The sun is peeking out, bit by bit, and I hope you’re loving it as much as I am!

We had a worship leaders’ evening the other night, and as we were worshiping, I had a strong sense of a call to prepare our hearts for the Spirit, almost like a gardener preparing the seed bed before seeds are sown, so that our hearts are a place where the Spirit can settle and move. So, the devotional this week is going to be slightly different…

A really useful exercise we’ve been taught at Apprentice Track (the discipleship training I’ve been receiving throughout my internship) is called ‘the Father’s House’, and I’d love to guide you through that this week!

• First, find a quiet spot if you can – this may be in a comfy chair, cosy corner, or simply a tea towel over your head (like Susanna Wesley!)

• Invite God’s Spirit to come and settle your heart and mind, and be close to you for this period of time

• Imagine what the Father’s house might look like – how are you approaching it? What are you wearing? What are you carrying? Is the door open or closed? Is the house big or small? Is it bright outside, or dark and stormy?

• Are you greeted at the door? What do they look like, and how do they greet you?

• What do you see as you enter the house? Do you take your coat or bag off?

• What room do you go into? What does it look like – are there pictures on the walls? What are they of?

• How do you feel being in the house?

• Now, invite God to stir something in you – how does that feel? Is there anything that feels hard, that you need to talk to God more about, or allow Him bring closer to the surface?

• Imagine you having a dialogue about that thing with God – how does He respond to your words, and how does that make you feel?

• Continue in this as long as you like – perhaps you explore other rooms, or talk about different topics with the Lord

• As you draw this time to a close, how do you feel leaving the Father’s house? How can you take that into the rest of your day?

My hope for this is that you will leave your prayer time feeling a little like the disciples did after meeting Jesus on the road to Emmaus:

“Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

(Luke 24:32)

 I’m praying that you will have time over the next few days to prepare your heart for God’s Spirit to come and make His place in your heart, and that as He does, you will enjoy settling in with Him, and being stirred by Him.