Week 2
Intro: how to use this booklet What you have in your hands could be a powerful tool. Think of this book as a map that could help guide you in drawing closer to God and help you hear what He may want you to hear about yourself, your world and Himself. By carving out these moments with God, your sense of purpose may become stronger, your self-reflection may become clearer, and your love for others may grow as you understand Him and yourself more. Or you could throw it in the recycling bin. The choice is yours. But if you do choose to use this booklet to draw closer to God, here is the blueprint we suggest:
Set aside 10-30 minutes each day (I recommend the morning). Set reminders for yourself so that you will be consistent and won’t forget. Some suggestions to help you prioritize this time with God would be to schedule it in your day planner or cell phone calendar.
Remove any distractions during this time. Find a quiet place where your television is off, your phone is set to silent, and if possible, that you won’t be disturbed by people interrupting you.
Start by praying. Not sure what to pray? Try this: “God, as I take this time with you now, help me to hear you. Help me to focus on you. Help me to listen to you. Please speak to me God, I want to listen. Amen”
Reflect on and answer the questions asked each day.
End your time by praying again. Not sure what to pray? Try this: “God thank you for your grace in my life. Help me to
The book of the law found 2 Kings 22 (The Message) 1-2 Josiah was eight years old when he became king. He ruled for thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath. He lived the way God wanted. He kept straight on the path blazed by his ancestor David, not one step to either left or right. 3-7 One day in the eighteenth year of his kingship, King Josiah sent the royal secretary Shaphan son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to The Temple of God with instructions: “Go to Hilkiah the high priest and have him count the money that has been brought to The Temple of God that the doormen have collected from the people. Have them turn it over to the foremen who are managing the work on The Temple of God so they can pay the workers who are repairing God’s Temple, all the carpenters, construction workers, and masons. Also, authorize them to buy the lumber and dressed stone for The Temple repairs. You don’t need to get a receipt for the money you give them—they’re all honest men.” 8 The high priest Hilkiah reported to Shaphan the royal secretary, “I’ve just found the Book of God’s Revelation, instructing us in God’s ways. I found it in The Temple!” He gave it to Shaphan and Shaphan read it. 9 Then Shaphan the royal secretary came back to the king and gave him an account of what had gone on: “Your servants
have bagged up the money that has been collected for The Temple; they have given it to the foremen to pay The Temple workers.” 10 Then Shaphan the royal secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest gave me a book.” Shaphan proceeded to read it to the king. 11-13 When the king heard what was written in the book, God’s Revelation, he ripped his robes in dismay. And then he called for Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the royal secretary, and Asaiah the king’s personal aide. He ordered them all: “Go and pray to God for me and for this people—for all Judah! Find out what we must do in response to what is written in this book that has just been found! God’s anger must be burning furiously against us—our ancestors haven’t obeyed a thing written in this book, followed none of the instructions directed to us.”
Monday: Lost and found Bibles seem like they could be everywhere and anywhere theses days. They are in our phones, in hotel rooms and bookstores. But once upon a time the word of God wasn’t so easily found. 1) Have you ever lost something? What made you notice it was gone?
2) Could you imagine loosing something that was important for you for a really long time? What do you think you would do to get it back?
3) Read 2 Kings 22. How do you think the people of God could go almost 400 years with out scripture? How do you think not having scripture might have affected people?
4) What is King Josiah’s response to finding the Book of the Law? Read 2 Kings 23:1-3, what affect do you think this scene had on the people of Judah?
5) What events led to the finding of the book of the law? What was Hilkiah doing when he found it? What do you think is the significance of this?
6) How often do you spend reading scripture? What does reading scripture do to you? Why do you think it was so significant for the people of Judah to discover the Book of the Law? What can we learn from this story?
Tuesday: 70 faces of scripture, Literally speaking The Midrash (an Jewish commentary) says that “There are seventy faces to the Torah: turn it around and around, for everything is in it.� This is a poetic way of saying there are different ways to read Scripture. There is so much in it that sometimes we need to try different ways of reading scripture to help us see all that God wants us to see. Over the next three days we will spend some time with one piece of text reading it in different ways to see its different faces. Some will seem natural and comfortable, others may be more difficult and stretching, in all styles ask God to help you see and understand what he wants you to see and understand.
1) First we are going to take a literal look at the text, trying to see what is there at face value. Read Psalm 119:97-104. What do you think is the authors main point?
2) Read Psalm 119 in its entirety to get an idea of context. This section of scripture is written as a prayer, what does this prayer tell you about the one praying and about God?
3) What are the advantages to following God’s instructions based on this passage?
4) What is the difference between the author of this Psalm and their teachers? What difference does that make for the author?
5) Do you think God’s instruction keeps people from evil things (v101)? How would reading scripture make a difference in regards to my evil desires?
6) How does reading scripture cause one to “hate every wrong path”?
Wednesday: Personally speaking Today we are going to look at Psalm 119:97-104 for personal application. Asking the question what does this mean for me? 1) Do you consider yourself to be a student of God’s Word? What does it mean to be a student of Gods Word? What Characterizes a student of Gods Word?
2) In verses 99-100, the writer tells God [remember, this is still a prayer] that he has more understanding than his teachers and those that are older. This seems to be a bold claim. Is this a claim you could make? Why or why not? Why do you think the author of Psalm 119 made this claim?
3) Verses 102 and 103 speak of Gods instruction as sweeter than honey, meaning they are better than anything the world has to offer. Do you think this is true? Why or why not?
4) When you think of the bible what do you think of? How would you describe Gods words to someone who did not know about them? Are they sweeter than honey? Or a bitter taste in your stomach (Rev. 10:10)?
5) What importance do you place on the bible in your life? Should it be more? What can you do to increase the importance of Gods word in your life?
Thursday: Sacred Reflection Today we are going to try something that might be a little foreign to you, its called Lectio Divina, or Sacred Reading. This is an ancient practice to help you meditate and reflect on scripture. Set some time apart to be quiet and reflect on this passage in this manner. You might want to consider journaling any thoughts you have after you are done.
Psalm 119:97-104 (The Message) Oh, how I love all you’ve revealed; I reverently ponder it all the day long.
97-104
Your commands give me an edge on my enemies; they never become obsolete. I’ve even become smarter than my teachers since I’ve pondered and absorbed your counsel. I’ve become wiser than the wise old sages simply by doing what you tell me. I watch my step, avoiding the ditches and ruts of evil so I can spend all my time keeping your Word. I never make detours from the route you laid out; you gave me such good directions. Your words are so choice, so tasty; I prefer them to the best home cooking. With your instruction, I understand life; that’s why I hate false propaganda.
Lectio … Read the Psalm portion slowly twice, once silently and then out loud. Don’t be caught up in the “literal” meaning of the text. Instead, listen for a word or phrase that catches you attention. Sit in the silence for a few minutes concentrating on your word/phrase … allow it to sift through your heart and your mind.
Meditatio … Reflect on the Psalm portion again paying attention to your word/phrase and the feelings, images, thoughts, or memories as they come to you … continue to ask God to speak through your word/phrase, images, feelings, etc. Listen to what God may be saying to you
Oratio … Respond to God as the desire emerges. Allow your prayer to awaken deep desires within you. Perhaps God is showing you an area of your life that needs some prayerful attention. Perhaps you want to express gratitude to God. Perhaps you are sensing a direction for your life. Do not rush … continue to wait in prayerful expectation as God forms your prayer and the desire of your heart.
Contemplatio … Rest in the silence of your prayerful being with your favorite companion. Allow your mind to settle. When you feel your time of devotion has been completed, say a simple Thank
Friday: Something different Today we will try something very different, it may feel uncomfortable for some, others it may be incredibly life giving. Today you are going to choose a passage of scripture from the gospels and practice something known as Gospel Contemplation, or praying through the scriptures. This is not some kind of mystical prayer but a prayer form in which one uses his or her senses in an imaginative way to reflect on a Gospel passage. One uses the senses, seeing, hearing, tasting, touching, and smelling to make the Gospel scene real and alive. An audio version of the bible might be helpful if you wish to practice this form of scripture reflection. Please use the space provide to write any reflections you may have. Each style of reading scripture has values, and I would encourage you to consider how you might be able to incorporate all four types into your personal devotional time.
Here is a way of engaging in this style of praying through scripture :
Select a passage from one of the Gospels in which Jesus is interacting with others.
Recall what one is doing in engaging with the Word of God and what one desires from this encounter. God is present and because God is present one relies on God.
Read the Gospel passage twice so that the story and the details of the story become familiar.
Close one’s eyes and reconstruct the scene in one’s imagination. See what is going on and watch the men and women in the scene. What does Jesus look like? How do the others react to him? What are the people saying to one another? What emotions fill their words? Is Jesus touching someone? As one enters into the scene, sometimes there is the desire to be there. So a person can place oneself in the scene, perhaps as an observer, as one lining up for healing, or as one helping others to Jesus.
Some people’s imaginations are very active so they construct a movie-like scenario with a Gospel passage. Others will enter the scene with verbal imagination, reflecting on the scene and mulling over the actions. Vividness is not a criteria for the effectiveness of this kind of prayer. Engagement is and the result is a more interior knowledge of Jesus.
As one finishes this time of prayer, one should take a
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