yesterday, I told you about a time I dropped my cell phone and the glass shattered. Today, I will share more of the story. 

I must confess that at the time of the phone shattering experience, I was a “devotion junkie.” I thrived on starting my day reading multiple devotionals from various sources. OK, I will confess. I read a minimum of 8 devotionals each morning. See, I was a junkie. 

As I told you yesterday, my husband took my shattered phone to be repaired. I was without my phone for 2 days and I was completely lost. The first morning without my phone, I followed my usual morning routine of getting my cup of coffee and getting comfy in my chair. From there, I was not sure what to do next. I didn’t have access to the apps and emails I use during my morning devotion. What would I do in its place? How would I hear from God that day? I initially felt paralyzed and once again lost. I was thrown for a loop. 

Have you ever had your routine interrupted and felt paralyzed? Have you ever felt lost? Where did you turn? 

Today, let’s stay grounded in Christ. When we have moments of feeling disconnected or lost, let’s turn to Jesus. Allow Jesus to lead you down your path today. Take a few moments to worship while you listen to “Come To Jesus” by Chris Rice.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Guide and direct me today. When I feel lost and disconnected, remind me to always come to Jesus for direction. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Psalm 46:1 NIV — God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Have you ever dropped your cell phone? I tend to accidentally drop my phone a lot. Most of the time the phone fares well and there are no consequences from it falling. However, a few years ago I dropped my phone and that time when it hit the floor the glass shattered. It was in such bad shape that when I tried to use it a glass chip stuck in my finger. Since my schedule was so jam packed, my husband offered to take my phone to be repaired. As a result, I was without my phone for 2 days. Two days without my phone was an eye-opening experience. By the end of the first day, I was almost in a state of panic. I had no idea how much I depended on my phone. I felt so out of touch and disconnected without it. I couldn’t readily pick up my phone to send a quick text, make a phone call or look up information. I felt completely lost.

Isn’t that sad. We have become so dependent on our cell phones, that without them, we are lost. Today, as you go to church or have worship time, I encourage you to put your cell phone away. If you wear a watch that is connected to your phone, take it off. For that hour or so of worship, force yourself to be detached from technology and be fully present in the moment. Look and listen for God’s presence and enjoy!

Let’s pray. Dear Lord, Thank You for being ever-present. Help me to disconnect from the world today and enjoy Your presence. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
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Click here to watch today’s See You Saturday video.

Click here to listen to one of Lauren Daigel’s songs from her new album.

Philippians 2:5-8 NIV — In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!

This week we have reflected on our own failures, asked for forgiveness, and remembered our call to love others as we are loved. Today’s scripture reminds us that in our relationships with others, humility is our goal. Humility means putting others before ourselves and humility is not always easy. However, being humble is on the path to becoming more like Christ.

As you interact with others, remember your self-examination this week. Hold close in your thoughts what you learned this week about loving others through your words and actions. May each of us respond like Christ with love and humility. 

Let’s pray. Thank You Lord for the example set by Christ. Mold me and make me more like Christ in my response to others. May I continue to grow more humble and may I reflect more of You and less of me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.