Welcome into the Lectio Divina.
This reading is from Romans 8,
22 through 24.
I will be reading from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.
I will lead you through the passage four times.
After each reading,
I will give you time to reflect on the reading,
With a different focus each time.
Before we begin,
Find a comfortable place to sit.
Place yourself in a position to receive the Holy Spirit.
Take a deep breath from your nose and exhale slowly through your mouth and pause.
Relax your body and ask God to be with you and with your thoughts.
Imagine yourself sitting in the presence of God.
Remember,
This is a meditation.
It is a time to reflect on the text.
If you find your mind wandering,
Gently bring your thoughts back to the reading.
Take another deep breath from the nose and exhale slowly through the mouth and pause.
As I read this passage through the first time,
Listen for patterns,
Images,
And ideas.
Listen as if you are listening to someone read a personal letter addressed to you.
Listen for words or phrases that speak to you.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now.
And not only the creation,
But we ourselves,
Who have the first fruits of the Spirit grown inwardly while we wait for adoption and the redemption of our bodies.
For in hope we were saved,
And the hope that is seen is not hope.
For who hopes for what is seen?
.
.
.
Take another deep breath from the nose and exhale slowly through the mouth and pause.
As I read through this passage the second time,
Recall anything that stood out to you during the first reading.
Is this something you can connect to your life?
Use your imagination to paint a mental picture of the text.
Place yourself in the story and engage your senses.
What do you experience as you sit in this passage?
We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now.
And not only the creation,
But we ourselves who have the first fruits of the Spirit grown inwardly while we wait for adoption and the redemption of our bodies.
For in hope we were saved.
Now hope that is seen is not hope,
For who hopes for what is seen?
You Take another deep breath from the nose and exhale slowly through the mouth and pause.
As I read this passage the third time,
Reflect on all the thoughts,
Feelings,
Actions,
Fears,
Convictions,
And questions that you have.
Offer these to God in prayer.
Praise God for who God is.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now.
And not only the creation,
But we ourselves who have the first fruits of the Spirit grown inwardly while we wait for adoption and the redemption of our bodies.
For in hope we were saved.
Now hope that is seen is not hope,
For who hopes for what is seen?
You you Take another deep breath from the nose and exhale slowly through the mouth and pause.
As I read this passage through the fourth and final time,
Sit in silence in the presence of God.
Be still and know that God is God.
Simply sit and allow yourself to feel the presence of God and feel God's tender love and embrace.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now.
And not only the creation,
But we ourselves who have the first fruits of the Spirit grown inwardly while we wait for adoption and the redemption of our bodies.
For in hope we were saved.
Now hope that is seen is not hope,
For who hopes for what is seen?
You you you Take another deep breath from the nose and exhale slowly through the mouth and pause.
As you think about your experience with God during this exercise,
Ask yourself three questions.
What did you learn from or about God?
What did you learn about what God thinks or wants from you?
What action steps,
If any,
Can you take out of conviction from this lesson?
May you feel the presence of God throughout your day today.
Amen.
