Lectio Divina – a holy reading of the Bible slowly, savoring it, and enjoying it with the Lord – is the spiritual practice of sacred reading of the scriptures. The intention is not to learn or gain information but to deepen our relationship with God. St Benedict encourages us to “to listen with the ear of our hearts.”
Join me once a week for Lectio Divina. I will share a verse and a word that spoke to my heart. Read and listen to the verses here. And gently ask God for a word or phrase that speaks to your heart for that day – that is what lectio means. Once we find that gift, we hold it, meditate, and savor its meaning. This step is called meditation.
Then offer that word back to God in prayer or the third step of oratio. In prayer we allow our real selves to be touched and changed by the word of God.
Finally, we simply rest in the presence of the One who has used His word as a means of inviting us to accept His transforming embrace. No one who has ever been in love needs to be reminded that there are moments in loving relationships when words are unnecessary.
Look upon our shield, O God; look with favor on your anointed one.
Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor;
No good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you. Psalm 84: 8-12 (NIV)
I would rather be a doorkeeper.
To see all who comes and goes.
What they look like and what they carry to God?
I wonder if God’s doorkeeper ever puts her ear against the door and quietly eavesdrops.
Does she peek in?
Does she ever enter herself?
Lord, at times I am your doorkeeper.
I stand half way, on the threshold of fully committing to you.
One foot in. One foot turned away, set to run back to my wicked ways.
I linger around the edges of your goodness, wanting more yet afraid to ask
The Psalmist sings, “Blessed is the man who trusts in you.”
Help me to trust you more – to run through your door into your waiting arms.
I share this feeling. THANKS . cLELLA
Door keeper. I’ve always liked that verse. To watch God’s doors. Thanks for the reminder!