Begin by listening to the guided contemplative prayer
and move into the scripture reading and exercises below.
Follow these guides as you read the passage several times:
1st time through: Slowly and prayerfully read the passage. Simply open yourself up to God and let the words of scripture sink in.
2nd time through: Prayerfully read through the passage looking for a word or phrase that feels highlighted to you by the Holy Spirit. If nothing is illuminated, simply choose a word or phrase you find meaningful. Meditate on that word or phrase, allowing some space before moving to the next step. Reflect on why that word or phrase may have been highlighted to you.
3rd time through: Prayerfully engage with what God might be trying to say or might be wanting to give to you in this time. How might God be inviting you to respond? What might God be inviting you into?
4th time through: Rest in the love that God has for you. Practice being and feeling God’s love towards you, Gods presence with you.
Genesis 17:1-8 CEB
17 When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am El Shaddai.[a] Walk with me and be trustworthy. 2 I will make a covenant between us and I will give you many, many descendants.” 3 Abram fell on his face, and God said to him, 4 “But me, my covenant is with you; you will be the ancestor of many nations. 5 And because I have made you the ancestor of many nations, your name will no longer be Abram[b] but Abraham.[c] 6 I will make you very fertile. I will produce nations from you, and kings will come from you. 7 I will set up my covenant with you and your descendants after you in every generation as an enduring covenant. I will be your God and your descendants’ God after you. 8 I will give you and your descendants the land in which you are immigrants, the whole land of Canaan, as an enduring possession. And I will be their God.”
Turn your attention now to the painting.
What do you notice about the painting? Glance over every part.
Prayerfully move your eyes around the art piece looking for a portion that is highlighted to you. If the Spirit does not illuminate a portion for you to meditate on, don’t worry, simply choose a piece you find interesting. Look deeply at the portion you have chosen and take in all the details you can. Reflect on why that portion of the art piece might have been highlighted to you.
Engage by asking God to draw connections for you. How is the portion of the art piece you have been meditating on connected to your present reality? How is it connected to the scripture you just read? What might God be inviting you into?
