Peculiarly

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. 

Deuteronomy 26:16-19

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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).

Do you ever read something and hear a specific word and immediately fixate on that word? That happened to me just now as I was praying with Deuteronomy, and it happened on the word peculiarly. In this passage, we're told that the Lord is making a covenant with us, his people, and that we will peculiarly his own. 

As we're 10 days into Lent, that's a really encouraging word to me. Lent is an amazing, beautiful, and blessed season. It's also hard! And in the midst of entering into a challenging time in order to allow my heart to be more properly conformed to the heart of Jesus, it's encouraging to hear God speak this sort of blessing over each of our lives in the Old Testament.

Belong to Jesus, being God the Father's children, living a life in the Holy Spirit: this threefold adoption of us as sons and daughters of God is really what the whole thing is about. In the midst of our sin, as Scripture tells, God loved us and chose us and died for us so that we don't have to live in our sin anymore but we can have freedom in his victory over sin and death! And what comes from that victory? We belong to the Lord, and we belong to him in a way that is peculiar, a way that is completely unique, totally special, and beyond anything we could ever imagine. 

As we keep moving through this Lenten season, let's be the Lord's. Not in a superficial way or a small way; no, let's belong to him in a way that is peculiar. Our life as followers of Jesus Christ ought to be unique and special. God has promised us since way back in Deuteronomy a relationship of trust that peculiar, and all we have to do is respond to his constant calling of each one of us to come and follow him.

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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 does it mean to you to belong to the Lord in a peculiar way?

How are you doing with your Lenten promises so far? Have you taken up acts of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving? If not, or if you've fallen, it's not too late! Use the time today to commit to what you'll (or re-commit) for the rest of this Lenten season. 

​How can you live your life in the confidence of knowing you belong to him, completely and fully?

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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 am yours."

"I belong to you."

​"I trust in you."

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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?

Take time throughout the day to pause – even just for a few seconds – and be quiet and invite God to speak to you about how much he loves you. Let him speak over you a word or phrase – like he did to me today with "peculiarly" – and write that word down as how God wants to show you his love today!

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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.

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Today's prayer was prepared by Jason Theobald, Executive Director of Carpe Verbum.

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.