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.
This is where I find my peace...
This is where I find my peace..., from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=54147 [retrieved April 17, 2021]. Original source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/natita2/2491284238/.
|
Spiritual Practices: Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina, or Diving Reading, is a method of reading, reflecting on, and praying the Scripture that has been used by the church for centuries. It focuses on communing with God in Scripture rather than simply studying Scripture for intellectual understanding. Click here for more information on how to practice Lectio Divina. Here are some suggested verses in this passage that may lend themselves to conversation with God through the practice of Lectio Divina.
Suggested Verses
Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! (Psalm 4:1)
There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”
You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound. (Psalm 4:6-7)
In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)
Lectio Divina, or Diving Reading, is a method of reading, reflecting on, and praying the Scripture that has been used by the church for centuries. It focuses on communing with God in Scripture rather than simply studying Scripture for intellectual understanding. Click here for more information on how to practice Lectio Divina. Here are some suggested verses in this passage that may lend themselves to conversation with God through the practice of Lectio Divina.
Suggested Verses
Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! (Psalm 4:1)
There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”
You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound. (Psalm 4:6-7)
In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)
Spiritual Practice: Breath Prayer
Overview
In our society, many people struggle with fear and anxiety. We worry about the future; we stress about the past. Our minds are always running with concerns about what might be or what might not be. Fear and anxiety sometimes seem to dominate our every waking moment and endlessly trouble our dreams.
Into this environment comes Psalm 4 which ends with this wonderful verse, "In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." David understood fear and anxiety. He probably wrote this psalm while fleeing for his life from Absalom's rebellion. But, unlike us, his focus was not on his problems, but on his God. In the middle of his challenges and circumstances, he could find peace because he had complete trust in God, Consider his words at the end of the psalm, "for you alone, O Lord, make we dwell in safety." His trust was not placed in his ability or some outside assistance. His trust was placed in God alone and he trusted God to handle anything. This breath prayer is a prayer for that same kind of trust in God and the peace that comes with it.
Prayer
Prince of peace, help me trust in you
Overview
In our society, many people struggle with fear and anxiety. We worry about the future; we stress about the past. Our minds are always running with concerns about what might be or what might not be. Fear and anxiety sometimes seem to dominate our every waking moment and endlessly trouble our dreams.
Into this environment comes Psalm 4 which ends with this wonderful verse, "In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." David understood fear and anxiety. He probably wrote this psalm while fleeing for his life from Absalom's rebellion. But, unlike us, his focus was not on his problems, but on his God. In the middle of his challenges and circumstances, he could find peace because he had complete trust in God, Consider his words at the end of the psalm, "for you alone, O Lord, make we dwell in safety." His trust was not placed in his ability or some outside assistance. His trust was placed in God alone and he trusted God to handle anything. This breath prayer is a prayer for that same kind of trust in God and the peace that comes with it.
Prayer
Prince of peace, help me trust in you