This summer I worked on a devotional to share with a lovely group of ladies. Over the last 5 weeks we've read and tried a few spiritual disciplines with our daily readings. The following is the opening page of the devotional.
These verses have called to my spirit and touched a deep place in my heart this past spring. They have called me like the invitation I now extend to you. Come sit with the Lord in the soft green grass. Lay beside the still water and let the Lord’s living water replenish you. See His compassion and love for you - His beloved child. He knows you - completely. He knows the deepest desires of your heart, the parts of you that you are proud of and the parts you try to hide even from yourself. He knows all and delights in you - for He created your nuances. Come sit with him and learn from him. Let him heal the hurts of your soul and teach you to live like him, freely and lightly. Let him teach you the unforced rhythms of his grace.
My prayer is that through this study you find a way to hear God daily through His scriptures and prayer. I pray that we both find a way to slow down, to listen, and to enjoy God’s presence. As Richard Rohr said, “Prayer is not primarily saying words or thinking thoughts. It is rather, a stance. It’s a way of living in the Presence.”
Each day we used the spiritual discipline of Lectio Divina to read through the selected Bible passage.
Lectio divina – divine or sacred reading is an approach to the Scriptures that sets us up to listen for the word of God spoken to us in the present moment. Lectio divina is a practice of divine reading that dates back to the early mothers and fathers of the Christian faith. It is rooted in the belief that through the presence of the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures are indeed alive and active as we engage them for spiritual transformation.
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. -Matthew 11:28-30 The Message
These verses have called to my spirit and touched a deep place in my heart this past spring. They have called me like the invitation I now extend to you. Come sit with the Lord in the soft green grass. Lay beside the still water and let the Lord’s living water replenish you. See His compassion and love for you - His beloved child. He knows you - completely. He knows the deepest desires of your heart, the parts of you that you are proud of and the parts you try to hide even from yourself. He knows all and delights in you - for He created your nuances. Come sit with him and learn from him. Let him heal the hurts of your soul and teach you to live like him, freely and lightly. Let him teach you the unforced rhythms of his grace.
My prayer is that through this study you find a way to hear God daily through His scriptures and prayer. I pray that we both find a way to slow down, to listen, and to enjoy God’s presence. As Richard Rohr said, “Prayer is not primarily saying words or thinking thoughts. It is rather, a stance. It’s a way of living in the Presence.”
Each day we used the spiritual discipline of Lectio Divina to read through the selected Bible passage.
Lectio divina – divine or sacred reading is an approach to the Scriptures that sets us up to listen for the word of God spoken to us in the present moment. Lectio divina is a practice of divine reading that dates back to the early mothers and fathers of the Christian faith. It is rooted in the belief that through the presence of the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures are indeed alive and active as we engage them for spiritual transformation.
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
As we make ourselves open and available to God through this practice, the Scriptures will penetrate to our very depths, showing us those things about ourselves that we are incapable of knowing on our own due to our well-developed defense structures. God will invite us into our next steps with him or touch us with his healing grace. Invariably he communicates his love for us in ways that we can hear and experience beyond cognitive knowing. -Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton
Lectio Divina
Prepare – take a few minutes to quiet yourself. Get comfortable and open you heart and mind to the Lord. Ask the Lord to speak to you.
Read – (Lectio) Listen for the word spoken to you. As you read the passage slowly, pay attention to the word or phrase that strikes you are catches your attention. Allow a moment or two of silence as you repeat the word or phrase to yourself.
Reflect – (Meditatio) – How is my life touched? Where am I in this scene? Read the passage again and listen for how this story touches your life today. Allow several moments as you explore the thoughts, perceptions, and sensory impressions that come to you.
Respond – (Oratio) – What is the invitation here? What is my response to God based on what I have read and encountered? Read the passage a third time and allow your prayer to flow as you have a personal dialogue with god sharing whatever has come forth from this reading.
Rest – (Contemplatio) – Rest in the Word of God. In this final reading, release and return to a place of rest in God.
Read – (Lectio) Listen for the word spoken to you. As you read the passage slowly, pay attention to the word or phrase that strikes you are catches your attention. Allow a moment or two of silence as you repeat the word or phrase to yourself.
Reflect – (Meditatio) – How is my life touched? Where am I in this scene? Read the passage again and listen for how this story touches your life today. Allow several moments as you explore the thoughts, perceptions, and sensory impressions that come to you.
Respond – (Oratio) – What is the invitation here? What is my response to God based on what I have read and encountered? Read the passage a third time and allow your prayer to flow as you have a personal dialogue with god sharing whatever has come forth from this reading.
Rest – (Contemplatio) – Rest in the Word of God. In this final reading, release and return to a place of rest in God.
Resolve – (Incarnatio) – Resolve to live out the Word of God as you carry this word with you into the context of your daily life and activity
Living in the Presence
What does, or would, it feel like to live in God’s most holy and divine presence? You do each day, you know? But how often do we notice? How often do we take just a moment to soak up God’s loving presence in our lives? I pray that as you go through this study you more thoroughly feel God’s loving presence in your life. Each moment - good, boring, or bad - He is by your side filled with love for you. And I don’t think He wants to sit there quietly either. I believe with all my heart He knows how to make this crazy life you’re living easier and full of His joy. Lean into Him. His grace and love will bring you His peace beyond all understanding.
What does, or would, it feel like to live in God’s most holy and divine presence? You do each day, you know? But how often do we notice? How often do we take just a moment to soak up God’s loving presence in our lives? I pray that as you go through this study you more thoroughly feel God’s loving presence in your life. Each moment - good, boring, or bad - He is by your side filled with love for you. And I don’t think He wants to sit there quietly either. I believe with all my heart He knows how to make this crazy life you’re living easier and full of His joy. Lean into Him. His grace and love will bring you His peace beyond all understanding.
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