For the month of January, we are practicing what it means to be a Spirit-empowered community in our approach to scripture. Each week, we are discerning a text together through the spiritual practice of Lectio Divina to discover more about Jesus and his way. (Learn more about this spiritual practice here.)
Please read through this week's passage of Scripture using the following questions to guide you:
1) What images/words stand out as you hear the Psalm?
2) What do you think the Psalm means?
3) Where do you see Jesus and His Kingdom revealed in this Psalm?
4) What is the Psalm inviting us to do or put into practice as individuals and/or as a community?
After prayerfully engaging with the text, either as a group or individual, please share your insights, questions, visions, or convictions with us! We want to know what you are hearing so that we can get a fuller picture of what Jesus is saying to our community.
Psalm 84 NIV
How lovely is your dwelling place,
Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.
Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.
Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;
listen to me, God of Jacob.
Look on our shield, O God;
look with favor on your anointed one.
Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
Lord Almighty,
blessed is the one who trusts in you.
Share with us how this Psalm is speaking to you!
Written Reflection - Reflect on and answer one or all of the four questions above.
Questions - What questions arise for you about the text or what it means?
Creative Expression - Respond to what the Psalm is speaking to you in song, poetry, sculpture, painting, photography or any other creative expression.
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Or email info@spaconline.com or text us at 587-205-5852.