Life By The Spirit Scripture And PracticesSample

The same devotional content is available here in audio or written text format. Engage by listening or reading (or both!), depending on your preferences.

Daily Prayer: Lord, draw me into genuine relationship with you and with others.

Daily Practice: In the beginning of God’s story, humanity is in true community with God. They exist in a state of shalom together, a state of relational wholeness and peace. But when humanity chooses to break relationship with God, shame and fear set it. Humanity goes into hiding. As we enter back into relational wholeness with God through Jesus Messiah, we are liberated from our shame and our fear. We no longer need to hide from God, from one another, from ourselves. 

Today, take a few moments to acknowledge where fear and shame have kept you from relationship with God and others. Imagine that you are in the Garden of Eden. The Lord is looking for you. He is calling your name. You are afraid. You are hiding from him. Take a deep breath and imagine every covering begins to fall away—the barriers of shame melt down around you. As you stand and turn toward the voice of the Father, you see him running toward you with arms open wide. Take a deep breath. Receive the loving embrace of the Lord. Lord, in the safety of your arms, draw me out of hiding.