Ordinary Time

Pause

Take a deep breath, and let it out with a sigh.

Do it once more.

Close your eyes and slowly count to five.

Take another deep breath and be reminded of God’s presence in your life.

Listen

Lord, you have been our help, generation after generation. Before the mountains were born, before you birthed the earth and the inhabited world— from forever in the past to forever in the future, you are God.

Psalm 90:1-2

Think

Where do you want to go, physically, when you are tired and worn out? Where does your heart want to go, symbolically speaking, when you are sad, lonely, or afraid?

Scripture tells us that God is our dwelling place, our refuge. Because we can’t see, taste, touch, smell, or hear signs of this ultimate safe place, it’s all too easy to think that it doesn’t really exist. It is helpful, then, that scripture affirms that God is the dwelling place for all generations – those who have gone before us, and those who will come after us.

God will always be ready to welcome us back, even if we have been out of touch recently. God longs to offer you refuge – an offer none of us should refuse.

Becky Ullom Naugle

Pray

Call me back, O God, to your comfort and guidance. You are my heart’s home. Amen.

Go

Go into your day with confidence, knowing that God has promised to be with you always, even if God’s sense of timing is different from yours.

Remember God’s love for you; remember your love of God.

You cannot go where God is not!