Daily Bread April 10

Stillness
Shirley Remmenga of Fort Collins, CO, USA


God is calling for a prophetic community to emerge, drawn from the nations of the world, that is characterized by uncommon devotion to the compassion and peace of God revealed in Jesus Christ. Through divine grace and wisdom, this faith community has been given abundant gifts, resources, and opportunities to equip it to become such a people. Chief among these is the power of community in Christ expressed locally in distinctive fashions while upholding a unity of vision, foundational beliefs, and mission throughout the world.  -Doctrine and Covenants 163:11a

Rather than make New Year resolutions, I decided a few years ago to choose a focus word for the year. This year I have chosen stillness. I wish to share with you why. I came to a Zoom Communion service with a heavy heart. It wasn’t a feeling of despair, nor was there a lack of the basic joy that I carry in my soul; I was just down! I was dealing with heavy family concerns as well as world-wide ones.

During the partaking of the emblems, my computer screen showed a moving picture of a waterfall. Water was flowing rapidly down, bubbling, splashing, moving, misty. I watched this water continue its journey, and then my eyes were drawn to the side of this scene toward a big rock. Behind it was a pool of quiet, calm, still water untouched by the chaotic happenings at the base of the waterfall. I responded to that stillness. The absence of noise and movement flooded my soul, and gradually my tension eased, my spirit calmed, and my mind was freed of unnecessary concerns. It was a “God Moment” for me, and I came away from that experience refreshed, enlivened, and blessed.

“Peace, be still” (Mark 4:31).

“Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

“He leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul” (Psalm 23: 2-3).

Prayer Phrase

“Practice Resurrection” (Wendell Berry).

Spiritual Practice

Breath Prayer

During this Easter season, we invite you daily into a breath prayer focused on resurrection. With each exhale, respond in a word or phrase to the question, “What is dying?” (fear, anger, assumptions, etc.) With each inhale, notice a response in a word or phrase to the question “What is rising?” (love, courage, trust, etc.) You may choose to use the same word or phrase throughout this season, or let each day bring its own unique response to this sacred pattern of dying and rising that is central to our faith.

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.

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