Spiritual Practices: Visio Divina
Visio Divina, or sacred seeing, is a type of prayer in which we allow our hearts and imaginations to enter into an image or a scene in silence to see what God might have to say to us. You can find out more about Visio Divina here. Spend some time prayerfully reflecting on the images below and listen to what God might say to you through them.
Visio Divina, or sacred seeing, is a type of prayer in which we allow our hearts and imaginations to enter into an image or a scene in silence to see what God might have to say to us. You can find out more about Visio Divina here. Spend some time prayerfully reflecting on the images below and listen to what God might say to you through them.
Crossing from the desert to the promised land
Crossing from the desert to the promised land, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=57294 [retrieved November 4, 2023]. Original source: Table View Methodist, https://tableviewmethodist.blogspot.com/p/bible-story-windows.html.
|
Notes: Table View Methodist Church in Cape Town, South Africa, celebrates a theological and symbolic journey through the Bible through simple, yet meaningful stained glass. They were designed by Rev. Angus Kelly in 2018 and installed by Anika Van de Merwe of Silverstain Stained Glass Studios in Advent 2019.
Spiritual Practices: Breath Prayer
Overview
Joshua has taken over for Moses as the leader of Israel. The people of Israel knew that God was with Moses, but they did not know if God would be with Joshua the same way. Moses had parted the Red Sea, led them through the wilderness, brought water from a rock, given them the Law and the tabernacle, and brought them to the edge of the promised land. Would God be with Joshua in the same way?
God pulls Joshua aside and confirms that he will Joshua the same way he was with Moses. The children of Israel have to cross the Jordan river during flood stage. God gives Joshua some instructions for what to do as they reach the Jordan. As the priests step into the water, God opens a way through the Jordan river and the people of Israel cross into the promised land.
Things had changed when Moses died and Joshua took over. There was probably some trepidation about Joshua's leadership, but the God who was with Moses was also with Joshua. The God who made a way through the Red Sea and the wilderness would also make a way through the Jordan River and into the promised land.
In the same way, there are times when things have changed in our lives and we may have a little trepidation as well, but the God who made a way before can make a way again. That is what this breath prayer is about.
Prayer
Way-making Father, make a way for me.
Overview
Joshua has taken over for Moses as the leader of Israel. The people of Israel knew that God was with Moses, but they did not know if God would be with Joshua the same way. Moses had parted the Red Sea, led them through the wilderness, brought water from a rock, given them the Law and the tabernacle, and brought them to the edge of the promised land. Would God be with Joshua in the same way?
God pulls Joshua aside and confirms that he will Joshua the same way he was with Moses. The children of Israel have to cross the Jordan river during flood stage. God gives Joshua some instructions for what to do as they reach the Jordan. As the priests step into the water, God opens a way through the Jordan river and the people of Israel cross into the promised land.
Things had changed when Moses died and Joshua took over. There was probably some trepidation about Joshua's leadership, but the God who was with Moses was also with Joshua. The God who made a way through the Red Sea and the wilderness would also make a way through the Jordan River and into the promised land.
In the same way, there are times when things have changed in our lives and we may have a little trepidation as well, but the God who made a way before can make a way again. That is what this breath prayer is about.
Prayer
Way-making Father, make a way for me.