Area Three: Prayer or “Oratio”
As with previous days, you will re-immerse in your experience from the past day’s meditation. Ordinarily this would all occur in one setting but go with it. After slowing down in silence or breath praying, review the reading from Matthew 6:19-21. Check in with your reflection word(s) and additional reflections from the meditation time yesterday. Again, if you are just starting this week, go back to Monday for this to make sense.
Matthew 6:19-21
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Pondering Point
Section three of Lectio Divina is the latin word “oratio,” meaning prayer. In this section, a prayer is built from the phrase or word that has captured your attention; dialogue with God about it. You may begin with your personal hopes, desires, needs, pains. Then let the prayer expand to increasingly larger circles of people and life. You might consider sketching or painting as an outlet for these prayers as well – a nonverbal, creative response.
Journal Prompt:
My dialogue with God over personal hopes, desires, needs, pains (don’t forget sketching or painting, non-verbal responses):
Other people/situations on my mind, heart, soul and this word:
Micro-Meditation
Psalm 32:1-5
- Blessed is the one
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered. - Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord does not count against them
and in whose spirit is no deceit. - When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long. - For day and night
your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer. - Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
the guilt of my sin.
Read the versus of the Psalm.
Mark the words or phrases that catch your attention.
Meditate: talk (or better, write) with God about those words. Ask him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect responses.
Teaching or Command of God
Psalm 38:3b-4
There is no soundness in my bones because of my sin. My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.
The Promise
Proverbs 28:13
Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
Pondering Point
Have you learned that keeping sins secret heightens their power over you? Have you learned that confessing your sins – to God and fellow disciples – often breaks the stronghold of such sins plaguing your life?