Hello friends and welcome to this Lectio Divina on Psalm 16.
And as we come to these words I invite you to come to stillness.
Let yourself settle into this space.
Let yourself arrive and be here.
Welcome stillness.
Let your breath take you away from the busyness and the distraction of life.
Allow yourself to simply be here,
Met with love,
Compassion and grace.
I'm recording this outside so I invite you to spend a few moments in the stillness,
Noticing any sounds that the microphone is picking up.
So now as we come to Psalm 16,
I'm going to read it three times.
And on this first reading,
Simply welcome the words to come without attaching to any in particular.
Remain ever before me,
O living presence,
For in you am I safe.
You are my beloved.
In you and through you I can do all things.
I look to those who are at one with you and learn from them of your ways.
My delight increases each time I sense your presence within me.
Songs of praise well up from my heart.
Love is my chosen food,
My cup,
Holding me in its power.
Where I have come from,
Where'er I shall go,
Love is my birthright,
My true estate.
I bless the counsellor who guides my way.
In the night also does my heart instruct me.
I will walk beside the spirit of truth.
I celebrate the light.
I bask in the oneness of all.
Thus my heart is glad and my soul rejoices.
I shall not be afraid,
Nor fall into the pit of despair.
For in love's presence I know fullness of joy.
You are my beloved and in you will I live forever.
So on this second reading I invite you to notice any words or phrases that stand out to you.
Remain ever before me,
O living presence.
For in you am I safe.
You are my beloved.
In you and through you I can do all things.
I look to those who are at one with you and learn from them of your ways.
My delight increases each time I sense your presence within me.
Songs of praise well up from my heart.
Love is my chosen food.
My cup holding me in its power.
Where I have come from and where'er I shall go.
Love is my birthright,
My true estate.
I bless the counsellor who guides my way.
In the night also does my heart instruct me.
I walk beside the spirit of truth.
I celebrate the light.
I bask in the oneness of all.
Thus my heart is glad and my soul rejoices.
I shall not be afraid,
Nor fall into the pit of despair.
For in love's presence I know fullness of joy.
You are my beloved and in you will I live forever.
And on this third and final reading,
I invite you to welcome the words or phrase that stood out to you.
To go deeper,
To bring you its offering,
Its invitation.
To let it stir your heart and bring its gift.
It's an opportunity to take that word or phrase and encounter it in a deeper way.
Remain ever before me,
O living presence.
For in you am I safe.
You are my beloved.
In you and through you I can do all things.
I look to those who are at one with you and learn from them of your ways.
My delight increases each time I sense your presence within me.
Songs of praise well up from my heart.
Love is my chosen food,
My cup holding me in its power.
Where I have come from,
Where'er I shall go,
Love is my birthright.
My true estate.
I bless the counsellor who guides my way.
In the night also does my heart instruct me.
I walk beside the spirit of truth.
I celebrate the light.
I bask in the oneness of all.
Thus my heart is glad and my soul rejoices.
I shall not be afraid nor fall into the pit of despair.
For in love's presence I know fullness of joy.
You are my beloved and in you will I live forever.
I invite you to linger with these words or with anything that captured your attention.
Maybe simply sitting and letting them go deeper or you may want to journal.
However you choose to respond I pray that you will know blessing and joy and that these words really will bring you their gift.
Amen.
