Psalm 31 and slowing down with Lectio Divina
Making Time for God in a Hectic World
This morning I read Psalm 31. It is the psalm that the Lord Jesus quotes on the cross: “Into Your hands I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God!”
When Jesus says that, He radiates a sense of surrender and peace that I can scarcely imagine. What must it be like to hang on a cross, broken by pain, gasping for breath, facing death because you know this is the end? Perhaps just a few more minutes, a few more hours. All around Him, the mockery of the people and the laughter of the soldiers. And then, in the deepest peace: “Into Your hands I commit my spirit.”
I hope that I, too, can speak those words at the end of my life—or that I will at least be given the chance to do so. How wonderful it is to know for certain that God’s hands protect you, even in eternity. No one knows what that eternity looks like. We have only what has been revealed in the Bible. Paul writes that it will be a wonderful time: being with the Lord is by far the best. That is also my faith and my certainty.
Yet another thought from Psalm 31 lingered with me. The psalmist says: “But I said, in my haste”
How Silence Brings God Close Again
During my quiet time, I’m currently listening to Lectio Divina, a prayer method that traces its roots back to the monasteries of old. There’s no rushing involved, because you force yourself to read Bible passages very calmly. You reflect on them, ponder them, and ultimately put them into practice: how do you give shape to such a word in your life? That’s how I came to Psalm 31: “I said in my haste, ‘I am cut off from Your sight.’”
We can be so rushed. That’s why I like to seek out this moment of stillness in the morning with Lectio Divina. In complete silence, you follow a set prayer method, interspersed with music and short prayers, and you notice how the rush drains from your body. Because we’re quick to skim through the text, close our Bibles, and move on to the day’s business. Through Lectio Divina, you’re compelled to be still before God for ten or fifteen minutes, to reflect and meditate.
What Lectio Divina Teaches Me About Slowing Down
I can imagine that you might find it difficult when you first listen to this method via the app. You’re used to rushing through life. That’s why it’s good to read your Bible in silence, keep your planner closed, and put your watch away. Just take time for God. With Lectio Divina, I’m able to do that well, and I enjoy it.
For example, in that psalm I read: “But I said in my haste, ‘I am cut off from Your sight.’” Those who rush through life see God as far away. Then you’re not focused on Him. Sometimes situations catch you off guard that you could have handled better if you’d been in the Lord’s peace. That’s why I believe slowing down is so important in this day and age.
The liberating peace of the monastic rhythm
The monks and nuns of the past already knew this. They had their rituals, customs, and set times for prayer. Today’s monasteries also offer this opportunity. I’ve heard from quite a few people—including pastors and ministers—that they go there every now and then to slow down, have time for themselves, and reflect on their lives and their future. It forces you to seek peace within a set rhythm.
The structure of monastic life leaves no room for haste, especially if you set aside everything associated with worldly life—like your iPhone, iPad, and laptop—for a while. That’s how I make sure to avoid rushing in the morning when I practice Lectio Divina. In complete stillness, you read the Bible passage, you ponder it, and you reflect on it. Then the Holy Spirit begins to speak. At least, that’s how I experience it.
Then such a passage comes to life, and you experience His peace. “But I said in my haste, ‘I am cut off from Your sight’”—that’s what you feel when you’re rushing through life. “Yet You heard my loud pleas when I called out to You.” That happens when you come to a place of reflection—through Lectio Divina, but also in other ways. For example, by seeking God in peace during a prayer walk and imploring Him for a solution, help, assistance, relief, wisdom, and guidance.
How wonderful it is, then, to be able to say: “When I called out to You and let You hear my loud pleas, You heard me.” I can testify that the Lord has already provided a way out so many times in my life. I have yearned and pleaded, even at night when I lay awake: “Lord, come to my aid.” We experienced that again recently. A wonderful breakthrough has come to our church, and we can joyfully look forward to further growth and the work of the Holy Spirit.
But first and foremost, it’s about my own life. I want nothing more than to be still before God from time to time and take the time to hear how He speaks to me.
@wimvanputten