By The Rev. Susan Balfour

Beloved,

Grace and peace to you in the name of Christ! I remember you in my prayers, giving thanks for you and for our ministry together.

As we begin the holy season of Lent, you may be looking for a way to be intentional about your prayer and spiritual life. Many choose to give something up, like chocolate, alcohol, shopping, etc. Some seek to add something to their routine, perhaps a daily gratitude exercise or a photo challenge. If you’re seeking to deepen your daily devotion, you may want to try Lectio Divina. This is an ancient spiritual practice of prayerfully engaging scripture. It typically has four or five readings of a particular text, each with its own intention.

Initial Reading:  read the plain text; what’s the face value?

Meditation: What does the text say specifically to you, today, and to your life?

Response: What does the text prompt you to say to God in response to his word?

Contemplation and self-examination: what conversion of the mind, heart, and life is God asking of you?

Action: How does the text inform how you make your life a gift to others?

If you’re looking for a place to start in Scripture, the Revised Common Lectionary ha a daily version that can be found online. It suggests readings each day from the Hebrew Testament, Psalms, New Testament, and Gospels and is a great resource.

I invite you into this practice; it can be challenging at first and sometimes uncomfortable (especially the self-examination part!). It is a blessed way to delve deeper into Scripture, beyond simply reading the words to engage them on a more intimate level. 

However you choose to observe Lent, I pray that it will be a time of great blessing for you.

In Christ,

Rev. Susan