My people have…forsaken me, the fountain of living water. ~Jeremiah 2:13
The Lenten 40, Day 20
We have reached the halfway mark of our Lenten journey – and God has led me into a silent wilderness.
My daily times of Centering Prayer have been focusing on feelings rather than words. I have found this quiet space to be both healing and enlightening, even carrying this paucity of verbiage into my days.
I must be truthful; when I began, beWarm, I vowed that I wouldn’t pressure myself to write unless the Holy Spirit inspired me. At the start of this Lenten study, the posts were frequent. Walking and writing through the days of Lent was a casual stroll.
And then…the idea flow came to a grinding halt…and I sat in the vacuum.
…wondering what happened
…feeling guilty for not writing something
…questioning my reasons for starting this Lenten study in the first place
After a while, the realization hit. God had a purpose for this time of emptiness, this verbal desert.
My thirsty soul needed a stiff drink from His Word and His Presence, the Fountain of all life, the Source of all Peace. I began to rest, knowing that giving God this time of quiet prayer would bring refreshment to my weary mind.
And, as always, He did not disappoint.
Think of a moment where you have been sitting by a body of water, be it an ocean, a river, or a cool mountain stream. Imagine hearing the water rushing by, the waves splashing on the shore. Feel the moisture in the air.
Let anyone who is thirsty come to me. ~John 7:37
Muyskens writes that we all need to receive God’s “fresh flowing streams of grace”. He continues: “Prayer can be like descending into a deep well….Actually divine light penetrates this place that seems so dark. We are bathed in the pure light of Christ….In the deep darkness of surrender, we are enlightened.”
When it feels as if we are in that place of obscurity, of unknowing, let’s trust that God has His reasons for putting us there. Let us be confident in the void…knowing that evidence of His “watering” will inevitably bear fruit.
Whether it be an imperceptible trickle or a crashing flood – the wellspring of God’s love is ever-present, ready and waiting for us to imbibe.
Thirsting souls, drink up.
Today’s Lectio: Jeremiah 2:4-7,13
My Word: BARREN My Phrase: INTO A FERTILE LAND
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Past Days Lectios, and Weekend Lectios (with my apologies!)
Day 17
My Word – GENTLENESS My Phrase – THE PEACE OF GOD
Day 18
My Word – CONFORMED My Phrase – ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE
Day 19
My Word – WHISPER My Phrase – THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO HIM
Day 21
Day 22
Day 23
….ahhh, you ‘did’ write today…(smile, xo)…as you did share the other evening of this time ‘change’ going on with you…and YESS..to sit at His feet, ‘by the still waters’….love it!….what a picture…we are ‘flowers’…soaking up His presence..Himself.