Lectio Divina: Cleansed by God's Touch

What might your body, mind, or spirit need today? Open yourself up to God's presence wherever you need it while we practice Lectio Divina and welcome the healing and cleansing touch of your Creator.  

For more on this theme, see pages 62 & 63 of With God in Every Breath. 

Transcript

Welcome to Exploring Peace Meditations

Speaker 1 0:01

Hi, I'm Whitney and you're listening to Exploring Peace Meditations. It is truly an honor to hold space for us to listen and be with God together. As you're settling in and finding a spot in which you can not be disturbed for the next few moments, I'd love to remind you or tell you about, if you're new here, our community, the people that make this podcast possible. Come together at ExploringPeacecom slash community. You can find me and my books at WhitneyRSimpsoncom. So take a moment to notice your breath. If you're in a safe space in which you can soften your eyes, take a moment to close them and simply notice. Notice the temperature of the room or the space you're in. Notice your heart. Is it beating quickly or slowly? Notice your body. How does it feel today? What might it need? And we'll practice Lectio Divina together today, using Luke, chapter 5, an invitation to a changed life. I'm going to read a portion of the meditation from pages 62 and 63 in my book With God in Every Breath, cleansed by God's touch. Listen to the passage and allow yourself to be cleansed by God today. Whatever might need that healing touch, that cleansing that only God can offer, that wiping the slate clean. Check in with yourself. Is it, your heart, your mind, your spirit, your physical body that needs God's touch today. And then listen to these words, just listen. One day, in one of the villages, there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him in prayer and said If you want to, you can cleanse me. Jesus put out his hand, touched him and said I want to be clean. Then, and there, his skin was smooth, the leprosy was gone. Now listen again and reflect. Is there a word, a phrase or even imagery that comes to your mind from this passage, that draws your attention? What do you hear, see or sense today? What stands out to you as you hear these words? One day, in one of the villages, there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him in prayer and said If you want to, you can cleanse me. Jesus put out his hand, touched him and said I want to be clean. Then, and there, his skin was smooth, the leprosy was gone. In the quiet, reflect on what you notice in this passage today. Now listen again and respond. Respond to God in the quiet about what you are hearing and how this speaks to your own life, your own healing your own longing, your own body, your own spirit. One day in one of the villages, there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him in prayer and said If you want to, you can cleanse me. Jesus put out his hand, touched him and said I want to be clean. Then and there, his skin was smooth, the leprosy was gone. In the quiet, respond to God. Tell God what you sense in your own life as you hear these words today. Respond to God in the quiet. Listen one last time and rest in whatever you're noticing. Rest in the imagery, rest in the words, rest in the quiet place with God. After I read the passage, I'll prompt you with a few additional questions and then we'll close in prayer. One day in one of the villages, there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him in prayer and said If you want to, you can cleanse me. Can cleanse me". Jesus put out his hand, touched him and said Are you open to being cleansed by God today? In what way do you need God's healing touch? What part of you could God cleansing and healing touch? Physically, emotionally or spiritually? Physically, emotionally or spiritually? Recall a time when you have felt cleansed by God In your mind, in your heart, in your body, in your spirit. Holy and loving God, we give thanks. We give thanks for Jesus, the gift that he offers us. We give thanks for his healing, not only for this man long ago, but for us today. May we be open to receive, to want to long for the healing and cleansing touch of you. Thank you, lord, for showing us what that might look like in a world that's less than perfect, that's hard to manage, in a body that's always facing something because it's human. Show us, show us, because Jesus showed us, how to live in this body, to live in this world and be near to you. We receive your healing and cleansing touch In your holy name we pray Amen. Thank you for exploring the gift of God's peace with me. In the holy name we pray Amen. May God's peace be with you.