By Betsy Hall, Pastor of Care & Spiritual Formation

In Pastor Jacob’s sermon he said “Our life changes when we let Jesus’ words in, we are blessed.”

How are you letting Jesus’ words in these days? One way to let the words sink in is to sit with a smaller piece of Scripture, like a verse.

One ancient spiritual practice is lectio divina or sacred reading. It is a way of reading scripture by reading a passage several times and sitting with the verse, allowing it in your heart to form you. As you read the verse the first time listen for a word or phrase that speaks to you or draws you in. As you read it a second time, pause to meditate on the word or phrase--how does the word or phrase speak to your life now? What might God be speaking to you? And as you read it a third time spend some time listening for how you might respond through prayer. If you like to journal you might journal your thoughts, draw a picture, or write a prayer.

One way I like to use this spiritual practice is to read in a different translation. In yesterday’s sermon we looked at Matthew 5:1-3. I chose to look at The Message translation of verse 3 which says:

“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you, there is more of God and his rule.”

Being at the end of my rope these days isn’t that difficult.

Listening to too much of the news, looking at my retirement savings, worrying about family members all can cause me to feel out of control, at the end of my rope. That is precisely when and where God can meet me. With less of me in the way, trying to fix everything, there is more room for God to work.

How about you? Where are you at the end of your rope? Where are you trying to control, or fix something that only God can?

If you’d like to read more about lectio divina, here is a link to a short article.
https://www.upperroom.org/resources/lectio-divina-praying-the-scriptures