The Scripture ~ “But by the grace of God I am what I am and God’s grace toward me is not in vain.”

1st Corinthians 15:10

The Spiritual Focus ~” It is through gratitude for the present moment that the spiritual dimension of life opens up.” Eckhart Tolle

The Breath Prayer ~ I am, here now

The Devotion ~

Being present to the now is becoming more and more challenging as the space around us is filled with what we forgot to do or have yet to do. We miss opportunities to be grateful, we miss the awe and wonder of this day when we are not present in the moment. We lose our sense of self and grab at all kinds of ways, even some unhealthy ways, to try and reclaim our authentic self, our inner narrative. Reclaiming our authentic self begins with being present to the moment we have, the now.

A mother and daughter were having a conversation in a coffee shop, you could hear them discussing something they didn’t agree on. The daughter looked up, laughed and said, “mom, you be you!” Gratitude spread over the mother’s face that she was at once reminded to be her authentic self and that she was loved as she was.

It is with gratitude we remember that we are loved as we are, by the God who created and sustains us. We are called to be who we are, now, and see ourselves as God see us, as beloved children. Finding sacred space to be present to God in the now takes practice. When we practice creating sacred space we are rewarded with a sense of self, in a spiritual dimension, in relationship with God.

One way to practice being present now is through yin yoga. Yin yoga is a style of yoga that invites us to pause, to come home to our body. Yin yoga helps us learn to be still and present to our body and in practicing this stillness in the body we open to God’s presence that we might not otherwise be aware of. The experience of God’s presence in the now, is expressed in a heartfelt gratitude that cannot be contained and is contagious to all who come in contact with you.