Join Us for 21 Days of Prayer!
Jim Ladd
While technically being just the day after December 31, New Year’s Day does seem like a fresh starting line, or at least a chance to assess your readiness for a great year ahead. I like starting the year with a couple of habits, and I would love for you to join me.
Let’s do something together - as a family of disciples - and see what God might do in, among, and through us in 2023.
The first thing I do is ask the Lord for a word or phrase for the year; a guiding principle, or idea to align my focus with what He would love to accomplish in me this year.
There are two words that are burning in my soul, not only for my own life and family, but also for our family of faith (I will be unpacking this in our January 1 gathering - don’t forget: 1 gathering only, at 10:45am in Oly and at 10am at the South Campus). The two words are Resilience and Fidelity.
Resilience: That we toughen up and prepare our lives for durability in chaos and perhaps for levels of suffering we have not known before.
Fidelity: That we deepen our commitment to faithfulness to God and to the authority of His Word.
To kick off the year, I am calling you to 21 Days of Prayer using a tool I think you will love, called Lectio Divina. Below you can find a guide for this. I also invite you to join David Reyes and me on the Evergreen Instagram page every morning at 6:30 where we will do a live worship and reflection together during the 21 Days.
Lectio Divina: Praying the Scriptures
Lectio Divina (literally divine reading) is a way of becoming personally and prayerfully immersed in the Scriptures. It is a way of developing a closer relationship with God by reflecting prayerfully on His words.
There are four stages of Lectio Divina: Listen, Reflect, Pray, Contemplate. The Scripture passage for each of the 21 days are included below and here is how to get started:
Plan on 15 minutes to read, reflect, and respond to the Holy Spirit’s promptings. Set a timer if you need to stay on schedule or simply put your phone and watch away and let it play, but prepare not to think about time during your session with God. Pray a prayer of invitation, saying something like, “God, let me hear from you,” and spend a few moments sitting quietly so your mind is open to hearing from God.
Listen
The first reading is an opportunity to get to know the Scripture passage. Listen carefully for any words or phrases that seem to jump out. It’s important not to force things, but wait patiently for God to give gentle guidance. Read slowly, and read more than once, making room to listen.
Reflect
How does this passage, or word, or phrase speak into your life and why has it connected to you? Then reflect on what you believe God is saying. Try not to analyze the passage. It’s easy to slip into “study mode” and think about interesting points rather than listening to what God might be saying. Frame a single sentence that begins to say aloud what this word or phrase says to you.
Pray
As you read the passage for the last time, ask what Christ is calling from you. What is it that you need to do or consider or relinquish or take on as a result of what God is saying to you in this word or phrase? In the silence that follows the reading pray for the grace of the Spirit to plant this word in your heart.
Contemplate Jesus and His Grace
Rest with God. Be aware of God’s presence with you. Listen for His voice. Imagine where He is in the room and what He is doing. If you sense nothing, don’t worry about it, just rest with gratitude. When you are ready, finish your time with the Lord’s Prayer and a moment of silence.
“Our Father who is in heaven, holy is your name.
Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, forever.
Amen.”