Welcome to today's Lectio Divina.
Lectio Divina is an ancient spiritual discipline which focuses on short passages of scripture where we read and reread the scripture and allow God to speak to us through his word.
I'm going to read today's passage four times.
The first time,
I'll simply read it through.
Listen,
See what stands out for you.
On the second reading,
It is time to meditate on what the scripture says.
Listen out for what stood out to you the first time.
See if anything new stands out to you.
Just take note and start running it through your mind.
The third time is a time for prayer.
Reflect on any questions that arise from the passage,
Any thoughts.
Reflect them back to God.
And then the fourth time,
Contemplate.
Allow the word of God to sink into your heart and soul without necessarily saying or doing anything.
Today's passage is Daniel chapter 4 verses 34 and 35.
At the end of that time,
I,
Nebuchadnezzar,
Raised my eyes towards heaven and my sanity was restored.
Then I praised the Most High.
I honored and glorified him who lives forever.
His dominion is an eternal dominion.
His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand or say to him,
What have you done?
Now for the second reading.
At the end of that time,
I,
Nebuchadnezzar,
Raised my eyes towards heaven and my sanity was restored.
Then I praised the Most High.
I honored and glorified him who lives forever.
His dominion is an eternal dominion.
His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand or say to him,
What have you done?
The third time,
Pray back to God.
At the end of that time,
I,
Nebuchadnezzar,
Raised my eyes towards heaven and my sanity was restored.
Then I praised the Most High.
I honored and glorified him who lives forever.
His dominion is an eternal dominion.
His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand or say to him,
What have you done?
The fourth time,
Just let the words sink into your heart.
At the end of that time,
I,
Nebuchadnezzar,
Raised my eyes towards heaven and my sanity was restored.
Then I praised the Most High.
I honored and glorified him who lives forever.
His dominion is an eternal dominion.
His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand or say to him,
What have you done?
And as a fifth and final step,
As you get up and go about your day,
Carry these thoughts with you,
Carry these prayers with you to strengthen and guide you as you go about the rest of your day.
