This week we will continue in our Dwelling in the Word series. This week I invite you to spend your time in Psalm 22:1-5…
Psalm 22:1-5 New International Version
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?
2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest.
3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the one Israel praises.
4 In you our ancestors put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried out and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
How does this dwelling in the Word process feel to you?
It has been my personal experience that dwelling in the Word has helped me draw closer to God. What I have been experiencing over the past few weeks as we have dwelled in the Word together at Marion, it not only has helped me listen more deeply for what God might be saying, it has also helped me listen more deeply to those in my circle each week.
Dwelling in the Word is a process for becoming aware of God’s presence and the Spirit’s movement by listening and reflecting on Scripture as a gathered community.
Let’s remember the three questions as we dwell in the Word.
- What do I notice?
- What do I wonder?
- Where might the Spirit be nudging?
The word “dwell” or “abide” is used frequently in Scripture. It means to live or remain somewhere or with someone for a time. The practice of Dwelling in the Word invites communities to live with a text for a time so that the reflections, wonderings, and promptings of God’s Word form and shape our faith and living.
The purpose of Dwelling in the Word is not about answering questions or getting to particular results, but rather allowing ourselves to be present with God’s living Word.
I invite you to dwell with this passage this week.
You are invited to read this passage, pray this passage, sit quietly with this passage, sing this passage, and wait upon the Lord.
Let’s talk about it on Sunday.
~ Pastor Dustin
