Step #1: Lectio / ReadClick the link below or open your Bible to the passage and read through the reading at least once, paying attention to what is happening in the text. Step #2: Meditatio / MeditateUse the following meditation to help you reflect more deeply on the Scripture (you may want to read the passage again). Psalm 40 is one of my favorite psalms. Despite being one of my favorites, it can be one of the hardest to follow. How difficult is it to honestly say, "Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will!" when we don't even know what His will contains for us? We wait for a quiet whisper from the Lord to direct us to where we are supposed to be. In the midst of my post-college job searching, I desperately want a job to fall down in my lap and chalk it up to Divine Providence, but the Lord tells me in this that I must be willing to do the work that His will contains. The Lord wants our ears to be open to obedience more than anything. You might ask how you could you do that without knowing what exactly to do? It means following the steps laid out in your everyday life. It means showing up to class and trying your best. It means opening up your planner and following what you have to do for the day. You have obligations in your life for a reason; the Lord wants you to follow them to the best of your ability! If we are trying our best to follow the Lord's will, peace will follow. It means letting go of what is coming and focusing on today. Let us get to the point where our wills are so entirely aligned with God's that we can say His will is our delight. The Psalms are a really good way of lifting up our voices in prayer to God; there is practically one relating to every human emotion possible. Find one to pray with today and see what happens! Step #3: Oratio / PrayThese questions are to be used to talk to God; have a conversation with the Lord about these questions and what is going on in your heart as you pray today. Do you find it difficult to pray "Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will!"? How open are you to obeying the Lord's will and what he is asking of you? How can you follow the Lord's will today? What steps has He laid out for you in your everyday life? What are some things or worries in your life right now that you need to let go of in order to better focus on what the Lord is asking you to do today? Step #4: Contemplatio / ContemplateIn this step, you listen. Stop talking, let God speak to your heart. You may repeat one of these short phrases to focus your mind on the Lord. "Here am I, Lord." "I come to do your will." "Thy will be done." Step #5: Actio / ActIn light of today's reading and your time spent in prayer with the Lord, what concrete action or actions will you take to let this encounter with Lord bear fruit in you today? Look through the Book of Psalms today and find one in particular that speaks to you and relates to how you are feeling today. Smartphone Lock ScreenThe following image is here for you to save and use as a background or lock screen on your smartphone or device to help you carry today's Lectio Divina with you the rest of the day.  Today's prayer was prepared by Sarah Lundgren, a student at the University of Dayton studying Religious Studies.
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