Read Psalm 125.

This is one of the psalms of ascent. It is one that the people of God would have sung as they made their pilgrimage leading up to the temple. We can imagine them climbing the temple steps, their eyes rising to the mountains that surround Jerusalem. How stable and protective those mountains must have seemed. They are a perfect metaphor for the faithfulness of God that surrounds us when times seem chaotic, uncertain, or even dangerous. When it seems there is little we can count on in this world, the scriptures promise we can depend on the faithfulness of God to accompany us through every valley and mountaintop moment of life.

When has God’s faithfulness brought you comfort, peace, or stability in uncertain times? What are the symbols of that faithfulness? What signs help you to trust God’s promise of presence?

In prayer, offer up a situation that makes you feel worried, uncertain, or afraid. Ask for a heart that trusts God’s promise of unshakable love and faithfulness, even when we feel powerless over the outcome.

Read Esther 7:1-10; 9:20-22.

In chapter 7, we read of Esther’s plot to save the Jewish people from being wiped out at the command of Haman. In chapter 9, we read of the establishment of Purim, a festival celebrating God’s saving work in this story. Having been chosen by the king, Queen Esther had it made. Only those closest to her knew that she, herself, was a Jew. She could have refused to risk her own safety and well-being. Instead, her compassion compelled her to trust God to use her position and her gifts of wit and ingenuity to enact salvation for hers and God’s own people.

Few of us are called into situations like Esther’s, where we participate in a great act of heroism, but all of us are called to make small sacrifices throughout our days for the well-being of the people around us. Who, in your life, has made sacrifices for your safety and well-being? What was the price of their sacrifice? In what ways do you celebrate or commemorate what this person has done for you?

Today, if possible, write a note or make a phone call to say thank you. In prayer, thank God for those who have been a blessing in your life. Ask for the compassion, the courage, and the willingness to be that person for someone else.

Read Mark 9:30-37.

In the Gospel of Mark, the disciples’ inability to grasp Jesus’ teaching is almost comical. In v. 32, we read that they don’t understand, but are afraid to ask questions. Maybe they don’t want to understand the message about a messiah who suffers and dies, or maybe they don’t want to seem ignorant.

Can you think of a time when you didn’t understand something from the scriptures or within the church, but were afraid to ask someone about it? What kept you from asking? Did you find answers elsewhere or did you just let it go? Have you ever found, upon learning more, that you had completely missed the point or been way off the mark? If so, how did you respond?

Today, think of a question you have been wondering about – it might be about scripture, about something in the church, or about something completely unrelated to your spiritual life. In prayer, commit yourself to asking someone for clarity and ask the Spirit for an openness to learning.

Read James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a.

In this passage, we are asked to consider the motivations behind decisions we make or actions we take. Are our ambitions driven by envy of others? Are our words boastful and careless about truth? Are our decisions concerned only with what is good for ourselves? If the answer to these is yes, then, according to James, they are not of God. Alternately, are our ambitions, words, or decisions pure, peaceable, gentle, flexible, merciful, fruitful, and without partiality or hypocrisy? If so, then we are much closer to the mark of righteousness.

We live in a world of instant- and self-gratification. It takes work and commitment to slow down long enough to consider the source and the motivation of what we say and do. It takes humility to admit when our words or actions are coming from a place that is contrary to God’s nature, character, or will.

In prayer, ask the Spirit to shed light on the source and the motivation of your words and actions today.

Read Psalm 1.

In verses 1-3, we read that those who meditate day and night on the scriptures are “like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither.” While we sometimes mine the scriptures for passages that bolster our position against someone or something, sometimes ignoring the context in which it was written, weaponizing what we find, that is not scripture’s intended purpose. Instead, the scriptures are meant to be life-giving. They are meant to nurture so that those who are listening develop deep roots in the love of God and bear fruit for the nourishment of the world and the people around them.

What are some of the passages that leave you feeling as if you have been planted by a stream of water? In what ways is reflecting on scripture life-giving to you and in what ways does your reflection on scripture bear fruit that nourishes the spirits of others?

Read this psalm again slowly, out loud. Imagine yourself beside a gentle stream. Feel the fresh air wash over you and allow the words to mingle with the sounds of the gurgling water. Now offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the life-giving, sacred words of scripture.

Read Proverbs 31:10-31.

This is an ode of praise for an idyllic, imaginary woman who sets a very high bar. She is trustworthy, hard-working, capably attends to tasks at home, and is a successful businesswoman. Her ability to be driven, yet compassionate is admirable. Looking at it from a 21st-century perspective, we cannot imagine keeping up with everything her life would have demanded. To us, it seems like an impossible standard. Because we imagine this ideal woman would also be a devout Jew, we can assume she practices sabbath. Maybe that’s her unspoken, unacknowledged secret.

Maybe it is because this woman takes time to rest in God and to recharge her spirit that she accomplishes so much. I think often in our striving to live up to seemingly impossible standards, we forget the importance of self-care and rest. In our hurry and overcommitment of time, we forego activities and practices that are restorative.

What activities help you to recharge when you feel your energy flagging? How intentional are you at building time into your routine for these restorative practices? To what degree do you believe that rest is important in being able to accomplish everything you set out to do and to doing those things well? Does your practice reflect that belief?

At least once this week, set aside an hour (bonus points for a full day!) to dig into a sabbath practice – whether it be a nap, reading a good book, a shared meal, or a leisurely walk – whatever restores your soul.

Read Mark 8:27-38.

In his timeless devotional, My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers wrote this: “The ecclesiastical idea of a servant of God is not just Jesus Christ’s idea. His idea is that we serve Him by being the servants of other [people]. The real test of the saint is not preaching the gospel, but washing disciples’ feet, that is, doing the things that do not count in the actual estimate of [others] but count everything in the estimate of God. Jesus Christ’s idea of a New Testament saint [is] not one who proclaims the gospel merely, but one who becomes broken bread and poured out wine in the hands of Jesus Christ for other lives.”

Read James 3:1-12.

Here, the author speaks of the power of the tongue. Most of us were raised on the phrase, “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” We know that is not true. Words have great potential for harm. A careless word – not just spoken, but also written or posted online – can land at a person’s most sensitive spot. An intentional barb can cause lasting damage far beyond what was intended. Words also have great potential for building relationship and for building confidence. A thoughtful word might make a positive difference in surprising ways.

How intentional are you about the words you choose to speak or write? When have you said something that caused unintentional harm? Can you think of a time when you could see that your words had been a blessing? What practices might help you to be more thoughtful about what you say, write, or post?

In prayer, commit yourself to paying more attention to the words you choose to use.

Read Psalm 19.

The first part of this psalm paints a picture of creation, perfectly in balance and perfectly in harmony with the order in which God made it. In the same way, when we find wisdom in the scriptures, which we read offers revival, joy, and enlightenment. It is the wisdom and righteousness of God we should pursue, according to the psalmist, much more than the material pleasures of the world.

Part of the expression of wisdom and righteousness involves laying ourselves open before God, allowing God to examine and cleanse our spirits. This means being honest with ourselves and honest with God. It means daily striving to attain the prayer of vs. 14. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”

If you have not already done this, memorize this verse and commit yourself to praying it at the start of each day this week. At the end of the week, reflect on whether it had an impact on your daily interactions.

Read Proverbs 1:20-33.

Here, Wisdom is portrayed as a woman calling out on the street, anxious to be heard. To her disappointment, even those who hear disregard her counsel. “Fine,” we can hear her saying. “If you’re not going to listen, then whatever happens is on you.” I have said that exact sentence many times as a parent. And like lady Wisdom, I have also said, “And I’m not going to feel sorry for you when you get hurt (or get in trouble or fail the class or disappoint a friend, etc.).” Sometimes we are headstrong and unwilling to listen to the wisdom of others – especially if it isn’t what we want to hear or if it challenges us to rethink something on which we’ve already made up our mind.

The good news is that God, like a good parent should, suffers alongside us the pain and the sorrow that comes when we make bad decisions. We feel the consequences, but we aren’t alone in it. God is right there, pointing us toward life, light, and love once again.

Who have been the wise counsels in your life? Whose wisdom have you trusted in the past and whose wisdom do you trust today? Think of a time when you didn’t listen to what turned out to be good advice? What was the person’s reaction to your choice? Think of a time when you were asked for advice. From where did you draw your wisdom?

In prayer, ask God for help in recognizing wise voices in your life and for a willingness to listen.