My heart overflows with a goodly theme;
I address my verses to the king;
my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.
2You are the most handsome of men;
grace is poured upon your lips;
therefore God has blessed you forever.
6Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever.
Your royal scepter is a scepter of equity;
7you love righteousness and hate wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
8your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.
From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;
9daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor;
at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.
- Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
- Sit five to fifteen minutes in silent meditation paying close attention to the deep breath.
- As you breathe, let the goodness of God’s breath flow through you.
- Inhale God’s goodness. Exhale anything toxic within you.
- Continue to inhale goodness and exhale anything keeping you from embracing goodness.
- Imagine your pen is ready, poised to capture all the goodness that rolls from your tongue.
- How has God blessed you?
- How has God graced you?
- How has God anointed you?
- Describe the goodness that surrounds you: what do you see? hear? taste? feel?
- Is there anyone standing with you?
- If you feel led, write what you experience. Savor the time and the space of God’s goodness.
- Give thanks to God for this time in prayer and for any new insights you have received.
- Share as you feel led in the reply box below.
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday,September 2, 2012, the Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Song of Solomon 2:8-13
Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9
James 1:17-27
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author. Permission to use in not-for-profit settings The Rev. Lil Smith, M.Div., DASD