Lectio Divina, Volume 1
A Simple Prayer Exercise
Trust in the Lord
Psalm 37:3–7
Isaiah 26:4 instructs us to trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord we have an everlasting Rock. Today let’s wait on the Lord, let’s turn our focus to Him, let’s listen with our hearts and see what He has for us. Psalm 37:3-7 NASB “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.”
God is My Refuge
Psalm 32:6–7
Psalm 91 talks about dwelling in the shelter of the Most High and abiding in the shadow of the almighty, that the Lord covers us with his pinions and there we find refuge under his wings. Today let’s turn to that secret place where the Lord longs to gather us as a hen gathers her chicks. He is our refuge and dwelling place. Psalm 32:6-7 NASB “Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found; surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach http://him.you are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance.”
Seek His Face
Psalm 27:4, Psalm 27:7–9
In Jeremiah 31 God promises that if we seek Him with all of our heart, He will be found by us. We have His word on this. So today, Lord, we ask you for undivided hearts as we seek your face through your Living Word. Psalm 27:4, 7-9a NASB “One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord. All the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple. Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice, and be gracious to me and answer me. When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, O Lord, I shall seek. Do not hide Your face from me.”
Comfort
Isaiah 61:2–3
Are you experiencing a season of grief or loss? Is there some sadness in your life that you are holding onto? You are invited through our reading to turn to the God of all comfort and see what He has for you today. Isaiah 61:2c-3 NASB “To comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
Anchor of the Heart
Hebrews 10:22–24
Hope is the anchor of our soul. Our hope is rooted in the promises of God. These promises are certain and settled. We are confident that what He said, He will accomplish. His word is settled and sure. Our hope is secure. Hebrews 10:22-24 NASB “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another to provoke to love and to good works.”
Perseverance
Hebrews 12:1–2
Isaiah 40 promises that those who wait on the Lord will gain new strength, they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get weary, they will walk and not get tired. Today let’s wait on the Lord, let’s turn our focus to Him, let’s listen with our hearts and see what He has for us. Hebrews 12:1-2 NASB “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Majesty of Jesus Christ
Revelation 19:11–16
Jesus tells us in John 4 that His Father is seeking those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. This is astounding --- our heavenly father who is Lord of all, is seeking something or rather, someone! May we be those people today as we turn aside from all the activities of our busy lives and intentionally focus on the majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ. Revelation 19:11-16 NASB “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Benediction
Jude 24
Psalm 19 teaches us that the Word of God is more desirable than gold, yes than much fine gold. His word is a treasure chest that we turn to again and again for invaluable gems of truth. We will never get to the bottom of this treasure! So, Lord today we seek you, the pearl of great price, we tune our hearts to your heart. Jude 1:24 “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy.”
Compassion / Thankfulness
Colossians 3:12–16
Give us this day our daily bread. These oh so familiar words may have become trite to our ears, but they are profound. God meets us day by day with His daily bread, His eternal word. He will meet you today with his fresh manna that will nourish, strengthen and encourage you. He’s a personal God and He will meet you with just what you need for this day, this season. Colossians 3:12-16 “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
Mercy
Titus 3:5–7
Psalm 119 teaches that the entrance of Your Word brings light. Lord we are people who live in darkness and we want to abide and to walk in your light. Will you shine your light on us today as we consider your eternal Word? Will you bring your brilliance to any dark place in our souls? Titus 3:5-7 NASB “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
Abiding in Jesus
John 15
Jesus tells us in John 10 that His sheep follow Him and that they know His voice. This means we have the ability to discern His voice from all the other voices in our lives. We simply need to dial it down, turn off all the media that are shouting for our attention, and intentionally tune into the voice of God. Let’s do that for these next few minutes as we consider this passage from the Living Word of God. John 15:1,4,5,16 NASB “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 16 You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”
Peace
Philippians 4:4–7
Peace be still. Jesus calmed the storm and He can calm our restless hearts. Lord, I invite you to quiet our hearts today, take us to that place deep within our spirits where you commune with us--- Let us leave aside the rush and strife of our daily lives and rest in the presence of the Living Lord. Let’s join Mary as she sits at the feet of Jesus, just to be with him. God is inviting us to come away with Him. Philippians 4:4-7 NASB “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”