Today's Scripture:
Philippians 4:4–9 — “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just… think about these things.”
Prayer for the Day:
Gracious God, we lift before you our community and all who call it home. We pray for our neighbors, our schools, our businesses, our leaders, and those who serve others each day. Open our eyes to the needs around us and our hearts to the concerns of others. Teach us to pray not only for ourselves but for the well-being of our entire community. May our prayers lead us to acts of compassion, kindness, and service. Amen.
Reflection on Prayer by Lay Leader Darryl Calloway
Prayer is Exciting!
Prayer exciting? Absolutely! Anytime (which is all the time) YOU can put YOURSELF into the hands of God and go anywhere in the world from your home with Him in prayer. We can speak directly to our Lord and Creator at every chance we take.
Whether it is to express our joyful gratitude, be in whispered silence, or engage in a powerful adventure, God is there! We are only limited not by God, but by our own limited schedules, accessibility, creativity, and energy. God is ALWAYS there anytime, anywhere, for us. Now THAT is exciting!
Personally, I seek Him most often in the quietest of ways and in the quietest of settings. We have talks together throughout each and every day – sometimes even quite briefly, and in almost all possible settings, indoors and out. This is because our Lord is waiting patiently for all of us, all of the time. He knows us and loves us. Our Father wishes to become more involved in all aspects of our lives.
This is following the example of our Lord and Savior Jesus who also prayed in all settings, from the temple (Mark 11:17), to the Sermon on the Mount in front of a massive crowd (Matthew 5-7), to His last hours on earth in the quietness of the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:42), and to every circumstance in between. And so our mighty God is accessible to us.
I will pray for you. Please pray for me. Prayer IS exciting!
Spiritual Practice: Lectio Divina (Praying Scripture)
(As outlined by Marjorie Thompson)
Using the scripture, listen for how God is leading you and us in new ways.
Listen for the Holy Spirit using whatever practice you feel led to use. If you find it helpful, use the practice of Praying Scripture (Lectio Devina) outlined below.
Spiritual Practice: Lectio Divina (Praying Scripture)
(As outlined by Marjorie Thompson)
Choose a time, place, and text. Give to the Lord unhurried time when you are alert and awake. Choose a place that is as quiet as possible. You may use Sunday’s scripture, a scripture from the Upper Room Devotional, or choose one as you feel led. Or you may choose to read one book of Scripture entirely, in short sections. Or you may choose about ten verses as you feel led.
Begin by reaffirming that the purpose of Spiritual Reading is to let yourself be addressed by God. Release your own agenda, so that you will be able to receive the word God desires to offer you.
Remind yourself of God’s presence with you. You may or may not sense this presence, but it can be affirmed through faith and trust that God is attending to you. Offer your gratitude, and ask for illumination and guidance in your reading.
Begin to read the passage slowly, pausing between phrases and sentences. You may prefer to read aloud softly to stay focused. Let the words echo in your mind. Allow meaning to sink in, allow associations to arise, and let images surface. If a word is significant, stay with it, turning it over in your mind and heart. When the sense of immediacy fades, move to another verse. If it stays meaningful, rest in it for a while, listening for what God is saying to you.
When you hear a word that feels meant for you, you may ask yourself questions about it. Why is this a word for you? What is it about your life right now that needs to hear this word? How is God catching your attention? If it is a story, envision the story unfolding and add yourself to the scene. Imagine how the characters interact. Who in the story do you identify with? Why? Who do you have trouble identifying with/understanding? Why? How does the story connect with your own life experience? Do you discover anything about yourself in this process?
Allow prayer to flow from the encounter with the text. How do you find yourself praying for your own needs, considering what you have heard? How does this word move you to pray for others?
Finally, release all your thoughts, feelings, and intentions to God. There is no further need to listen, reflect, imagine, or respond. There is simply an invitation to return to a place of rest. (This takes a lot of practice!)
As your contemplation ends, find a word, image, or phrase that carries the core message you have received. Take this with you into activities and relationships.
Prayer for the Week:
Gracious God, as we pray for our community, change us through our prayers. Open our eyes to see as Jesus sees, our hearts to love as Jesus loves, and our hands to serve as Jesus serves. May we become the answer to some of the prayers we lift before you, bringing your peace, justice, compassion, and hope into the lives of our neighbors. Amen.