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). Do you have a social life? Is your social life really important to you? How hard do you work on your social life? Personally I would work so hard to keep up with all the likes and the retweets. It would take me at least 10 tries to get that perfect insta, and I would have so much anxiety about all the captions because you know they just HAD to be perfect. I made sure to stay on top of everything that was ‘in’ and out of everything that was ‘so last year.’ Having as many people to call you their friend and to think you were cool was my top priority, and I put SO much effort into that. I began to notice that I had suddenly become obsessed with this idea of people noticing me and liking me. I got so caught up in this aspect of my life that I forgot all about my spiritual life, and it started to take its toll on me. Instead of taking care of my soul and growing closer to the Lord, I was drifting away. In today’s first reading, we read, “Whoever possesses the Son has life; whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life.” If this is true that those who possess Jesus have life rather than those who do not, then why are we putting so much effort into the social aspects of our lives and not as much effort within our spiritual life? It’s so easy to get caught up in the social parts of our life that we forget about God. The addiction and obsession with social media can easily possess us. All of this has me thinking, why do I spend so much time maintaining my social life instead of nourishing my spiritual life like Jesus is really calling me to? I find myself putting the world before God but I really need to be putting God before the world. We should be on fire for God and possess Him in our everyday lives, but instead we are caught up in the social media world. Without Him, we have no eternal life. I challenge you all to make a better effort in your spiritual lives by thinking twice about what you post or what you send to others. Is it going to bring you and others closer to the Lord or is it going to pull you further away? 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. How much effort do you put into your social life? Comparatively, how much effort do you put into your spiritual life? Do you find yourself getting caught up in social media? Is it bringing you closer to the Lord or pulling you further away? How can you use your time to better nourish your spiritual life? 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. "You give life." "You are love." "You are true." 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 the Lord bear fruit in you today? Take a break from social media or social preoccupations today, and nourish your soul by spending some extra time with the Lord. 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 Jessie Miller. 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.
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