Day: July 22, 2015

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Devotional Guide: God’s Faithfulness

VISIO DIVINA – DIVINE SEEING

HEARING God’s Word, SEEING God’s Word, PRAYING God’s Word

The term, visio divina, is Latin for “divine seeing.” The practice of the visio divina is a method of connecting God’s Word with God’s creation using visual arts.

Theme: God’s Faithfulness

"The works of his hands are faithful and just."
“The works of his hands are faithful and just.”

Scriptures: Psalm 111; Isaiah 49:1-7; John 20:19-28; 1 Corinthians 10:6-13

Suggestions for how to practice the visio divina

  1. Place the name of God on your forehead by making the sign of the cross and saying, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
  2. Pause for a few moments with your eyes closed and take five to ten deep breaths.
  3. Look at the picture and take notice of any figures, shapes, colors or textures appeal to you.
  4. Read on of Scriptures under the picture, beginning with the Psalm. It is helpful if you use the same Scripture for a few of days (there is no hurry to finish the visio divina). Do not read the Scripture for the purpose of study, but let it speak to your heart. Take note of the emotions as well as the thoughts this passage brings to mind.
  5. Connect the Scripture to the picture. Are there common or uncommon elements between the two? Are there godly desires that you find rising to the surface of your thoughts? What is God revealing to you about who you are, about who God is?
  6. Now pray the Scriptures and picture using what you have discovered during this visio divina time.
  7. Finish by saying (if you use the visio divina in the morning), “May God order and direct my day through Jesus Christ according to his word, ” or (if you use the visio divina at night), “Grant me, O God, a restful night in Jesus Christ according to your word.”
  8. Either go about your daily routine, or lay you head on your pillow in peace.

If you like to write, you might consider journaling your thoughts when you are finished (not during) your time of meditation on God’s word.

Click on the picture to view a larger version.

God bless this journey of divine seeing.

Copyright Douglas P. Brauner

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PWTE Daily Devotion

Escaping with God Is More Than a Kumbayah Moment

Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Times of intimacy with God are important in restoring our souls.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.”
Luke 5:16 English Standard Version
Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Peaceful moments like this in the Garden of the Gods are not easy to come by, especially in the summer, but when they do it feels like you are alone with God.

This feeling of being alone with God might be similar to those days and nights when Jesus was alone with his Father.

I’m not talking about a New Age kumbayah moment of communing with nature as being the same as communing with God. Nature itself is a rather harsh place to live. There are animals in the Garden preying on each other, rattlesnakes ready to take a bite out of your leg and deer who love to leave little nuggets on the trail.

However, withdrawing from our noise-filled lives and being alone with God is critical for us to reenter life. Jesus’ life was filled with people making unreasonable demands of him and with people who had high expectations of him. He withdrew, not to commune with nature but to commune with his Father.

You and I need times to withdraw from the craziness of life so that we might become intimate with our Father through his Word.

Whether your “desolate” place is similar to the Garden of the Gods or your garage, may you find this intimacy with your gracious, heavenly Father renewing your spirit.

Copyright Douglas P. Brauner