Psalm 85:1-13
1LORD, you were favourable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you pardoned all their sin.
Selah
3You withdrew all your wrath;
you turned from your hot anger.
4Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation towards us.
5Will you be angry with us for ever?
Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
6Will you not revive us again,
so that your people may rejoice in you?
7Show us your steadfast love, O LORD,
and grant us your salvation.
8Let me hear what God the LORD will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people,
to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.
9Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.
10Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
11Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
and righteousness will look down from the sky.
12The LORD will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
13Righteousness will go before him,
and will make a path for his steps.
- Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
- Sit five to fifteen minutes in silent meditation paying attention to the deep breath
- Where do you notice God working…
- in the world?
- in the people around you?
- in creation?
- in you?
- As you consider all of these places where God is at work God’s creation, what similarities to you notice?
- What differences do you notice?
- Is there a message for you from God?
- Pray for you to be open to receive God’s message in God’s time.
- Give thanks to God for this time to reflect on the ways God interacts in the world and for any new insights you have received.
- Share as you feel led in the reply box below.
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, July 28, 2019, the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
Hosea 1:2-10
Psalm 85:1-13
Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19)
Luke 11:1-13
If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author. Permission to use in not-for-profit settings. (c) 2019 The Rev. Dr. Lil Smith, DASD
Rev. Dr. Lil Smith is a trained spiritual director, supervisor, and co-founder of Retreat House Spirituality Center in Richardson, TX. Upon completion of her spiritual direction certification, Lil began Praying the Lectionary in 2011 as a spiritual practice for her morning prayer time. Instead of reading about someone else’s experience of God, it was important for her to create a prayer practice that would encourage felt sense experience of the Holy emerging from within. It dawned on her others might enjoy the practice, as well. So she began to share them on this site.
As you experience the practice of Praying the Lectionary, adopt a loving, caring, and compassionate stance. If the end of your prayer and meditation time is not pointing to love and hope, there is more work to do. Keep wrestling. God is faithful to your journey. Love and hope will emerge. Be gentle with yourself and befriend any judgment that arises in you.