Psalm 23

*Peace

*Lectio Divina

“It is especially necessary that listening to the word of God should become a life-giving encounter, in the ancient and ever valid tradition of lectio divina, which draws from the biblical text the living Word which questions, directs and shapes our lives.”

Pope John Paul II

Novo Millennio Ineunte,39

*Lectio Divina

*Silence

*Prepare

*Reading

*Pronounce

*Meditating

*Ponder

*Praying

*Presence

*Contemplating

*Picture

*Acting

*Practice

*SilenceStop

ListenFocus

Prepare

*Reading

SilentlySoftly

SlowlySensory

*Psalm 23 (NIV)

*1The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

*2He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,

*3he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

*4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

*5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

*6Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

*Meditate“Meditation discerns the

connections and listens for the harmonies that come together in Jesus.”

Eugene Peterson, “Eat This Book,” p. 102

*Meditating

Pondering

HeadQuestio

ns

*Psalm 23 (NIV)

*1The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

*2He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,

*3he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

*4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

*5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

*6Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

*Meditating

PonderingHeart

Connections

*Psalm 23 (NIV)

*1The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

*2He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,

*3he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

*4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

*5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

*6Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

*Praying

*Conflict

*“Prayer is engaging God…The engagement, at least in its initial stages, is more like a quarrel that a greeting, more like a wrestling match than a warm embrace.”

Eugene Peterson “Eat This Book”

*Praying

*Comfort*“God’s word is personal address, inviting, commanding, challenging, rebuking, judging, comforting, directing. But not forcing. Not coercing. We are given space and freedom to answer, to enter into the conversation.”

Eugene Peterson “Eat This Book”

*Praying

*Psalm 23 (NIV)

*1The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

*2He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,

*3he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

*4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

*5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

*6Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

*ContemplatingCoram Deo

Contemplation

*“….we cannot come to the fullness of contemplation of the Lord’s face by our own efforts alone, but by allowing grace to take us by the hand.”Pope John Paul II, Nuevo Millennio Nuente, 20

*“Contemplatio…is not something we self-consciously do; it happens, it is a gift, it is something to which we are receptive and obedient…it is “infused.”

Eugene Peterson “Eat This Book”

*Contemplating

ReceivingRemembering

Reminding

*Psalm 23 (NIV)

*1The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

*2He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,

*3he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

*4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

*5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

*6Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

*Contemplating

ReceivingRemembering

Reminding

Psalm 23 (Wolthuis paraphrase)

*God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is my guide.

* I want nothing else.

*He orders my hours so I can rest.

*He leads me to the well of living water.

*He focuses my life on the essential.

*He directs me in productive ways

*So that his purposes are clear.

*Even when I crawl through the tunnel of dark depression,

* I will not fear destruction,

*For you are with me;

*Your strong hands and gentle nudges,

*They comfort me.

*You host a banquet in my honor,

*Before those who would dishonor me.

*You shower me with gifts.

*You continue to pour out blessings.

*Surprisingly and certainly,

*Beauty and unfailing love pursue every moment of my life.

*My home is in God’s presence now and always.

*ActingMissio

Dei

*Psalm 23 (NIV)

*1The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

*2He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,

*3he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

*4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

*5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

*6Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

*Savior, like a shepherd lead us

*Savior, like a shepherd lead us,

much we need Thy tender care; In Thy pleasant pastures feed us,

for our use Thy folds prepare. Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! Thou hast bought us,

Thine we are. Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! Thou hast bought us,

Thine we are.

*We are Thine, Thou dost befriend us, be the guardian of our way;

Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us, seek us when we go astray.Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray.Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray.

* Words: At trib ut ed to Dorothy A Thrupp, 1836.

* Music: William B. Brad bu ry, 1859