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Daily Devotions

19th January, 2009 - Posted by nwilsonadmin - 3 Comments

In some ways, it seems quaint to even use the word “devotions.” While at Episcopal Divinity School, I was reading about Charles Wesley, and their Holiness Club, and how they held services at 5 am, including preaching.

I am a morning person, but, sorry, no preaching at 5 am.

My practice, which I do every day when I am at home, and most days when I travel (that is my biggest challenge), is to have time in the am. I sit at my desk, which is our former dining room table. It is light pine wood, handmade for us years ago, with distressed blue legs. The desk faces a large window looing out into my front yard and cul-de-sac. I frequently see birds up close on the bushes in front of the window, or in the yards that adjoin, if the neighbor’s dog, Buddy, a big yello lab, is not chasing them away.

I light a candle. I write a little in my prayer journal. I then turn to a number of sources, and switch them out year to year. I still read God Calling, by A.J. Russell, even though the language is quite dated. Often, there are sweet surprises in it.

I read the Bible. This varies too. Right now, I am reading the Bible in Spanish. I read a passage from the Hebrew Bible (I am in 1 Samuel today, the story of Abigail); a Psalm; a passage from the Gospels (I just finished Luke 14); and a passage from Acts or the epistles (I am finishing 1 Timothy). Sometimes I read the scriptures in the context of the daily office.

I may read then, from any number of devotionals:

Celtic Daily Prayer: Prayers and Readings from the Northumbria Community, Intro, by Richard Foster
Bread for the Journey, Henri Nouwen
The Word is Out, Chris Glaser
The Queer Commentary, Deryn Guest, et al — I use this for preaching, but it also works well for devotions
Guide My Feet: Prayers and Meditations for our Children, Marian Wright Edelman – chocked full of good sermon fodder
St. Benedict’s Toolbox, Jane Tomaine
Spiritual Literacy; Reading the Sacred in Everyday LIfe, Fredrick and Mary Brussart
Race and Prayer, Malcolm Boyd, ed.
Anything by Anne Lamott
In God’s Presence, Marjorie Suchocki – a great source, espcially about intercessory prayer, but great for devotions too.
This I Believe, ed. by Jay Allen and Dan Gediman, from the NPR series, there are at least two volumes of very short pieces, well done.
Sacred Journeys: A Woman’s Book of Daily Prayer, Jan L. Richardson.
I sometimes use AA or Al Anon material too. I love “Just for Today,” even as corny as it may be . . .

I have to confess, I still do all this holding books in my hands. . .I know there are all kinds of online options these days, and I would love to hear about suggestions. My problem seems to be that if I am on my computer I have a hard time not switching to work. . .I do not play on the computer much, and I know that is a deficit as far as being aware of resources beyond books!!

So, share, please!! When you are book-dependent, it is a challenge while traveling . . .

I also keep an Intercessory Prayer journal, as I don’t trust my memory, and I recevie many prayer requests and take them seriously. I also have a gratitude list that I begin anew every year. I usually end up my time in the am with that. Sometimes, it is good just to sit, look at the candle, or out the window. Generally I like it quiet, I cannot do “background mjusic.” If I listen to music, I give it my full attention.

I also try to go to the gym every morning. If I go by myself, I try to avoid looking at the TV monitors, and use the time to have some extra intercessory time, whatever comes to mind.

If I have time, I also read something about birds. I have many wonderful books about birds, some of which are also deeply spiritual. Or fun.

My time in the am can be as short at 25 minutes, but I prefer it to be an hour or longer. I do not seem to be able to do much at night, other than utter some prayers of gratitude.

Let me know about your practice, what works for you!

Posted on: January 19, 2009

Filed under: Devotions

3 Comments

Karri Martin

January 20th, 2009 at 4:53 am

So you like God Calling, ha, you are the first person I’ve ever heard say they read it. I read it every day for years till it was tattered& then lost it somehow. After a year or so and vaguely missing it, I was looking through a box of books at a Flea Market, (you know the boxes, books for a quater-if not sold will be thrown out),which is unusual for me because I usually don’t have the patience for such boxes, lo and behold there was a practically new God Calling-a God moment! I love those “moments”!
Now this one is tattered because when I travel 2 books always go with me, God Calling andmy Bible.
Thanks for sharing.
Karri