Week 7 - Meditative Prayer

 DAY 1 - SLOWING DOWN

Psalm 1

1 Oh, the joys of those who do not
    follow the advice of the wicked,
    or stand around with sinners,
    or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the Lord,
    meditating on it day and night.
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
    bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
    and they prosper in all they do.

Choose one short phrase from Psalm 1.

Repeat it slowly several times.

Then pray:

God, ___________________.
Let your Word sink deeply into me.
Help me slow down and listen.
Amen.

Reflection questions

Do I tend to rush when I read Scripture or pray?

when I am reading, I tend to read very quickly

What makes slowing down with God difficult for me?

reading outloud, whether actually outloud or in my head, seems so slow and artificial

What Scripture, phrase, or image has stayed with me recently?

What might it mean to let God’s Word sink in rather than simply move on?

not sure whether I would obtain a deeper understanding or just obsess over it 

DAY 2 - GUIDING LIGHT

Meditative Prayer helps us carry Scripture from the page into the heart, and from the heart into life.

Meditative Prayer asks: What part of my path needs the light of God’s Word today?

Choose one verse from Psalm 119:97–105 below

101 I have refused to walk on any evil path,

    so that I may remain obedient to your word

Read it slowly three times.

First reading: notice one word or phrase.

Second reading: ask what God may be showing you.

Third reading: turn it into a prayer.

Lord, may I continue to make the choice to know evil and to turn away from it.  Increase my trust in you that I may continue to make choices that align with your Will.  

Reflection questions:

What decision, pressure, or situation needs the light of God’s Word right now?

how best to support my family and my friends while dealing with the feeling that I need time for myself

Do I usually read Scripture for information, encouragement, correction, or prayer?

What word or phrase from Scripture feels like light for today?

How might I carry one verse with me instead of leaving it behind?

DAY 3 - PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE

A good option for today is John 15:4–5, where Jesus says, “ Remain in me, and I will remain in you."

Move through the passage slowly.

Read the passage once at a normal pace.

Read it again and notice one word or phrase that stands out.

Ask: Why might this word or phrase be standing out to me today?

Alex felt called out when Pastor Tim told the group that there were consequences for turning away from God as at the moment, he is going through a period of unbelief.  He hasn't returned to the youth group since despite really enjoying the feeling of fellowship in that group....   I understand how Alex feels, when bad things happen to good people, when calamities happen to your country, sometime I have gotten cynical or bitter and nourished unbelief instead of belief.  I don't know how to help him.  

Turn the phrase into a prayer.

Lord I do not always keep the faith.  Forgive me my faithlessness and unbelief and have mercy upon me and mine.

Sit quietly with God for one minute.

This is not about finding a hidden meaning. It is about paying attention prayerfully.

The word or phrase that stands out to me is…  despite what this says, we are also told that even when we are faithless, He remains faithful as that is His nature, neh?

I think it may be stirring…  worry about when grace is really available, for me, for Alex, for Trump, for all those who have gone astray from the path

 

God, I want to receive…  reassurance

God, help me live…

Pray with John 15:4–5.

You might pray:

Jesus, help me remain in you.

When I am striving, draw me back to you.

When I feel disconnected, remind me that you are near.

Let your life bear fruit in me.

Amen.

DAY 4 - WANDERING MINDS

Other struggles may surface too.

We may wonder:

Am I doing this right?

Is anything supposed to happen?

What if nothing stands out to me?

What if Scripture feels dry?

What if I am uncomfortable using imagination in prayer?

What if I confuse my thoughts with God’s voice?

These are good and honest questions. Meditative Prayer requires humility. We listen, but we do not force meaning. We pay attention, but we also test what we notice against Scripture, wisdom, and the character of Christ.

Choose one simple phrase:

Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.

Pray it slowly for 3–5 minutes.

When your mind wanders, gently return to the phrase.

Do not scold yourself.

Do not start over angrily.

Simply return.

End with:

God, thank you for receiving my wandering mind.

Teach me to return to you.

Amen.

Reflection questions

What distracted me most during prayer this week?

my thoughts refused to stop milling about

What did I feel when my mind wandered: frustration, guilt, amusement, impatience, or something else?  frustrated

What Scripture or phrase was I invited to return to?  I couldn't pick one, so I went back to the prayer to give me a clean heart when washing my hands, harkening back to the promise made to replace the stony heart with a natural one

How can I practice returning without judging myself?

DAY 5 - ONE WORD

Colossians 3:16

16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

This is also where Meditative Prayer connects with Sacramental Prayer. God often uses tangible things to draw us back: bread, water, a table, a doorway, a tree, sunlight, a hand on the shoulder, a meal shared with others. The ordinary world can become a reminder of God’s presence.

A. Choose one phrase from Scripture to carry today.

B. Then connect it to one ordinary action.

Examples:

When you see a tree: Like a tree planted by water.

When you turn on a light: Your word is a lamp to my feet.

When you eat bread: Jesus, be known to me in ordinary things.

When you wash your hands: Cleanse and renew me.

When you walk somewhere: Give me light for the next step.

Choose one phrase to repeat throughout the day.

Reflection Questions:

What word, phrase, or image stayed with me this week?

Did Scripture feel different when I slowed down with it?

What ordinary object or action helped me remember God?

How might I carry Scripture prayerfully into daily life?