One way you can respond to God after meditation on a Biblical text or a time of prayer is to draw, paint, write poetry, etc. You may find it helpful by beginning with lectio divina and then responding from your prayer-laced encounter with the text. Today, however, perhaps you could consider a scaled-down version of lectio divina by doing the following:

 

Plan roughly 10 minutes for parts 1-3

 

1) Ask God to guide you into all truth (John 16:13) as you meditate on one of the biblical texts suggested here: Matthew 5:1-12 / Matthew 6:24-34 / John 13:1-15 / Philippians 2:1-10 / Psalm 23

 

2) Read the text slowly and carefully (suggested 5 mins). Place yourself in the scene it portrays or imagine the author writing it: What was he focused on? What are the themes in the text? What questions surface for you? What are you noticing? Write your notes below.

 

3) Ask God to draw your attention to what He wants you to notice, and why (5 mins). Be willing to take the whole five minutes. Relax. Take notes in the space below about what you notice. 

 

4) 20 mins: What emerges from your listening and noticing? Respond by creating an image, a song lyric, a painting, drawing, a poem, etc.

5) 15 mins: After completing this practice write a one-page reflection in response to the following questions (approximately a third of a page for each) and submit it along with your notes and what you created. Do not include the questions in your response; just write a paragraph for each. Please write in full sentences, not bullet points. Submit your notes (above) with your reflection.

a) What effect did reading the text slowly, quietly and prayerfully have on your engagement with it? (You might refer to challenges you experienced, emotions, focus, etc.)

b) Provide a brief description of your creation and how it ties to your observations in (a).

c) How might this practice contribute to your flourishing and spiritual formation?