✨ The Sacred Pause: A 5-Day Audio Retreat If you need a place to exhale after Christmas, join me for ‘The Sacred Pause,’ a 5-day audio retreat starting December 26th. For just $9, we will trade the hustle for a holy hush—Click here for more information
Show Notes:
Gentle Pathways: No Longer a Slave
Church Season:
Christmas Season
Colour: White
Lectionary Day: Monday after First Sunday after Christmas
This week’s Collect:
Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, kindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Lectionary Readings:
Passage:
Galatians 4:6-7 (NLT) “And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, ‘Abba, Father.’ Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.”
Reflection Theme:
This devotional explores the identity shift Christmas makes possible—from slave to child, from distant to intimate, and from empty-handed to heir of God’s inheritance.
Journaling Questions:
Where do you still operate as a “slave” rather than as God’s beloved child?
What inheritance from your heavenly Father have you been hesitant to receive?
How might embracing your identity as God’s heir change your approach to the coming year?
Collect of Grace:
Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
🌷 If today’s devotional blessed you, consider sharing this episode with a friend or family member who might also need a moment of quiet connection with God today. 🌷
✨ The Sacred Pause: A 5-Day Audio Retreat If you need a place to exhale after Christmas, join me for ‘The Sacred Pause,’ a 5-day audio retreat starting December 26th., we will trade the hustle for a holy hush—find the link in the show notes.
Hi, I’m Darlene Hull, a Certified Mental Health, Human Flourishing, and Insight Coach specializing in trauma, recovery, and resilience, who guides Christian women to structural peace. Drawing on years of contemplative practice, spiritual direction, and the rich heritage of Celtic Christian wisdom, Darlene’s focus is simple: dismantling the exhaustion of spiritual performance and leading clients into the stable rest (Menuchah) secured by Christ’s finished work.
Darlene is a partner in the Order of Imago Christi and a vowed member of the Order of the Mustard Seed (OMS). She works as a Spiritual Formation Coach and Christian Life Coach from her home in Calgary, Alberta.
When not writing or coaching, Darlene rounds out her life with long walks, voracious reading, endless cups of strong tea, and a ridiculous amount of laughter.
Cover Photo: Taran Hull
Photo by Lisá Yakurím on Pexels
Background music: Shakib Hasan (Pixabay Music Attribution)
All Biblical quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
