Brother Lawrence spoke with great openness of heart concerning his manner of going to God whereof some part is related already. He told me that all consists in one hearty renunciation of everything which we are sensible does not lead to God. We might accustom ourselves to a continual conversation with Him with freedom and...
Author: Josh & Rachel
Day by Day – Andrew Murray
“And the people shall go out and gather the portion of a day in his day.”-Ex.16:4 THE day’s portion in its day: Such was the rule for God’s giving and man’s working in the ingathering of the manna. It is still the law in all the dealings of God’s grace with His children. A clear...
Part 6: Liturgy
This is Part 6 of our Let the Thirsty Come retreat series, which highlights different aspects of spending extended quality time with God. In this retreat, we explore how to foster rhythms of turning our hearts, our eyes, and our minds back to the promises and reality of our ever-present, life-giving Savior. Josh unpacks how John 15...
Part 5: Confession
This is Part 5 of our Let the Thirsty Come retreat series, which highlights different aspects of spending extended quality time with God. Throughout Scripture, God calls us to honestly bring our sins before him in confession – and promises radical hope, cleansing, and healing. In this devotional, Josh introduces the Confession retreat, and walks...
Creative Response
While most of our retreat activities focus on quieter, often internal, ways of engaging with God (reading, writing, speaking, listening, etc.), there can also be great value in incorporating more creative or interactive aspects into our time with God. This acknowledges and lives in the reality that God made us creative, dynamic people, and there...
Record of Debt
Using Scripture to guide self-examination, confession, and living in light of the Gospel God’s Word is the best tool available to us as we seek to look honestly at our lives and bring our sin back to the cross. In this activity, we will specifically reflect on Colossians 3, asking God to open our eyes...
I Will Never Cast You Out
A prayer based on Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ, by John Bunyan, as quoted in Gentle and Lowly, by Dane Ortland My Lord, I am a great sinner… Yet Jesus says to me “I will never cast you out”I have pursued sin year after year… Still Jesus says to me “I will never cast...
Trusting God in Suffering
Included in the book The Practice of the Presence of God are several letters from Brother Lawrence to a brother who is suffering severely with some physical ailment. We include three of these letters (letters 13 to 15) here as a possible devotional reading. As it addresses the theme of entrusting our suffering and situation...
The Lord’s Prayer
In this activity, we use the Lord’s Prayer as a template for looking to God and depending on him for our core needs. When Jesus instructs his disciples to pray, he reminds them to beware of two dangers: praying to impress others and praying to impress God. Instead, he calls his disciples to pray in...
Part 4: Quiet
This is Part 4 of our Let the Thirsty Come retreat series, which highlights different aspects of spending extended quality time with God. God calls us to come and be still, and this invitation flows from God’s mighty power – not from the stillness of our surroundings or circumstances. Even in the midst of troubles,...