As we continue our wilderness journey with the psalms through the spiritual practice of Lectio Divina (divine reading), this week, each of us allowing a word or phrase to become our focus, we are invited to read with the eyes of our heart.
Before we begin our Lectio practice, let us pray: God of Stillness, open my heart to your Word. Lead me as I read and open the eyes of my heart so that I might see and seek the understanding you desire. Amen.
Scripture: Read & Reflect on Psalm 99, an enthronement psalm proclaiming God as the God of all nations.
Focus: What word or phrase captures your attention and calls you to read with a deeper focus?
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Remember that it is ok for this to feel artificial as you lean into this foundational spiritual practice. As you grow, it can become a practice that undergirds all other spiritual disciplines you engage in.
Read & Receive: As you read a 2nd time, what word or phrase calls out to you from the text you are reading. How does this word or phrase intersect with your life right now? How does it not?
Read & Respond: Take the time to read this short psalm a 3rd time and immerse yourself in the text before allowing your response to take shape. Know that you don’t have to respond with words … you can respond in any way that feels right in your own personal circumstances. Remember how Jesus did this in his life.
If music is a prayerful practice for you, go to PsalmImmersionDotCom and scroll down to the song, Holy is This One, that Richard Bruxvoort Colligan wrote for Psalm 99 and check out some of his commentary is you are interested.
Rest & Breath Prayer: Let go of your prayers. Rest in silence. When it feels like it is time to bring your time of praying with scripture to a close, let a breath prayer bubble up into your consciousness from the time you’ve spent with God, the Holy One in this psalm. Or pray with this one:
Breathing in … Holy One of God,
Breathing out … Answer me
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