Starter Prayer: Creator God who speaks peace and calls us to action, take me on a new prayer adventure.

Focus Phrase: Holy Listening

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 42:5

Optional Read-along: Water, Wind, Earth and Fire pp. 37b-42a (Chapter One: Brother Wind, Section: Lectio Divina With the Wind and More Quotations for Prayer.)

Spiritual Direction:

Lectio Divina is a Latin phrase meaning: Holy Reading. This means of praying with scripture has been used by Christians for centuries. There are many variations of Lectio Divina, and the basic idea is to read, reflect and respond to God’s word. With scripture, I do it this way:

Select a short passage of scripture. Be purposeful. Sit comfortably, breathe deeply, relax your body, acknowledge and release distractions. Say “yes” to God’s presence. then…

1. Read the passage slowly twice. Stop when a word or phrase stops you, becomes vibrant or attracts you. Is there a word or image that impresses you? Bring your senses to the text. Allow for 1-2 minutes of silence.
2. Reflect on the passage: Listen to how this passage touches your life today. What does it mean? What is God’s message to you? Do not try to force a meaning. Stay open. This is a time of reflection, in- volving thinking, feeling and intuition. Allow for 1-2 minutes of silence, creating openness to the Spirit.
3. Respond to the passage:. Listen to the invitation. What is God calling me to do or be today or this week? Be aware of resistance. Open your heart and will to any action that may be called for. Allow for silence, then voice your thoughts to God. Share and pray. Take time to express what you have heard. If alone, journal impressions, or words, or a prayer that expresses your response to God. In a group, share aloud the word, image, or invitation received.

Today’s read-along contains a suggested practice for Lectio Divina with Wind. Yes! In the same way we can slow down and pray with scripture, Christine Valters Paintner has a wonderful prescription for us to try. Allow 15-20 minutes for this experience. Prepare by finding a peaceful place outdoors where you can sit comfortably.

1. Reading God’s Word: Become aware of the way wind is present in the world around you—through a breeze blowing, through birds flying, butterflies fluttering, seeds being scattered by the wind, your own breath. In this initial encounter with the element of air, listen for one of its manifestations. Notice if the birds, the butterflies, the breeze, the seeds, your breath, or some other form invites you or stirs you. Listen for the way God might be calling you to deeper attention to wind this day. Listen until you have a sense of which manifestation of air is inviting you, and then spend some time savoring it.
2. Reflecting on God’s Word: Continue to savor this aspect of air or wind, and then allow it to unfold in your memory and imagination and to work within you to speak even more deeply. Notice what feelings, memories, or images arise for you. Allow the Spirit to expand your capacity for listening and to open you to a fuller experience of the element at work in the world. Begin to notice where its qualities touch your life. What do you see, hear, touch, or remember? What is evoked in you? Allow it to interact with your thoughts, your hopes, your memories, your desires. Rest in this awareness for some time.
3. Responding to God’s Word: After a time of resting in what the element evokes in you, you will be moved to deeper insight and a desire to respond and say yes to God. When this time comes, attend to the way the unfolding of the element connects with the context and situation of your life right now. How does it relate to what you have heard and seen this day? How does it connect with what is happening at home, at work, in your leisure time? Set aside a few minutes to explore this connection. How is God present to you there? Is God.
4. Resting with God’s Word: Finally, simply rest in the presence of the One who has spoken to you intimately and personally. Rest in the silence of God’s loving embrace, and allow your heart to be moved to gratitude for this time of prayer. Allow yourself to simply be in God’s presence and breathe deeply of God’s grace.

Be encouraged in your practice, Katie Martinez

Endnotes

• For daily texts with the Focus Word, Starter Prayer and link to these daily posts, text the word “journey” to 970-500-0970.
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• Join the Orange Dots of Hope Facebook Group for spiritual conversations on the journey.

This daily devotion is part of the Summer Growth Journey: Learning to Pray with Nature with Crossroads Church. Many of us are also reading through Water, Wind, Earth & Fire: The Christian Practice of Praying with the Elements by Christine Valters Paintner. To purchase a copy, or for more information, email us at [email protected].