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Contemplative Prayer. Awareness Exam. Psalm 139:23-24 ”Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting .”. Awareness Exam. Thanksgiving Ask for light Finding God in all things
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Awareness Exam Psalm 139:23-24 ”Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Awareness Exam • Thanksgiving • Ask for light • Finding God in all things • Respond to God in dialogue • Help and Guidance for tomorrow
Awareness Exam Thanksgiving • Begin by centring yourselves on God. • You are in God’s presence and are loved by Him. • Give Thanks to God for His blessings.
Awareness Exam Ask for light • Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. • Ask to see yourself in God’s love and truth. • Ask for a felt knowledge of God’s presence.
Awareness Exam Finding God in all things • Review your day. • Relationships, events, attitudes, thoughts, feeling. • Whatever the Lord directs you to. • Where have you been aware of the Spirit’s presence?
Awareness Exam Respond to God in dialogue • Respond to God in light of what He has shown you. • Offer praise, thanksgiving, confession, supplication.
Awareness Exam Help and Guidance for tomorrow • Centre back on God • Ask for his guidance and protection as you move forward. • Resolve anew to walk in the way of Jesus.
Lectio Divina Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Lectio Divina Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Lectio Divina • Lectio (reading) • Meditatio (reflection) • Oratio(response) • Contemplatio(rest)
Lectio Divina Lectio (reading) • Read the chosen passage over slowly two or three times. • Listen with your heart for a word, phrase or image that stands out to you.
Lectio Divina Meditatio (reflection) • Now that your heart and mind have been drawn to idea or topic, sit with it. • Take this passage into your mind and heart. • Focus on the word, phrase or image that the Spirit has given you. • Be attentive to what God’s word is saying to you. • What relationship do you have to this insight? What does it make you think of? What feelings arise in you?
Lectio Divina Oratio(response) • Respond to God from what you have received. • Move into a response to God, a dialogue. • Share with God your thoughts and feelings around this passage.
Lectio Divina Contemplatio(rest) • Here we rest in the word God has given us. • We stop our active thinking. • We listen. We are completely still and listen; with all our mind, heart and strength, to God. • We simply be with God.
Silent Prayer Psalm 46:10a “Be still, andknowthat I am God;“
Silent Prayer Place • Quiet and free of distractions. • A place that you can be at peace. • Be consistent.
Silent Prayer Posture • One that is most comfortable and least distracting, yet alert (straight back). • Some like to have their hands open palms facing up in a gesture of receiving.
Silent Prayer Time • A good starting goal is 20 minutes. • May seem very long at first. • With practice your time may increase.
Silent Prayer Begin focused on God • Start with presenting yourself and the time to God. • Reading a Psalm or saying a short prayer acknowledging God’s majesty and asking for His presences. • Candle. • Stand in front of your spot and offer your time to God.
Silent Prayer Silence • Simply listen. • Do not intend anything. • Do not try to produce anything. • Simply listen.
Silent Prayer Distractions • Distractions are like disobedient kids. The more attention you give them the louder they get! • Do not fight them. Acknowledge them and move on. • Number them. • Hand the distraction to God to deal with. • Have a word or image that will centre you back on God. • View them as a river. • Make a list.
Silent Prayer Moving Out • Express praise and thanks to God. • Ask for a growing awareness of His presence with you throughout this day.