Released

RELEASED

Wherever you are, remember you are in God’s loving presence. Close your eyes to dismiss any distractions. Open your hands as a way of doing with your body what you long for your heart and soul to do. Breathe in deeply and out slowly to relax your mind and your heart.

a prayer to open

Open me to your love, Lord.

In your great mercy, open me to your love.

What we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. . . . All creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son. . . . And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.

Lectio Divina #1

Read today’s passage slowly and out loud. Pay attention to the word or phrase that stands out to you.

• What do you sense God is saying to you through that word or phrase? Take a minute to listen.

Lectio Divina #2

Read today’s passage a second time, again slowly and out loud. Listen for what invitation God may be extending to you through the word or phrase you identified.

• How does the word or phrase apply to your life right now? Take a minute to listen.

Lectio Divina #3

Read today’s passage for a third time, and then enter into a conversation with God. Remember that you are in his loving presence. Present your questions, concerns, resistance, and repentance.

• How does your understanding of the suffering in the world get in the way of your opening more fully to God’s love?
• What is God saying to you about the suffering you see?

Loving God, thank you for pouring out your love to me and for me and in me.

Thank you for loving me. I am yours. Amen and amen.