Looking for today's Disciplines Devotion? Click here to read it.

About Disciplines

The Upper Room Disciplines provides an opportunity to look more deeply at scripture by offering a week of devotions by a single author on a particular theme.

Read More

Latest Disciplines Devotions

The Shape of Waiting - December 14, 2016

December 14, 2016

We wait in prayer, praying with the psalmist: “O Shepherd of Israel, . . . stir up your might, and come to save us.” We hear the word save quite often...

Read More

The Shape of Waiting - December 13, 2016

December 13, 2016

Many of us are used to reading this text as directly related to Jesus’ birth and specifically to the virgin birth of Jesus. That’s one perspective, but let’s do our best...

Read More

The Shape of Waiting - December 12, 2016

December 12, 2016

Advent calls us to the discipline of waiting. But, for what are we waiting, and how do we wait? Preachers and worship leaders will respond to that question in differing ways,...

Read More

Living Water in the Wilderness - December 11, 2016

December 11, 2016

Every year or so I take a group of students on a pilgrimage to Almost Heaven. Its institutional label is Appalachia: Arts, Energy, and Education. Most of these pilgrimages are to...

Read More

Living Water in the Wilderness - December 10, 2016

December 10, 2016

Nancy Mairs, poet, essayist, teacher of embodied spirituality, came to lecture at Drew University several years ago. Much of her writing and teaching was engaged in the struggle for justice, artistic...

Read More

Living Water in the Wilderness - December 9, 2016

December 9, 2016

Could you repeat that?” If you’ve ever had the experience of going for snacks just as a game-winning basket occurs, you know the importance of repetition. When we miss out, we...

Read More

Living Water in the Wilderness - December 8, 2016

December 8, 2016

The Magnificat is aptly named. Mary’s words offer a magnificent declaration of the nature of the Holy One who is intimately involved with our humanity. It’s a song in honor of...

Read More

Living Water in the Wilderness - December 7, 2016

December 7, 2016

The third week of Advent is a time when patience wears thin. When will it rain? When will this child be born? When will Christ come again? James addresses his words...

Read More

Living Water in the Wilderness - December 6, 2016

December 6, 2016

I was born with a genetic disadvantage; I lack what is called “sense of direction.” It’s not that I cannot find my way around a map; I can’t seem to map...

Read More

Living Water in the Wilderness - December 5, 2016

December 5, 2016

I was born with a genetic disadvantage; I lack what is called “sense of direction.” It’s not that I cannot find my way around a map; I can’t seem to map...

Read More