Promises

​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 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

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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).

​I can spend days reading the psalms and then months forgetting them entirely. They are such a beautiful collection of prayers for any time or season of our lives. There are happy psalms and sad psalms, psalms for telling God how great He is and psalms for sharing our frustration with the Lord. Today's psalm reminds me of what my attitude toward the Lord should be.

The psalmist writes:

Keep my life, for I am devoted to you;
save your servant who trusts in you. 
You are my God.
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Someone who is devoted and trusting. These two qualities are so difficult to have continuously. To be devoted to someone means that we are there in the good times and bad, sickness and health, richer and poorer. Sounds a little like marriage vows, right?

Well, our relationship with God is a lot like marriage. Really, it would be truer to say that marriage is a lot like our relationship with God. We begin our relationship with God at our Baptism. Someone makes promises and vows for us (they're called our godparents) and we are united with God in the most intimate way. We become His son or daughter, never to be parted. 

He wants us to be devoted to Him in the most intimate ways for the remaining days of our life in order to live with Him for eternity after our death.

The psalmist writes that He "keeps our life" for we are devoted to Him. He is keeping us safe and we remain as such as long as we remain devoted to Him no matter the circumstances of our days, whether they be good or bad or otherwise. 

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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.

How is your relationship with God? How well do you know Him? 

What promises do you make the Lord? What do you desire to give to the Lord?

​What type of relationship with Him is God calling you too?

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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.

"Keeps our life." 

"I promise you Lord."

​"I love you Lord."

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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?

Spend some time in prayer and write out a list of promises you want to make to the Lord. Put them somewhere where you can see them and repeat them every day.

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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 ​Katie Herzing, a former youth minister turned parish evanglization consultant living in North Carolina. 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.