| 
| 
Listening
1.Preparation
“Take off your sandals, for the place you are standing is holy ground!” (Exodus 3:1-6 )
We need to prepare ourselves so we can listen to God. Our busy lives fill us with lots of worries that can prevent us to listen to God. Take time to recognise that you are before the loving presence of God. Stand before Him with honesty and humility of heart, in faith and trust.
Song: Look, I am standing at the door
2.Listen to Your Thirst
“Come, all you who are thirsty!...” (Isaiah 55:1-11 )
The place of encounter with God is your heart, the core of our being and the place where the Spirit dwells. When we ponder the Word of God in Scripture, we hear a deep echo in the depth of ourselves. God invites us to come to prayer with our own thirsts, the longings in our hearts. Seek, search, look for because you will find!
Song: Dreams
3.Listen to God Today
"I regard you as precious, since you are honored and I love you.’" (Isaiah 43:4 )
As you take a bible text, read it slowly. God speaks through scripture! He wants to speak to you and reveal himself to you. God thirsts for us to listen and trust Him. God’s Word is a word that speaks today to our lives.
Song: Here I am, Lord, I come to do Your will
Conversation
4.Meeting the Father
“My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours...” (Luke 15:31 )
Meeting the Father is meeting His abundant Love that heals, reconciles and forgives. It is to meet the One who created us out of Love and with an everlasting Love.
Song: First Love
5.Meeting Jesus
“If you only knew what God is offering...” (John 4:10 )
Meeting Jesus is meeting a friend and a brother, who was fully God and also fully human. He knows what are the challenges to be human. He passed through many too. He wants to offer us fullness of life.
Song: Into Life
6.Meeting the Holy Spirit
"The Spirit personally makes our petitions for us in groans that cannot be put into words..." (Romans 8:26 )
Meeting the Holy Spirit is meeting God’s presence living in us; the Spirit leads us to the Truth; He helps us when we don’t know how to pray. The Holy Spirit speaks to us through the scriptures; there is always a unique message to us that stands out, when we read God’s Word. He also enables us to know God, his thoughts, his dreams and will.
Song: Holy Spirit, come down
Contemplation
7. Embraced by Love (Eucharist)
"The Spirit personally makes our petitions for us in groans that cannot be put into words.." (Romans 8:20 )
Contemplating Christ in the Eucharist while we pray with the Scriptures, gives us a deeper understanding of the Word. The power of His life constant given for us and for everything He invites me to live.
Song: You Complete Me
8.The Power of Grace
“Power is at full stretch in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 )
Contemplating how God’s life and love are expressed even through our weakness or limitations. Our humanity is not an obstacle but the way for His Grace to be powerful. Paul’s life witnesses this.
Song: Standing on Eternal Love
9.Fruitful Ways
“Father forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34 )
We invite you to contemplate how in Christ's life, fruitfulness comes after the cross. Prayer also involves asking God to understand and welcome His ways.
Song: Here I am, Lord
Take the Word With You
10.Tasting Freedom
“If you make my word your home, you will be indeed my disciple; you will come to know the truth and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32 )
Prayer with the Word leads us to taste a new freedom, that comes from living in the Truth, instead of living under the expectations of others or unde r so many false/ negative images of ourselves.
Song: If you stand
11.Living the Word
“My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” (Luke 8:21 )
We are part of God’s family as we know Him and put his Word into practice. This can be challenging but it is also rewarding. We invite you to have the Word as a reference in your daily options, discernments and decisions. Seek for ways you can live what you pray.
Song: Mary, let me hold your Son
12.Give the Word to Others
“As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.” (John 20:21 )
Prayer is complete when it reaches out to others. We are called to be witnesses of the resurrection; of His Love that is stronger than death. Like the disciples, we may doubt, but He sends us with the strength of His Spirit, “Peace be with you.”
Song: God still calls
|
|
