John 1:12-13

) Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)

2) Scripture Reading: John 1:12-13
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

3) Devotional
When we receive the reconciliation Christ gave us on the Cross, it re-establishes our relationship with God the Father and John tells us that we are given “the right to become children of God.”

Think about that!  93 times in Scripture, the same Greek word “exousia”, translated here as “right”, is used. Most often, that Greek word is translated into English as “authority”.

We have the authority to be children of God the perfect Heavenly Father!  ... Seriously?!

I don’t know about you but I feel completely unworthy of such a relationship … and I am… except for the fact that God’s word says that I have been given the authority to have it!

Simply by receiving His gift of reconciliation, forgiveness and salvation purchased for me by Christ Jesus on the Cross I can have the right to become God's child. 

4) Questions to Consider
Have you received God’s free gift of reconciliation and forgiveness in Jesus, including the right to become God's child?

Do you understand the fullness of the authority that you’ve been given to be God’s child?

How can you spend time reflecting on that promise and living like it were real?

What messages of others, or the world, do you need to stop listening to (or stop repeating to yourself) in order to hear the truth of God’s word to you today?

5) Prayer
Lord God, what an awesome gift of love you have given me in Christ Jesus, your only Son. He died for me so that I might live forever with you as your child. Forgive me for the times when I have forgotten or ignored your gift. Thank you for your unconditional love that did not let me stay separated from you. Change me to be who you want me to be. In Christ’s name, amen.

Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)

Daily Office - Reflection

1) Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)

2) Scripture Reading: Mark 6:30-32
“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.   So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.”

3) Devotional
Reflection is a word about which one should take a moment to think. The definition I like is offered by John Maxwell when he suggests that “reflection is the pause that gives the person perspective.”

Life is a series of experiences, one after another. Reflection turns experience into insight. Life moves quickly. 60 seconds soon becomes 60 minutes which before long has lead us through the routine of 24 hours that multiplies itself by seven and is called one week…..Every person on earth has the same number of seconds in a week but not all persons have learned the value of gaining wisdom from life.

A reflective person has learned to pause in evaluation so that when they begin again in another daily cycle of experience they are the wiser and better prepared because of the insight gained from yesterday. 

In the Mark passage, Jesus said to his disciples in the midst of a large pressing crowd to come away and reflect with him.  A valuable part of resting well is reflecting deeply. The discipline it takes to invest 10 minutes a day to glance back will give you energy and creativity as you fix your gaze onto the next new day of opportunity.  Just remember, Jesus, though not jotting down his thoughts on paper, he took the time -  I think he offers us a valuable model to follow.

4) Questions to Consider
Take 10 minutes before you go to bed and write the answers to these questions down:

1. Who did I see and interact with today?
2. What things did I attempt to accomplish today?
3. How well did I do with my interaction with people and with applying excellence to all the projects I began?
4. What could I have done better and therefore, what will I do tomorrow if that same situation presents itself?

If you will take the time to do it for the next 10 days I believe you will see results that will encourage you …to keep doing it.  

 5) Prayer
Lord, I just need to be with you - for a long time. I can see that there are a lot of things in me that need to change...show me one small step I can take to begin to build a life around you.  Lord, help me develop an effective plan in my life of paying attention to you whether I am working, resting, studying, or praying.  In Jesus' name, amen.

Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)