Out of the Depths

10/17/2019

Step #1: Lectio / Read

Click 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.

Psalm 130:1B-2, 3-4, 5-6AB

Step #2: Meditatio / Meditate

Use the following meditation to help you reflect more deeply on the Scripture (you may want to read the passage again).

Today’s Responsorial Psalm is such a beautiful prayer. Even though it is thousands of years old, it is still so relevant today. We all call out to God from the mess of our daily lives and He hears us. We all sin, but in God is all mercy. He is merciful to us and we trust that He hears and answers our prayers, leading us to Heaven with Him.

“Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.” I love this as an opening to our prayer. I feel like I’m always cryin gout to God from the craziness, stressfulness, or business of my life. We all have our daily struggles that we need God’s for help with. Some days there a lot of things to worry about, or just a lot to do, and we need His grace. With all the things around us, we also struggle with sin. From the depths of our business, stresses, and sins, God still hears us and helps us. When you open your heart to Him, He is attentive to your voice, no matter what is going on in your life. No matter how low we feel or deep in our own troubles, God is there for you, listening to your prayer with mercy.

In God is all mercy and redemption. He is not like Santa with a naughty and nice list. Yes, He knows that we sin, what we did and why we did it, but He forgives. God is not bitter like we can be, He does not hold grudges against us like we so easily do. I know it can be so easy to see someone, like a friend, family member, or coworker, as less than myself because they seem to be the greater sinner. Well, God doesn’t work that way. He looks at us with love and mercy and desires to give us fulness of redemption, everlasting love and joy.

Until we see God face-to-face in Heaven, we hope and trust in Him. We all know that we can’t see or hear Him on earth like we can another person, so we trust in Him. This is something that I always need to work on in my own prayer life. I know God hears me, but I sometimes struggle to trust that God will answer in the way that I need Him to. But time and time again He comes through with the grace I need for any situation, even if the result isn’t what I expected. So, when we pray from the depths of our hearts in our daily struggles and sins, we ask God for help and mercy and He gives it to us. Today, open the depths of your heart to God, seek His mercy, and trust that He hears and will answer your prayers.

Step #3: Oratio / Pray

These 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.

What are the challenges that you are facing in your life? What "depths" are you crying out to God from?

Are you holding any grudges against someone? What mercy do you need to receive from God to in turn show that mercy to those who you are struggling to forgive?

What situation or prayer are you struggling to trust that God will answer and give you the help you need? How will the words of today's Psalm help you grow in trust and hope?

Step #4: Contemplatio / Contemplate

In 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.

"I trust you."

"Have mercy on me."

"You are my hope."

Step #5: Actio / Act

In 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 the Lord bear fruit in you today?

Today, call out to God with boldness. Really open your heart to Him and ask or His mercy and help. Don't hold back what you really want to say out of fear or doubt, but go to your Father who wants to give you all love and peace. Give your heart to God and trust that He is with you.

Smartphone Lock Screen

The 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 Mary Griffin, a Vagabond Missionary in Greenville, NC.

If you have anything you'd like our team to pray for, please go to the page of our website called "Prayers" and let us know how we can pray for you today.

CARPE VERBUM