Welcome to The 7 Essentials for Caring That Makes a Difference, Devotional Series.

This week’s devotional invites you to slow down, reflect deeply, and practice presence—both with God and with those He places in your path.

Each day offers:

• New content to guide your thoughts for the week.
• Content to reread everyday throughout the week, helping you soak truth so it moves your mind into to your heart and soul.
• Moments for stillness where you can excape the noise of hurry of life and prepare to encounter God in new ways.

• Begin each session by taking a few deep breaths.
• Set aside distractions, quiet your spirit, and open yourself to God’s presence.
• Then, read, the reflect, and the pray—letting each part shape your heart of compassion.

This rhythm of reading, rereading, and reflection will help the lessons of caring not only be learned but lived.

The Third Essential: Practice Presence 

AN INVITATION TO DAILY WORSHIP

“Grant me, O Lord, to know what I ought to know, to love what I ought to love, to praise what delights You most, to value what is precious in Your sight, to hat what is offensive to You. Amen.”

Thomas a Kempis, in Little Book of Prayers

As Found in Disciplines of the Inner Life, Benson and Benson, p. 293

 DAILY SCRIPTURES

A Psalm for every day.

Psalm 46

Daily Readings

Monday       Romans 12:15

Tuesday       Psalm 139

Wednesday   Revelation 3:20

Thursday      Philippians 2:3,4

Friday         John 15:13

Saturday      Matthew 25:40-45 / 18:20

Sunday        Exodus 33:14
 
PERSONAL REFLECTION

Even the Apostle Paul, as busy and productive as he was, had seasons of loneliness and even abandonment. He was honest about it in this passage. He desired with some urgency that others come to visit him. Lots of people in our high-tech world today have a lonely, low-touch life. The absence of others can be addressed by becoming present as we are able but also by teaching that once we trust the Savior, He comes by His Spirit and never leaves us! We may feel lonely but we are never again alone.

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK

“Lord, I pray for those around me who have lost loved ones and find themselves alone, those who have been hurt or betrayed and feel abandoned, those who are afflicted and weakened and feel forgotten. Teach me how to become present with them, to maintain an undistracted focus on them at those times, and to bring a physical reminder that God is also present and cares for them where they are.”

HYMN OF THE WEEK

Does Jesus Care?

1 Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song;
As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?

Refrain:
O yes, He cares- I know He cares!
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.

2 Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near? [Refrain]

3 Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief I find no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long? [Refrain]

4 Does Jesus care when I’ve said goodbye
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks—
Is it aught to Him? does He see? [Refrain]

BLESSING AND COMMITMENT TO ACTION

“Never pray for an easier life – pray to be a stronger person! Never ray for tasks equal to your power – pray for power equal to your tasks. Tyeb doing your work will be no miracle – you will be the miracle.” 

Phillips Brooks in Streams in the Desert, August 3, p. 297.

WHAT IS GOD SHOWING YOU THIS WEEK?

Writing your experience will reinforce your learning and it will encourage someone else to care a little more deeply today. We can do this together.

•  You may journal your discoveries and/or encounters with others.
• Share your insights, or an experience, in the comment section of this post.