Weekly Practices
Weekly Practice 5/18/26
Make every effort to do or reflect upon this week’s practice with others.
Scriptures
Acts 1:15-26 NLT
During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them. “Brothers,” he said, “the Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David. Judas was one of us and shared in the ministry with us.”
(Judas had bought a field with the money he received for his treachery. Falling headfirst there, his body split open, spilling out all his intestines. The news of his death spread to all the people of Jerusalem, and they gave the place the Aramaic name Akeldama, which means “Field of Blood.”)
Peter continued, “This was written in the book of Psalms, where it says, ‘Let his home become desolate, with no one living in it.’ It also says, ‘Let someone else take his position.’
“So now we must choose a replacement for Judas from among the men who were with us the entire time we were traveling with the Lord Jesus— from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.”
So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven.
Matthew 6:31-34 NLT
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Practice
Say “Yes” Today
Maybe you know exactly what God is calling you to do right now, and you’re actively partnering with him. If so, keep at it! But maybe you find yourself unsure. Maybe you haven’t really taken the time to pay attention and listen. Or maybe you have, and you’re still coming up short. The disciples were waiting for the Holy Spirit. They didn’t really know what to expect. Not exactly. In the meantime, though, they pray and feel led to replace Judas. A small “yes” as they wait for the big thing Jesus prepared them for.
This week, take saying “yes” to God one day at a time. If he gives you something bigger than that, awesome. But it’s when we take our eyes off of daily abiding in his love and direction that we usually lose the way. Consider starting each day by asking:
How can I seek your Kingdom today?
How can I live righteously today?
Wide Awake
If you missed this last Sunday, our friend Jed Johnson shared about the ministry he and his wife, Kim, started in Ukraine in 2013. The mission of Wide Awake International is to bring dignity, love, and hope to boys and men with disabilities in the Zhytomyr region of Ukraine. Wide Awake is one of the ministries Trellis partners with through financial support. Here are some other ways we can support them:
Prayer—For the Johnson family, for their team, for their work, for the boys and men they serve, for Ukraine.
Stay Connected—Sign up for their newsletter to learn more and get updates.
Donate—Consider supporting Wide Awake financially.
We’ll be sharing some other ways to partner with Wide Awake in the coming weeks!
Weekly Practice 5/11/26
Make every effort to do or reflect upon this week’s practice with others.
Scriptures
Luke 1:26-38 NLT
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”
Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”
The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For the word of God will never fail.”
Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
Acts 1:14 NLT
They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.
Practice
Say “Yes”
Mary knew what saying “yes” to God meant. When told she has been handpicked to be the Messiah’s mom, she assents: “I’m God’s servant. Bring it on.” And here she is after the ascent of her son, still saying “yes” to his Kingdom Come. It’s hard to imagine another individual who has had their life so thoroughly defined by their “yes” to God.
This week, be like Mary. Say “yes” to God. As you’ve spent time in examen prayer this last week, what have you noticed about your life? Your soul? Do you sense God inviting you to anything? Something to take up? Something to lay down? Something to return to? If you need to spend more time listening, do it. Leaning towards God, wherever you are, is a “yes.”
Accompanying soundtrack
These songs by Jess Ray are perfect for this week:
Weekly Practice 5/4/26
Make every effort to do or reflect upon this week’s practice with others.
Scriptures
1 Corinthians 3:16 NIV
Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?
Psalm 48 NIV
Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise,
in the city of our God, his holy mountain.
Beautiful in its loftiness,
the joy of the whole earth,
like the heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion,
the city of the Great King.
God is in her citadels;
he has shown himself to be her fortress.
When the kings joined forces,
when they advanced together,
they saw her and were astounded;
they fled in terror.
Trembling seized them there,
pain like that of a woman in labor.
You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish
shattered by an east wind.
As we have heard,
so we have seen
in the city of the Lord Almighty,
in the city of our God:
God makes her secure
forever.
Within your temple, O God,
we meditate on your unfailing love.
Like your name, O God,
your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;
your right hand is filled with righteousness.
Mount Zion rejoices,
the villages of Judah are glad
because of your judgments.
Walk about Zion, go around her,
count her towers,
consider well her ramparts,
view her citadels,
that you may tell of them
to the next generation.
For this God is our God for ever and ever;
he will be our guide even to the end.
Poem
“XLVIII Magnus Dominus” by Malcolm Guite
For heaven’s king has made the earth his home
Not just the hill of Sion, but the whole
Round world. Call him from anywhere, he’ll
Come to you and make his dwelling. Hail
Him in any language, he replies
In your own mother-tongue. For now your soul
Is his true Sion, and each day you rise
Already in the city of your God.
So mark the towers and temples, and apprise
Again the beauty of your new abode.
Your soul is greater than you ever knew:
Walk round its walls, then take the holy road
That winds towards its centre, where the new
Temple of his spirit shines and stands,
Where Christ himself is there to welcome you.
Practice
Examen
This is not a new practice for us, prayerfully going back a day, a week, or further, to notice where we sense ourselves moving towards and away from God’s love. But what if we examen with the mindset that we ourselves are God’s temple? You and me—and us together—we are the place God’s Spirit dwells.
This week, imagine yourself “walking around” your soul and your story, seeing yourself as a temple of the Holy Spirit. Begin by asking God to fill you with a greater awareness of his presence within you. Allow him to guide your mind, and pay particular attention to moments when you have experienced his love. Talk with him about what you notice. Then end by entrusting yourself—your living, breathing Zion-self—back into his care.
Accompanying soundtrack
Like a match made in heaven.