Barefoot
Page 34
May the Lord guide you deeper into his love as you walk the pilgrim way.
Sharon Garlough Brown
The Covenant Prayer, John Wesley
I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.
The Serenity Prayer, Reinhold Niebuhr
God give us grace to accept with Serenity the things that cannot be changed, Courage to change the things which should be changed, and the Wisdom to distinguish the one from the other. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace, taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it, trusting that You will make all things right, if I surrender to Your will, so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.
Discernment Questions, adapted from Ignatius of Loyola
Imagine a friend comes to you with your particular situation and decision to make. What questions would you ask? What would you invite him or her to notice?
Imagine you’re at the point of death, and you’re thinking back to this particular moment in time. What decision do you wish you had made?
Imagine you’re standing before the throne of Jesus at the end of your life, presenting this particular decision as an offering. Which decision would bring you the most pleasure and joy in offering to him?
Meditation on Mark 10:13-16
Seeking Christ’s Blessing
* * *
Quiet yourself in the presence of God. Then read Mark 10:13-16 with your imagination. Enter the scene as a participant. What do you see? Hear? Where do you find yourself in the story?
People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.
For Personal Reflection (45-60 minutes)
What (or who) inhibits your coming to Jesus? Listen to Jesus speak his welcome to you. How do you feel? Offer your response to God in prayer.
What blessing do you long to receive from Jesus? Name your longing to God in prayer.
Is there anyone you want to take to Jesus for a blessing? What words might he speak to them? To you? Imagine his hands on you and your loved ones. Savor the blessings spoken.
Who has brought you to Jesus for a blessing? Spend time thanking God for the ones who have taken you to him in prayer.
Imagine yourself as a child looking up into Jesus’ face. Offer your thoughts, feelings, and requests to him in prayer.
Imagine yourself as a parent looking into Jesus’ face. Offer your thoughts, feelings, and requests to him in prayer.
For Group Reflection (45-60 minutes)
What most stood out for you in the time of personal reflection?
How can the group pray for you?
Meditation on John 1:35-39
Discerning Desire
* * *
Begin with a brief time of silence, quieting yourself in the presence of God. Then read John 1:35-39 aloud several times, with a few minutes of silence between each reading.
The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.
For Personal Reflection (45-60 minutes)
Where do you find yourself in this story? (For example, are you John the Baptist, pointing others to Jesus? Are you one of the disciples, feeling attracted to following Jesus?) What feelings stir in you as you imagine yourself participating in the story?
Jesus turns, looks at you, and asks, “What are you looking for?” With what tone of voice do you imagine Jesus asking the question? How do you answer?
How do you feel about staying with Jesus for a while? What obstacles keep you from staying with him?
Jesus invites you to “Come and see.” What would you like to see when you’re with Jesus? Is there anything you are afraid you might see while you’re with him?
What would you like to say to God in response to what you’re noticing right now?
For Group Reflection (45-60 minutes)
What most stood out for you in the time of personal reflection?
How can the group pray for you?
Meditation on Luke 5:1-5
Trusting Jesus in the Deep Water
* * *
Begin with a brief time of silence, quieting yourself in the presence of God. Then read Luke 5:1-5 aloud, using your imagination to enter into the story. Deliberately leave the text in tension. If you know the end of the story, try to set the ending aside.
Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.”
For Personal Reflection (45-60 minutes)
Imagine you are Simon Peter. How do you feel when Jesus commands you to go out into the deep water and lower your nets? Use all of your senses as you consider what thoughts and feelings might arise after a night of fruitless labor.
Imagine offering Simon Peter’s objection to Jesus: “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing.” Stay awhile with your objection before you move to obedience. What thoughts and feelings arise as you offer your resistance to him? With what tone of voice do you speak your objection?
Now imagine moving toward saying, “Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” How much time passes between offering your objection and offering your obedience? With what tone of voice do you speak the words, “Yet if you say so . . .”?
What do you imagine Jesus’ facial expressions to be during this exchange? What does this reveal about how you see Jesus? yourself?
How comfortable are you in offering objections and resistance to Jesus’ commands? If you hesitate to express yourself freely to him, why might this be?
What do you hope will happen if you obey Jesus? What do these hopes reveal about where you find yourself with God right now?
Offer what you’ve noticed to God in prayer.
For Group Reflection (45-60 minutes)
What emotions were stirred for you as you prayed with this text?
Name something you believe Jesus is asking you to do in faith. How can the group pray for you as you navigate “deep waters” with him?
Medit
ation on Psalm 131
A Prayer of Rest
(Also on page 72.)
* * *
Begin with a brief time of silence, quieting yourself in the presence of God. Then read Psalm 131 aloud several times, with a few moments of silence between each reading.
O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore.
For Personal Reflection (45-60 minutes)
What things occupy (or preoccupy) your thoughts? What lofty things do you need to offer to God in order to be calmed and quieted?
Consider the imagery of the “weaned child.” What is the difference between a nursing child and a weaned child (for Hebrew children, typically 3-4 years old)? What is a weaned child seeking from her mother? How does this image speak to you about God’s invitations to your soul?
Describe the peace or fretfulness in your own soul by choosing an image to complete this thought: My soul is like a [fill in the blank] within me.
Imagine yourself as a small child, seated on the lap of God. Feel the warmth of God’s embrace; hear the whisper of God’s voice quieting any turbulence within you; listen to an assurance of God’s love and presence. What is your response?
Spend some time quieting and calming your soul, resting in silent communion with the One who loves you and who is committed to your well-being.
For Group Reflection (45-60 minutes)
What most stood out for you in the time of personal reflection?
How can the group pray for you?
Conclude by inserting your own names into the call to hope: “O [name], hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.” Pray for your fellow travelers to hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.
Meditation on Romans 8:31-39
Confidence in the Love of God
(Also on page 148.)
* * *
Quiet yourself in the presence of God. Invite the Holy Spirit to bring God’s Word to life. Then read the text from Romans 8:31-39 aloud a few times.
What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
For Personal Reflection (45-60 minutes)
What then are we to say about these things? Ponder the height and depth, length and breadth of the love of God revealed to you in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. What do you want to say to God about these things? Offer words of praise, thanks, confusion, doubt, or longing to God in prayer.
If God is for us, who is against us? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? Who is to condemn? Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Name to God the people who have caused you to doubt the love of God: the ones who have opposed you, brought charges against you, condemned you, rejected you, or made it difficult for you to approach God with confidence in his love. Ask the Spirit to bring these people to mind. Is there anyone you need to forgive?
It is God who justifies. It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Is there anything you need to seek forgiveness for? Anything you need to forgive yourself for? For each charge levied against you, declare, “It is God who justifies.”
He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Name to God the times or circumstances when it seemed that God was withholding good from you. What has caused you to doubt God’s trustworthiness and generosity? Is there any disappointment or resentment you need to express honestly to God?
Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Name to God the times of hardship, suffering, distress, scarcity, or danger that have caused you to doubt the love of God, to feel separated from the love of God. Is there anything you need to grieve to God?
Offer your litany of personal experiences to God in prayer: For I am convinced that neither [this person] nor [that person], neither [this experience of lack] nor [this experience of suffering or sorrow]—nothing will be able to separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Then answer the question again: What then shall I say about these things?
For Group Reflection (45-60 minutes)
What most stood out for you in the time of personal reflection?
How can the group pray for you?
Meditation on Psalm 90:12
Memento Mori, Remember Your Death
* * *
Quiet yourself in the presence of God. Then read Psalm 90:12 aloud several times, with silence between each reading.
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
For Personal Reflection (45-60 minutes)
Imagine you have been given only a few weeks to live. How would you live your remaining days?
Write an honest eulogy for yourself. What sort of person have you become? What do you want to be said about you when you die?
What changes can you make with the Spirit’s help? Where is Jesus inviting you to die to yourself in order to live in him?
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). What does it mean for you to live by faith in the One who has loved you and given himself for you?
Offer your thoughts and feelings to God in prayer.
For Group Reflection (45-60 minutes)
Share some honest reflections about what you noticed as you prayed. How can the group encourage and support you as you seek to number your days?
Take turns praying for one another, including prayers of thanksgiving for the work of God you already glimpse in one another’s lives. Take this opportunity also to speak good words of praise (eulogies) to one another.
Meditation on Mark 15:1-5
Keeping Company with Jesus in Silence
* * *
Quiet yourself in the presence of God. Then read Mark 15:1-5 slowly, several times.
As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “You say so.” Then the chief priests accused him of many things. Pilate asked him again, “Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.” But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.
For Personal Reflection (45-60 minutes)
What do you notice about Jesus? Is there anything that amazes you? Offer your pondering to God in prayer.
Think of a time when you were falsely accused (or imagine a time of being falsely accused). How did/would you respond? Offer the memories (or imagining) to God in prayer.
What thoughts and feelings emerge as you imagine keeping silent in the face of accusations? Offer these to God in prayer.
What does it mean for you to keep company with Jesus in this place?
Wha
t would you need to receive from Jesus in order to let your reputation die? Ask him for what you need.
For Group Reflection (45-60 minutes)
Share your memory/imagining as well as your response to the situation with the group.
How can the group pray for you?
Meditation on John 13:1-15, 21
Loving to the End
(Also on page 323.)
* * *
Quiet yourself in the presence of God. Then read the text aloud and imagine you are there in the upper room with Jesus and the disciples on the night before he is crucified. Use all of your senses to enter the story.
Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”