It is good to enter into the time of meditative prayer with a spirit of quiet and relaxation. Let the mystery of God be near you, and let yourself be open to God’s gift of the Spirit.
Listen to the audio
Psalm 23 As a shepherd, You desire to protect me and to be for me a loving host.
Guide
Presence: Take two deep cleansing breaths, remembering that God is the giver of life. “Here I am God. Thank you for your presence.”
Read Psalm 23 two times: once quietly and once out loud.
What image of God most resonates at this time in your life—shepherd or host? As a shepherd, God leads, guides, corrects, and protects us from harm. God also rescues us from our enemies. As your host, God comes with extravagance, laying out a feast for you, even in the midst of your enemies.
God desires to be both your shepherd and your host. Take time to pray about which image of God resonates and where in your life you need God to be either shepherd or host.
Pray for the grace to notice God’s activity in your life and the grace to detect, even the smallest movement of God, in your day. Amen
Journal your prayer and experience of this time.
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.