Before I start the daily posts, I thought readers - especially readers who may not have used a devotional before - might appreciate an explanation of the format. Here's what I have planned.
Today's readings:
A list of the readings for the day, based on the Revised Common Lectionary two-year cycle. I'll link this text to BibleGateway for easy access. Usually I'll be working with the NIV translation, but if you prefer a different translation you can change it easily after you follow the link.
Example: Micah 6:8, John 3:16
The Devotional Text:
Three to four paragraphs reflecting on the day's readings. The daily selections don't always contain a common theme, so I may refer to only one or two of them directly.
Comfort:
A short sentence reassuring us of God's love for us.
Challenge:
A suggested activity to help you act in some small way on the day's reflection.
Prayer:
A short prayer, which you may want to repeat throughout the day.
Evening readings:
The Lectionary includes evening readings of Psalms. I won't refer to them in the reflection, but if you are motivated to follow the Lectionary, you'll have the full day's reading list available.
That's it! I'm very excited that the daily posts will begin soon. I am very open to feedback, so please let me know what works for you, what doesn't work, or any other suggestions you might have. Obviously I can't incorporate every suggestion I get, but there's no reason this format can't evolve over time.
Peace!
Joseph
