The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "DAILY RITUALS" for Sunday, 4 September 2016 with Scripture: John 17:20-24

The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "DAILY RITUALS" for Sunday, 4 September 2016 with Scripture: John 17:20 “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will trust in me because of their word, 21 that they may all be one. Just as you, Father, are united with me and I with you, I pray that they may be united with us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. 22 The glory which you have given to me, I have given to them; so that they may be one, just as we are one — 23 I united with them and you with me, so that they may be completely one, and the world thus realize that you sent me, and that you have loved them just as you have loved me.
24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am; so that they may see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
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I desire faithful love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God instead of entirely burned offerings.[Hosea 6:6 (CEB)]
There’s something about tea that I find comforting. It isn’t just the flavor but the process of preparing it as well. Warm the pot, steep the leaves, sprinkle in sugar, watch the milk gently billow, then take a sip and feel my tensions ease.
Going through this ritual helps me wake up in the morning, clear my head when I’m overwhelmed, and relax at day’s end. Focusing on each step draws my attention to the task at hand.
What would be the point of brewing a cup of tea if we didn’t take the time to enjoy it at the end? But sometimes, we do that in our spiritual lives. We sing the hymn, read the verse, or pray the prayer without actually engaging with God. Rituals and disciplines are meant to lead us into intimacy with God. Simply going through the motions of faith will not satisfy our thirst for God.
Making a cup of tea and savoring the experience is a model for practicing spiritual disciplines. Each day we can turn simple actions into times of intentional connection with God. As we go through the day, we may pray, sing, give an offering, or read scripture. With each step we work our way toward the desired outcome: a closer relationship with God.
Read more from the author, here.
"More from Megan L. Anderson"
Like so many others raised in the church, the importance of daily “quiet times” or “devotions” was drilled into me from childhood. If you skipped that minimum 15 minutes of prayer and Bible reading, then you threw the doors of your soul open to demonic influence. Devotional times were made to sound more like talismans warding off evil than sweet moments of intimacy with the Savior. The downside of emphasizing spiritual disciplines so strongly was that it elevated the ritual over the reason. The power was in the practice, not the person of Christ.
Thankfully God is more gracious, merciful, and understanding than the rhetoric of my childhood. While prayer and engaging with scripture are vital to our spiritual health, God draws us in a rich diversity of ways. The Holy Spirit doesn’t tick boxes on a rubric each day taking note of how many Bible verses we read, minutes we pray, or the appropriateness of where and when we did. God desires relationship. A cup of tea can be as sacred as a communion chalice, a walk in the woods as a sanctuary, and a shower stall as a baptismal. If our rituals aren’t serving our relationship with God, then it’s time to reevaluate.
This past summer I quit all my routine disciplines in favor of sitting in silence with God. Instead of telling the Lord when, where, and how to speak to me, I opened myself to God's presence. Over those two months God showed up in more deeply personal and unpredictable ways than I ever could have imagined. Now, as I step back into church society and re-approach spiritual habits, I’m more conscious of the purpose and meaning behind them.
What activities give you a sense of God’s loving presence? Which feel dry or lifeless? I encourage you to at least temporarily lay those empty habits down and offer God the freedom to meet you on new sacred ground. I promise you won't regret it.[Megan L. Anderson, Megan blogs at meganlanderson.freesite.website.]
The Author: Megan L. Anderson (Indiana, USA)
Thought for the Day: What rituals do I find helpful in moving me closer to God?
Prayer: Dear God, help us make time each day to steep in your love for us and to pour out that love to others. Amen.
Prayer focus: TO SEEK GOD THROUGH DAILY RITUALS
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