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Spiritual companions
Being Christian is a day-to-day journey of practicing the spiritual habits that bring us closer to God. (Shutterstock Photo)
Special to United Methodist Insight | Dec. 1, 2025
E. Stanley Jones told of a person who came up to him at a Christian Ashram and said, “The problem with Christianity is that it’s so daily.”
He went on to note that the person was right. The spiritual life is a day-by-day journey. Following Jesus is a step-by-step experience. We journey with God little-by-little.
John Wesley viewed discipleship similarly, writing that we should “read and pray daily; it is your life.” His own life was a decades-long testimony to the importance of daily devotion.
We began a new Christian Year yesterday. We have the prospect of 365 days of discipleship, traveling through the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost.
With respect to reading, I want to invite you to follow this liturgical journey using the Revised Common Lectionary. We began Year A of the three-year cycle yesterday. You can access the readings using this link, https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/
harper ident 2024
In conjunction with this, I would recommend using The Upper Room Disciplines to add devotional reflection on the RCL texts. My wife Jeannie has used this resource for decades, and I have also made it my mainstay resource from time to time. Here is the link to get the 2026 edition in either paperback or eBook formats, https://store.upperroom.org/disciplines
So, here we are–December 1st. We have this day, and God willing, we will move through the new liturgical year with day-sized portions of spiritual food. Manna. I hope what’s offered here on Oboedire will be that for you.
As the Advent Season begins, here is a prayer written by Jan Richardson,
“God of new creating,
who beckons us
to the dance if birthing
and sustains us
in our laboring,
hear this prayer:
From fear of the unknown
deliver me.
From doubts of my creativity
deliver me.
From ridicule by those around me
deliver me.
From my excuses about my abilities
my age, my education,
my looks, my status
deliver me.
With your promise of companionship
comfort me.
With your creative spirit
bless me.
With your pledge of sustenance
strengthen me.
With your embrace of all of me
heal me and set me in motion.
You who called me to life
that you may be born again in me,
blessed be in this season and all seasons!
Amen.”
(Jan L. Richardson, Sacred Journeys: A Woman’s Book of Daily Prayer (Upper Room Books, 1995), 21)
Blessings! Steve
P.S. Just a reminder that the ‘Awakened To Grace’ daily devotional book will be a common-reader for our Oboedire community, with a weekly Saturday summary reflection on Oboedire Substack. Get a copy at http://www.awakenedtograce.org