Last week the practice offering was a meditation to mine into the heart of you and discover a limiting belief that may be obstructing your fullness of life and relationship with Jesus. Limiting beliefs are within every single human being. Paul tells us in Romans 10:10 that belief in Jesus as our savior begins in the heart and leads to right relationship with God. Based on this, it is critical that we also explore the heart for beliefs that cut off or poison that faithful belief in Jesus. So I hope you continue to practice meeting beliefs that are not true however you want to do that. If you missed the meditation, you can practice now.

Lectio Divina

This week my practice offering is a way of reading scripture that is less academic and more embodied listening. It is an ancient practice that is called Lectio Divina, which is Latin meaning "spiritual reading." This doesn't mean you do this to get a new meaning of the scripture, it's to receive the particular meaning that God wants you to know. It's not a searching, investigating, dig wider kind of reading. It's a fall deeper, quiet listening kind of prayer.

Scripture

"Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.  But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them.  I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full".

(John 10, v 1-10)

Protection

Jesus is our protector. We are the sheep. Jesus is the gate that provides protection from danger, the enemy, self-seeking leaders, false teachers, and those who would attempt to destroy us.

What are the dangers in your life Jesus wants to close the gate on and keep you safe in His pasture?

Provision + Abundance

We need the pasture. We need the pasture if we are going to survive. Jesus says in the pasture it will be more than survival and protection. He promises us fullness and abundance. Take a moment and visualize a lush, colorfully green pasture against the contrast of the open blue sky.

What comes to your mind? What does it feel like in your body?

This nourishing, restful pasture is a place Jesus is inviting us into to sustain life and flourish. He is our access to life, eternal life.

Take a moment and recall the pastures in your life. These may be moments, places, people, nature, words, art, a relationship. Whatever it is, express your gratitude for the access to this abundance in your life.

The Practice

The characters and message of this scripture does not change when we practice Lectio Divina. The invitation is to listen to the message God wants to impress on your heart from the words.

Also, I want to end with a gentle reminder that Lent is not about doing more to earn God's grace. It's about making room to receive God's grace.

I hope you will open space into your daily rhythm to practice sacred reading with John 10:1-10.