Divine Deference

Familiarity in prayer is one of the great blessings of the Incarnation, the Word-Made-Flesh, the Immanuel, “God-with-us.” The blessing and humble privilege of our freedom to come to God “just as we are” without the need for ritual or sacrifice. But over-familiarity can be a detriment to the holiness and awe of our relationship with The Lord God, Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. We can begin to inadvertantly create a relationship of “equals,” and overly humanize Jesus while minimizing the divinity of Christ. Ephesians 6:18 tells us to, “pray at all times with all kinds of prayers and supplications.” Occasionally, some of those times, an extended time of prayer, deferring to the holiness of God, utilizing the words of scripture with the attitude of reverence, focusing primarily on listening for God instead of speaking our own thoughts, desires, and opinions to God, can re-connect us the awesome power and holiness of God Almighty.

Using a form of Divine Deference can balance our spiritual awareness of Divine Familiarity. Set aside 10-45 minutes for the following exercise. Find a quiet, peaceful place where you can focus. Have your journal and pen handy. Enter into this time with quiet reverence. Slowly and meditatively move through the three movements, lingering and progressing as the Spirit prompts.

Divine Deference

First Movement: Approaching the Holy Presence 
The Call to Payer (Self-preparation to receive the Presence of the Lord)
       Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits Psalms 103.1–2

Request for Presence
       Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness; answer me in your righteousness. Psalms 143.1

The Greeting          
      Your way, O God, is holy. What god is so great as our God?  Psalms 77.13

Second Movement: In the Holy Presence 

The Meditation: Reflect on the following passage

 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you”John 15.1–13

The Acknowledgment: In your own words, humbly acknowledge, confirm, or reply to the insight, instruction, or message God has shown you during your meditation

The Affirmation: reword one or two verses from the meditation passage in your own words as affirmation of God’s message to you.

Third Movement: Departing the Holy Presence 

The Farewell      Let the Name of the Lord be blessed, from this time forth for evermore. From the rising of the sun to its going down let the Name of the Lord be praised. Psalm 113.2-3

The Amen
The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, obedient to his spoken word. 
Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers that do his will.
Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion.
Bless the LORD, O my soul. Amen. Psalms 103.19–22

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Further scripture suggestions:

Divine Deference

Approaching the Holy Presence

The Call to Payer (Self-preparation to receive the Presence of the Lord)

·     Be strong and let your heart take courage, all who wait for the Lord.   Ps 31.24

·     Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again - my Savior and my God!                               Ps 42.11

·     Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name; make known his deeds among the peoples.   Ps 105.1

·     I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.  Ps 130.5

Request for Presence

·     “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!” Your face, Lord, do I seek.  Ps 27.8

·     Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved. Ps 80:3

·     I call upon you, O Lord; come quickly to me; give ear to my voice when I call to you.  Ps 141.1

·     Lord, be merciful to [me], for [I] have waited for you. Be [my] strong arm each day and [my] salvation in times of trouble.                                Is 33.2

The Greeting

·     Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow.  Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.  Ps 25.4–5

·     Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth.  Ps 86.11

·     Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Ps106.48

In the Holy Presence

The Meditation [choose one passage to meditate/reflect on]

Psalm 19

Psalm 23

Psalm 138.1-8

Psalm 139

Matthew 5.1-12 (the Beatitudes)

Matthew 6.7-14 (the Lord’s Prayer)

Philippians 2.1-11

Colossians 1

  

The Acknowledgment: In your own words, humbly acknowledge, confirm, or reply to the insight, instruction, or message God has shown you during your meditation

The Affirmation: reword one or two verses from the meditation passage in your own words as affirmation of God’s message to you. [i.e. You are my shepherd and I will not lack anything in your Presence. You have settled me in green pastures with streams of water.]

Departing the Holy Presence

The Farewell

·     I will thank you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and glorify your Name for evermore. Ps 86.12

·     I will confess you among the peoples, O Lord, I will sing praises to you among the nations. Ps 108.3

·     The Lord is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation. Ps 118.14

·     His speech is most sweet, and he is altogether desirable. This is my beloved and this is my friend  Song 5.16

The Amen

·     The Gloria (Glory be to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, so it is now and so it shall be evermore, world without end. Alleluia, Amen.)

·     The Lord’s Prayer

·     For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. Rom 11.34–36

·     Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Eph 3.20–21

Return of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)

Return of the Prodigal - Rembrandt

Henri Nouwen writes that for many of us, our spiritual journey is intimately tied to the story of the Prodigal Son. Some of us feel that we have wandered far and wide. That we have experienced many sorts of life-styles and convictions, yet, at the end of it all we feel homeless and very tired. We feel like the lost son who yearns to return to the Father’s embrace.

At other times we can relate to the elder son. Perhaps we have never run away from our spiritual home or have gotten lost in “debauchery” — either figuratively or actually. Perhaps we have always been responsible, traditional, and homebound. Yet, we may have been just as lost as the younger son, in jealousy, anger, complaining, or worst of all, the ways of self-righteousness.

Yet, Henri suggests that whether we see ourselves as the younger son or the elder son, we are called to grow up into the parent. One who welcomes others  home without asking them any questions and without wanting anything from them in return. We are called to grow up into one who transcends the ways of children. To allow our own loneliness and anger to be transformed through our sufferings and tears into welcome and gratitude.

Spiritual Discipline: Art as Contemplation (Visio Divina)
Visio Divina (Latin for "divine seeing") is a method for praying with images or other media.

1. Take a few moments to open your heart and mind to God.

2. When you are ready, slowly look and notice the image, taking your time to let feelings and thoughts come to you as you take in forms, figures, colors, lines, textures, and shapes.

• Which image in the picture are you drawn to?
• How does this make you feel? 
• Ponder prayerfully the reason for your various responses and what these responses might mean for you.
• What does it and the Spirit want to say, evoke, make known, or express to you as you attend to it in quiet meditation? 
• Is the Holy Spirit leading you into any conclusions, questions, insights, or next steps?

3.  In the remaining few minutes of your prayer with this image, bring to mind or jot down in a journal (whatever way is most helpful for you) the insights you want to remember, actions you are invited to take, wisdom you hope to embody, or any feelings or thoughts you wish to express. 

4.  Bring your prayer to a close by resting in God's grace and love.

Weekly Questions of Examen

QUESTIONS OF EXAMEN

The following Common Disciplines are based upon the six traditions of Christian faith and witness. 

Contemplative: The Prayer-filled life

In what ways has God made his presence known to you since our last meeting? What experiences of prayer, meditation, and spiritual reading has God given you? What difficulties or frustrations have you encountered? What joys and delights?

Holiness: The Virtuous Life

What temptations have you faced since our last meeting? How did you respond? Which spiritual disciplines has God used to lead you further into holiness of heart and life?

Charismatic: The Spirit-Empowered Life

Have you sensed any influence or work of the Holy Spirit since our last meeting? What spiritual gifts has the Spirit enabled you to exercise? What was the outcome? What fruit of the Spirit would you like to see increase in your life? What disciplines might be useful in this effort?

Social Justice: The Compassionate Life

What opportunities has God given you to serve others since our last meeting? How did you respond? Have you encountered any injustice to or oppression of others? Have you been able to work for justice and shalom?

Evangelical: The Word-Centered Life

Has God provided an opportunity for you to share your faith with someone since our last meeting? How did you respond? In what ways have you encountered Christ in your reading of the Scriptures? How has the Bible shaped the way you think and live?

Incarnational: The Sacramental Life: 

In what ways have you been able to manifest the presence of God through your daily work since our last meeting? How has God fed and strengthened you through the ministry of word and sacrament?