Divine Praying Journal

 Lectio Divina:

 Devotional Bible-Reading

 

Isaiah 26:3 NIV

You will keep in perfect peace

those whose minds are steadfast,

because they trust in you.

Step 1 – Read

Desiring the Simple Presence of God

Using the intellect, we seek for the objective meaning of the Text.

 

Bible Reading : 

Characters : 

Who are the characters ?

Circumstance :

Where, when, why, how ?

Teaching :

What does the text say ?

Step 2 – Meditate

Desiring a Personal Understanding of His Word

 Using the heart, we find what the text is saying to me 

– the individual is challenged by the text.

Bible - Text for Meditation

What is the text telling me?

How does it affect my life ?

What does it remind me of ?

Step 3 – Pray

Desiring Knowledge of God’s Will

 

Using our whole Being, we converse with God through prayer. A.C.T S. – Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication (Petition)

 

Prayer as Consecration of Life Experiences to God

Adoration (Praise): Praise the Lord for the glimpse of His love that this text offers you.

Confession: What do I recognise is wrong in my life and needs to change?

Thanksgiving: How does this text stir gratitude in my heart? For what am I thankful?

Supplication for ourselves: What petitions does this text inspire me to ask of the Father?

Supplication for others: Who does this text inspire me to pray on behalf of?

Prayer: Consecration of Life Experiences to God

 

Step 4 – Contemplate

Desiring to Obey God

 

“We take up, as a gift from God, his own way of seeing and judging reality, and ask ourselves what conversion of mind, heart and life is the Lord asking of us? Contemplation aims at creating within us a truly wise and discerning vision of reality, as God sees it, and at forming within us “the mind of Christ” (1Cor 2:16).”

 

Pope Benedict XVI

What conversion of mind, heart, and life is the Lord asking of me?

Conclusion – Action

The process of Lectio Divina is concluded when it arrives at action.

We use our will to cooperate with God’s grace to act upon the word of God.

 

 What is it that I am supposed to do?

 How should I plan on doing it?

Write the Vision

Envision the results

Think through the process

Begin with the end in mind

Write down your vision

Make a Vision Board

State your milestones

Begin Charting your journey towards the end goals

You have not because you ask not

Write your vision into a prayer

Pray that vision 

Have faith in it 

When you lose faith, have faith in God

For God will make it comes true

You just have to commit to work hard on the list

~ Doria, July 2023 

In the Bible, Habakkuk 2:2-3 has a very clear verse about importance of having a vision clearly written out like, like write it BIG, on a tablet, so big that as a runner run passes that tablet, it could read it. Writing the vision details on a board making it easier to be read. Almost like a banner in the room, road sign or street name. This is the ancient way calling it Tablets and in the current age, we could this the Vision Board. For a vision to come to fruitation, it has to go through meticulous planning, hardwork and enduring challenges. It will take a long time to await for the appointed time of completion of the vision. If it seems like taking longer or too long or delayed, the older English word is "tarry", do not lose hope, do not lose faith, wait for it ! For those who put their faith and hope in God, it will surely come to pass ! This is a promise for those who wait on the Lord, who commits their life to Him and acknowledges the provisions of God in our earthly mortal life.  

Steve Harvey gave a good talk on this verse and also the other verse about asking the Lord in faith for what we desire to achieve in our vision. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlMAIYd7-J4&t=9s

Habakkuk 2:4 says : The righteous will live by his faithfulness and not puffed up. We are to recognise that we dream the vision, we work towards it, ultimately God is the one to bring it to fruitation for our life and our being is in God's loving hands. Our job is to remain faithful towards God and follow Christ in our daily living. 

Lectio Divina - Divine Praying

Divine Praying

https://spiritualdirection.com/2012/04/21/what-is-lectio-divina-and-will-it-help-my-prayer-life-a-guide-to-lectio-divina

Lectio (reading): An attentive, slow, repetitious recitation of a short passage of scripture.

“looking on Holy Scripture with all one’s will and wit”

Meditatio (meditation): An effort to understand the passage and apply it to my own life.

“a studious searching with the mind to know what was before concealed”

Oratio (prayer): Engaging or talking with God about the passage.

“a devout desiring of the heart to get what is good and avoid what is evil”

Contemplatio (contemplation): Allowing oneself to be absorbed in the words of God as the Holy Spirit draws us into His presence through scripture.

“the lifting up of the heart to God tasting somewhat of the heavenly sweetness”

https://bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/lectio-divina-beginners-guide

Prepare

Lectio (Read)

Meditatio (Reflect)

Oratio (Respond)

Contemplatio (Rest)

https://blog.theprodigalfather.org/lectio-divina

1. Prepare - Know your passage ahead of time and meditate on it throughout the day. When you transition into prayer, take time to breathe, relax, slow down, and just rest.
2. Place - go to your prayer place, room or chair. 90% of prayer is just being there.
3. Posture - we pray using our bodies. Try one of the four postures: standing, sitting, kneeling, or prostrating.
4. Presence - make the Sign of the Cross and invite the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit into this time of prayer. Invite God the Father to hold you, the Son to be the Good Shepherd to you, and the Holy Spirit to be Christ in you.
5. Passage - hold the Bible in your lap and realize: "The Word of God is alive." The Father will speak to you!

 https://catholic-link.org/pray-lectio-divina-steps/

https://www.unleashthegospel.org/2020/07/a-guide-to-the-lectio-divina-prayer-style/

https://www.morelikegrace.com/lectio-divina-guide-free-printable/

Prepare (Silencio): 

Read (Lectio): 

Mediate (Meditatio): 

Pray (Oratio): 

Contemplate (Contemplatio):

https://www.lindsayboyer.com/lectio-divina-passages

https://www.lindsayboyer.com/lectio-divina-1

https://www.prayerandpossibilities.com/lectio-divina-prayer/

https://bc.org.sg/equip/dialoging-and-conversation-with-god/5R_to_Prayer_Reading.pdf

Slightly different take :- 5R

READ

REPEAT

REPHRASE

REFERENCE

RESPOND