Respite Week One:
Removing Idols
No other gods, only Me!
Exodus 20:3 (Msg)
This Week:
Day One - Idol Evaluation {This day may require a little extra time.}
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Day Two - Idol Removal
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Day Three – Visio Oasis – Emotional Health
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Day Four – Lectio Oasis – Mental Health
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Day Five – Musica Oasis – Spiritual Health
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Day Six – Poetica Oasis – Physical Health
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Day Seven – Immanuel Conversation - Heart Health
Hello, Lovely.
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Imagine waking each morning feeling unburdened and light, your soul at peace and ready for the day ahead. It is so great to be with you on this journey to find respite for your soul.
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Step into these 21 days with faith, trusting that God’s love brings true healing and restoration. Each day, dedicate time for prayer, reflection, and listening to His voice. Be gentle with yourself—growth takes time. Use your journal to capture your journey and encourage one another with words of hope and support. If you feel stuck on a particular day, continue with the same step, allowing God to speak through persistent silence. Remember, there is no set timeline; go at your own pace. Embrace the process and allow yourself grace as you grow.
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Before we begin day one, take a look at each of the meditation steps (listed at the end of this page) to familiarize yourself with the divina process. This is merely a suggestion; please make each meditation your own.
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During the day, embrace stillness and listen for His gentle, guiding voice. Carve out time for quiet reflection.
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​As you walk this path, may your spirit be strengthened, your heart renewed, and your hope restored. May God surround you with peace, guide you with wisdom, and bless you with lasting healing.
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Let's pray.
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Dear Father,
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Please grant each woman who is ready to embark on her twenty-one-day respite with You the wisdom to comprehend her life’s choices and decisions. Help her understand how to seek Your guidance as she confronts the idols in her life, the places where fear has been allowed to reside, and how to embrace true stillness. I trust in Your goodness to lead her day by day. I pray for protection around the time she spends with You. Guide her with Your creative wisdom.
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In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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ingrid
Week One: Removing IDOLS
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Idols can be small and comforting. You might have an idol that emerges from relaxation, only to quickly become your go-to source of comfort at the end of each day. Though they may seem innocent, our idols often have deep roots, and the longer we indulge them, the more effort it takes to remove them. The larger idols we treat as our best friends can make it hard to imagine life without them. Over time, we may fail to recognize the tight grip they have on our lives, but God sees very clearly.
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​As you begin this week, step forward with faith, trusting that God’s love will lead you to lasting freedom. Open your heart as you examine the idols in your life, and invite God to gently reveal and remove anything that stands between you and His perfect peace. Know that you are not alone—He is with you every step of the way.
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As a symbol of release and reception, consider physically opening your hands or taking a deep breath. This simple gesture can help bridge this prayer from words to lived experience, inviting God’s presence to occupy your heart.
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Dear Father,
Guide and direct me this week where you would like for me to follow. Give me grace to begin this journey with a heart receptive to all you have for me. I embrace the healing and freedom that awaits. I am grateful for ________________________.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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Day One: Idol Evaluation
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What is an idol? An idol is anything that becomes more important than God in our lives—this includes anything.
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Sometimes our idols are not inherently bad but have, consciously or unconsciously, taken precedence over God. God desires His rightful place in our lives. He wants His position in our lives to be first.
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Idol Evaluation Checklist
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- Consider what occupies your thoughts and influences your choices. Is there anything that takes priority over your relationship with God?
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- Notice your reactions. Do you feel extremely upset when things don't go your way? You might be too attached to something other than God.
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- Do you have a relationship, habit, or activity that pulls you away from God?
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- Is God revealing any hidden truths to you in scripture about areas where idols maybe dwelling?
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- Are you holding onto anything that you’re ashamed of, fearful that someone might discover it? Be honest! God already knows.
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Idolatry isn’t limited to physical things. Reevaluate anything that takes precedence over God, such as emotions or relationships.
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Prayer
​Dear Father,
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I am steadfast in my commitment to give my whole heart and life to You. Please help me break free from all other things before You. I renounce the bonds of idolatry that have had control over my life and ask for freedom from sin through Your saving power. Thank You, Father, for the precious blood of Jesus that cleanses me. I am comforted by Your overwhelming love.
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In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Scripture
Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love Him with all that’s in you, love Him with all you’ve got! Deuteronomy 6:5 (MSG)
Reflection
Evaluate the idols in your life, repent, and ask God how you can begin to break free from their influence. Reflect on your identity and consider what changes need to be made.
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Day Two: Idol Removal
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To identify and release the idols in our lives, let’s look at the following steps.
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Assess.
Self-assessment is essential. Ask yourself: What am I dedicating my time, treasures, and passion to? Is there anything I cannot say "no" to?
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Acknowledge.
Identify what constitutes an idol in your life. Seek God's wisdom to discern these distractions honestly. If activities like video games or sports take priority over prayer and studying God's Word, they may be idols that need to be removed.
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Annihilate.
Eliminate idols, whether habits or obsessions.
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Affirm.
After clearing out idols, recommit your life to God, ensuring your body serves as a temple for the Holy Spirit. Affirm the release of the control idols hold over your life.
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Prayer
​Dear Father,
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I ask You to search my heart and understand my innermost thoughts. Reveal and give me the strength to remove any idols in my life, and guide me toward the path of everlasting life. I long to be liberated from all that has taken root in my heart before Your presence.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Scripture
So now: Fear God. Worship Him in total commitment. Get rid of the gods. You, worship God.
Joshua 24:14 (MSG-Emphasized)
Reflection
Go prayerfully through the four steps to begin the process of removing your idols. You may wish to only focus on one part then come back to the other parts at another time.
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Day Three: Visio Divina Emotional Health
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Emotional health involves recognizing and understanding your feelings, responding appropriately, and aligning them with biblical teachings. Emotional unhealthiness arises from our difficulty in recognizing or understanding our emotions, managing complex emotions, or allowing emotions to dominate.
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Our emotions can be influenced by trauma, abuse, addiction, and other challenges. Healing requires addressing those emotional wounds and seeking God’s guidance. We all have idols in our lives: our bodies, health, money, power, careers, relationships, entertainment, devices, etc. Emotionally, we can get entangled with them. Removing them takes time, especially if they’ve been with us for a while, and it can be a painful process. However, with God's intervention and an openness and willingness to go through the process, freedom and wholeness await.
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Visio Divina (Scroll down to view the Visio Divina process located at the end of this page, or click HERE to be redirected to the Visio Divina process.)
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Prayer
​Dear Father,
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Will You come with Your light, and Your love, and illuminate and uncover whatever, or whoever, has become an idol in my life. I want You to be the one I look to and go to first to meet my needs and longings for comfort, assurance, security, safety, and validation. I know this may take time. I am willing. I need Your Help to dismantle those things in my life that I have wrongfully, and most likely unknowingly, placed in a position before You.
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In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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Scripture
But the Lord God has become my divine helper. He leans into my heart and lays His hands upon me! Psalm 54:4 (TPT)
Reflection
What can’t I live without?
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Day Four: Lectio Divina Mental Health
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Mental wholeness is rooted in the Hebrew word “Shalom,” which embodies peace, wholeness, wellness, and well-being of the mind. Internally and externally, we were created to experience peace and well-being. To experience wholeness, we must allow our entire being to receive the author of our Shalom, Jesus, the one and only Prince of Peace. He has the power to bring wholeness to the deepest corners of our minds, which will then overflow into all other aspects of our lives and relationships.
Mental wholeness is a state of achieving lasting well-being, resilience, peace, and happiness through the continuous intentional practice of mind management (Dr. Caroline Leaf).
It’s not a fixed destination but an ongoing journey. We were designed from the very beginning of the biblical story to live in a state of harmony with God’s design for our lives. Internally, we were created to experience peace or well-being. Externally, we were created to experience peace or well-being. And peace is the essence of human flourishing. (Wesley Towne)
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Lectio Divina (Scroll down to view the Lectio Divina process located at the end of this page, or click HERE to be redirected to the Lectio Divina process.)
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​Philippians 4:6-9 (AMP)
Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].
Prayer
​Dear Father,
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Help me to recognize that fulfilling my deepest desires apart from You can lead me away from true joy and fulfillment. May I seek You above all else, letting Your grace and love mold my heart. Guard me from the temptations of idols and guide me to find my happiness and peace in You alone. Thank You for Your blessings and for reminding me that true satisfaction comes from a relationship with You.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Reflection
How do you feel about your mental and emotional health as it relates to possible idols in your life?
Day Five: Musica Divina - Spiritual Health
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Physical illness weakens the body, while spiritual illness weakens the soul. Self-diagnose your spiritual illness by asking these questions:
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Has the power of God lost its effect on you? Are you giving power to other things in your life?
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Do you have a diminished interest in praying, reading the Bible, or worshipping God?
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Are you isolating from a community that keeps you accountable?
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Do you find it easy to compromise or rationalize sin?
Idols can undermine our spiritual alertness, causing us to become dull to the things of the spirit. God desires a strong, vibrant relationship with us, free from distractions that pull us away from His truth and purpose. Stay vigilant and nurture your spirit, allowing God to guide you towards a deeper understanding and connection.
Musica Divina (Scroll down to view the Musica Divina process located at the end of this page, or click HERE to be redirected to the Musica Divina process.)
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Better by Pat Barrett
Listen to this song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgpvCVkrV6M
​(Lyrics located at the end of this page.)
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Prayer
Dear Father,
I’m filled with gratitude for your love and grace. You’re my source of joy and fulfillment. Your love is more precious than life itself, a well that never runs dry. I’ve tasted and seen your goodness, and I know you’re greater than all these worldly things. Even the mightiest power can’t compare to Your greatness. In your eyes, I hold great value, and while earthly approval is fleeting, Your acceptance and love shine brighter. Help me to continually recognize that You’re better than everything I foolishly turn into idols. May Your love fill my heart and guide my thoughts, reminding me that Your goodness exceeds my expectations. Thank you for loving me unconditionally.
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In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Scripture
No other gods, only Me. Exodus 20:3 (MSG)
Reflection
Ask God to provide you with an accurate picture of your mental health in relation to any idols in your life. Then, absorb what He is revealing to you and seek His assistance in addressing any challenges you may encounter. Finally, proclaim, “I possess a sound mind."​
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Day Six: Poetica Divina - Physical Health
Physical health refers to the overall state of your body – from how well your organs are functioning to how strong and flexible your muscles are. It includes aspects such as nutrition, exercise, sleep, hygiene, and disease prevention. Essentially, physical health encompasses all the choices you make that affect your body’s ability to function optimally. (Nderitu Munuhe) Oftentimes, we do not think about how the choices we make negatively affect our bodies in ways that cause our physical health to deteriorate. Whether we are focused on working excessively to feed our shopping addiction or making unhealthy decisions in relationships, causing us harm mentally and emotionally, everything impacts us physically.
Poetica Divina (Scroll down to view the Poetica Divina process located at the end of this page, or click HERE to be redirected to the Poetica Divina process.)
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Take Away My Idols by Deborah Ann Belka
Lord, take away my idols,
Carved deep within my soul.
The ones made out of greed,
That make me lose control.
The ones that fill my heart,
That take me away from You.
Idols in my daily life,
That keep me from what is true.
Idols of my dreams,
That haunt my waking hours.
Idols of my faith,
That take away Your power.
The ones others put before me,
The ones I chose to follow.
Idols of my mind and thoughts,
That leave me void and hollow.
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Idols of this day and age,
That creep into my path.
Idols of my deepest thoughts,
So as to keep me from Your wrath.
Idols that I hide,
In the closets of my life.
Idols from my past that bring me,
Nothing but grief and strife.
The ones I use to adorn,
The outer part of me.
The ones that keep me from,
Getting down on bended knee.
Lord, take away my idols,
I leave them at Your door.
For You are the only One,
​I need to worship and adore.
Prayer
​Dear Father,
I give You the idols that have occupied my heart so that You can take Your rightful place. Forgive me for placing things above You and for depending on them instead. Heal me with the blood of Jesus and restore me back to You. Thank you for Your loving kindness towards me.
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In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Scripture
​Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. 1 John 5:21 (NIV)
Reflection
Tim Keller defines an idol as anything more fundamental than God to your happiness, meaning in life or identity. Idols keep us from what is true, causing grief and oftentimes physical decline. The good news is that we have a loving Father who is waiting for us to come to Him. Take another step in identifying the idols in your life.
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Day Seven: Immanuel Conversation
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Immanuel Conversation is a practice for deepening your relationship with God by pausing to reflect and listen for His gentle voice. This dialogue with Immanuel (“God with us”) encourages honest self-exploration and spiritual connection.
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Follow these steps to open your heart to God’s voice:
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Pause and Breathe: Take several deep breaths to create calm and clarity.
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Express Gratitude: Share your thanks with God and invite His response.
Dear God, I am thankful for...
My beloved child, {pause and listen for God’s gentle reply}
Create a quiet space to listen to God.
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I see you. {Reflect on what God observes in your feelings and sensations.}
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I can hear you. {Notice the thoughts and feelings God hears within you.}
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You are valued and understood. {Acknowledge God’s care and imagine His comforting words.}
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I delight in you. {Consider the kindness and compassion God shares.}
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I can help you. {Ponder how God may support you now.}
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Review what you wrote. Pause and be still.
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​Close with a brief prayer of gratitude.
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Share your experience with someone you trust.
Musica Divina Lyrics
Better by Pat Barrett
All the money that the world could hold
Mountains made of solid gold
Riches that could buy my dreams
You are better than all these things
The prettiest face to turn their eyes
Beauty that could hypnotize
The open doors that looks may bring
You are better than all these things
Your love is better than life
You are the well that won't run dry
I have tasted and I have seen
Oh, You are better than all these things
Power that could shake the moon
Status matched by only kings
You are better than all these things
Your love is better than life
You are the well that won't run dry
I have tasted and I have seen
You are better than all these things
Oh, Your love is better than life
You are the well that won't run dry
I have tasted and I have seen
You are better than all these things
Being liked and loved by everyone
Approval that outshines the sun
Cheered by all who think of me
You are better than all these things
You are better than all these things
You are better, oh, You're better
I have tasted and I have seen
You are better than all these things
Oh, Your love is better than life
You are the well that never runs dry
I have tasted and I have seen
You are better than all these things
You are better than all these things
Oh, I know You are better than all these things
I know You are better than all these things
I know You are better than all these things
You are better than I can imagine
Better than I can imagine, over, above what I seek
Better than I can imagine, Your love for me
Better than I can imagine, over, above what I seek in life
You are better than all these things
Woah, I know You are better than all these things
Woah, I know You are better than all these things
Better than I can imagine
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What is Visio Divina Meditation?
Visio Divina is a spiritual practice of prayerfully contemplating images—such as photographs, icons, or artwork—to connect with God. This "divine seeing" invites a unique encounter with the Father. It can be practiced alone or in groups, using art as the focus for prayer. Pairing the image with scripture deepens meditation on the biblical text.
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Explore these steps:
View your image.
Focus on the part of the image that first draws your attention. Observe it quietly for about a minute, breathing deeply.
Then, view the whole image, noticing every detail for about a minute.
Reflect on what emotions or thoughts the image evokes.
​​End with a silent prayer and a moment of gratitude.
What is Lectio Divina Meditation?
Lectio Divina, or “Soaking in Scripture,” is a prayerful way to engage deeply with God’s Word and listen for His voice. ​Begin by reading a scripture passage, reflecting on its meaning, responding to God in prayer, and then resting in His presence. Reading is like taking in food; meditation digests it, prayer draws out its essence, and contemplation is the enjoyment that refreshes.
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​Explore these steps:
Read. Slowly read a short Bible passage several times, seeking God’s personal message to you.
Reflect. Meditate on words or phrases that stand out, listening for God’s voice.
Respond. Let your reflection move you to respond to God in prayer. Listen and reply as in a conversation.
Rest. Be still and rest in God’s presence, letting go of distractions and allowing His love to surround you.
​​End with a silent prayer and a moment of gratitude.
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What is Musica Divina Meditation?
Musica Divina (sacred listening), like Lectio Divina and Visio Divina, is a prayerful way to attune your heart to God. Music transcends language, evokes memories, stirs emotions, and connects us in shared experience.
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"Music is the space between notes." French composer Claude Debussy
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In a world filled with noise, music offers a sacred space for stillness and connection with God. Through Musica Divina, allow music and lyrics to open your spirit to God’s presence—perhaps even inspiring you, like David, to create your own worship.
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Explore these steps:
Find a quiet space and sit comfortably. Breathe deeply, letting each exhale quiet your mind. As you settle, invite the Lord to speak to your heart.
Hear. Listen attentively to the music and lyrics. Let the sound wash over you, noticing how it moves your spirit.
Pause.
Listen again, attuned not only to the music but also to any gentle promptings or words God places on your heart.
End with a silent prayer and a moment of gratitude.
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What is Poetica Divina Meditation?
Poetica Divina is a contemplative practice like Lectio Divina, but centers on sacred poetry instead of scripture. Poetic prayer enables deep reflection, connecting you with God through “stenagmois”—groans or sighs too deep for words (Romans 8:26-28). The Holy Spirit helps us express our deepest feelings to the Father.
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​Whether reading or writing poetry, focus on expressing your heart in prayer, not perfection. God meets you in your deepest groanings and leads you to freedom. Poetry expresses depth with few words, inviting you to read between the lines and contemplate its deeper meaning.
​Explore these steps:
​Choose a poem that resonates with you (such as a Psalm).
Remove distractions. Find a comfortable position. Soften your gaze and take deep breaths to settle in God's presence.
Read the poem slowly, letting the words wash over you without overanalyzing.
​Pause and sit in stillness, allowing your heart to absorb what you read.
​Reflect. Reread the poem aloud and notice how the words connect with you emotionally.
​Embrace. Read a third time, asking God to highlight what He wants you to notice. Use your insights to form a prayer of response, noticing any images or scripture that come to mind. If you feel stuck, ask the Holy Spirit for guidance.
​End with a silent prayer and a moment of gratitude.
Next week we tackle Relasing Fear.