Welcome to Lent Online! Each Tuesday afternoon you will find a new Lenten Devotion posted here.  The symbol (above) for our prayer journey together is the labyrinth, an ancient prayer path.  Together we will explore a different prayer practice each week.  We invite you to make use of it when and where your schedule permits…spread it out through the week, select one day to make time to experience the entire devotion, or even repeat it several times as you desire.

–Your Lent Online partners, Rev. Jennifer Barchi, Rev. Ron Hankins, Rev. Deborah McEachran

Week Four

Put aside any concerns about work or home.  Turn off the electronics.  Find a quiet place to be.  Gather a pen/pencil and paper.  Agree with God that you will spend ________ minutes together.

Begin your time of connecting with God by listening to “The More I Seek You” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI_1YliutzA

This week we focus on the spiritual practice of  dialogue prayer. This is a conversation between you and God.  Let your mind and heart be free to imagine what the conversation might be like between the two of you.  The conversation begins with scripture:

“Stand at the crossroads, and look,

and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies;

and walk in it,

and find rest for your souls.”  (Jeremiah 6:16)

 

Through the prophet, God is addressing you today.  Reflect for a few moments on how you might respond to this divine instruction given that you live in (or near) Baltimore after a year of 344 murders, visible and invisible unrest, and broken trust.

Try taking each phrase of instruction by itself and write out a dialogue with God. How do you respond to God’s instruction?  Then what does God say back to you?  What are you seeing at the crossroads?  What are the ancient paths, the good way?  How will you walk that way?  What will bring you rest?

Keep “talking” until you feel your conversation has ended. For now, that is.  Carry the conversation as you go into this week.  How does God continue to show you the good way?  How do you find rest for your soul each day?

Sing “Guide My Feet, While I Run this Race” (lyrics below)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-WVIppNBls

Text: African American Spiritual  Music: African American Spiritual; harm. by Wendell Whalum  Tune: GUIDE MY FEET, Meter: 88.8 10

1. Guide my feet while I run this race.  Guide my feet while I run this race.  Guide my feet while I run this race,  for I don’t want to run this race in vain! 2. Hold my hand while I run this race.  Hold my hand while I run this race.  Hold my hand while I run this race,  for I don’t want to run this race in vain! 3. Stand by me while I run this race.  Stand by me while I run this race.  Stand by me while I run this race,  for I don’t want to run this race in vain! 4. I’m your child while I run this race.  I’m your child while I run this race.  I’m your child while I run this race,  for I don’t want to run this race in vain! 5. Search my heart while I run this race.  Search my heart while I run this race.  Search my heart while I run this race,  for I don’t want to run this race in vain! 6. Guide my feet while I run this race.  Guide my feet while I run this race.  Guide my feet while I run this race,  for I don’t want to run this race in vain!

 

Quote for the Week: “If you want a life of prayer, the way to get it is by praying…You start where you are and you deepen what you already have.”—Thomas Merton

Challenge:  Try the dialogue prayer with another passage of scripture during the week.  Some ideas to get you started:  Luke 10: 38-42  (put yourself in the sandals of one of the women—what is your conversation with Jesus?); Philippians 1:3-11 (what is your prayer?  How does God respond to your prayer?); Psalm 51:1-7 (if those are your words today, how does God respond?)