150 Hours of Prayer – the Psalm for the Hour
As we at NCB are embarking on 150 hours of continuous prayer, you may have noticed that there are 150 Psalms – no coincidence – that was the plan!
So for each hour there will be an associated Psalm.
Your Psalm for your hour.
One of the ways that you may wish to approach that specific Psalm is using the old spiritual practice of Lectio Divina and /or with a Contemplative Sit.
Lectio Divina
Lectio divina (Latin for sacred reading) is a contemplative way of reading, praying, and taking a long, loving look at Scripture (or some other text).
In lectio divina, God teaches us to listen for and seek God’s presence in silence.
You may wish to focus on only a few verses from the Psalm you are looking at.
There is no ‘right way’ to practice lectio divina, but here is a format that may help :-
With the first reading through of the verses, allow yourself to settle in to the exercise and familiarize yourself with the words. Read the text out loud, very slowly and clearly. Pause for a breath or two before moving on.
For the second reading, listen from a centered heart space and notice any word or phrase that stands out to you.
After a few moments of silence, read the text a third time, reflecting on how this word or phrase is connected to your current life experience. Take a minute to linger over this word or phrase, to focus on it until it engages your body, your heart, your awareness of the physical [and unseen] world around you.
You may want to speak a response aloud or write something in your journal.
For the final reading, respond with a prayer or expression of what you have experienced, inviting the infinite wisdom of God to support you in places of unknowing, confusion, desire, or hope.
Contemplative sit
Before or after the lecto divina time with the Psalm, then perhaps practice a contemplative sit. You may wish to set a timer or digital prayer bell for 5, 10, or 20 minutes, so that you know when to finish.
You may wish to light a candle or ring a prayer bell to indicate that the contemplative sit has begun.
Seat yourself in a quiet area. Once you are settled, read the verses or whole Psalm aloud again:
Notice any tightness in your shoulders and neck and allow any tension in your muscles to relax.
Allow your back to rest in an aligned, neutral position.
Ground yourself and allow your breathing to settle.
Then read the following aloud:
I am not trying to “achieve” anything. (Pause)
There are no goals. (Pause)
I am simply becoming aware of this moment. (Pause)
Becoming aware of my presence in this moment. (Pause)
As I notice any distractions, thoughts, judgments, decisions, ideas that cross my mind, I let them go for now. (Pause)
I focus instead on my moment-by-moment experience of being present to What Is. (Pause)
To God’s Presence (Pause)
The Larger Field (Pause)
Jesus Christ (Pause)
Hold the silence.