1. Psalm 23

2. “It is especially necessary that listening to the word of God should become a life-giving encounter, in the ancient and ever valid tradition of lectio divina, which draws from the biblical text the living Word which questions, directs and shapes our lives.” Pope John Paul II Novo Millennio Ineunte,39

3. * Silence * Prepare * Reading * Pronounce * Meditating * Ponder * Praying * Presence * Contemplating * Picture * Acting * Practice

5. * Psalm 23 (NIV) * 1 The L ORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. * 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, * 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. * 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. * 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. * 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the L ORD forever.

6. “Meditation discerns the connections and listens for the harmonies that come together in Jesus.” Eugene Peterson, “Eat This Book,” p. 102

7. * Psalm 23 (NIV) * 1 The L ORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. * 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, * 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. * 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. * 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. * 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the L ORD forever.

8. * Psalm 23 (NIV) * 1 The L ORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. * 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, * 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. * 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. * 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. * 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the L ORD forever.

9. * Conflict * “Prayer is engaging God…The engagement, at least in its initial stages, is more like a quarrel that a greeting, more like a wrestling match than a warm embrace.” Eugene Peterson “Eat This Book”

10. * Comfort * “God’s word is personal address, inviting, commanding, challenging, rebuking, judging, comforting, directing. But not forcing. Not coercing. We are given space and freedom to answer, to enter into the conversation.” Eugene Peterson “Eat This Book”

11. * Psalm 23 (NIV) * 1 The L ORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. * 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, * 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. * 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. * 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. * 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the L ORD forever.

12. Contemplation * “….we cannot come to the fullness of contemplation of the Lord’s face by our own efforts alone, but by allowing grace to take us by the hand.” Pope John Paul II, Nuevo Millennio Nuente, 20 * “Contemplatio…is not something we self-consciously do; it happens, it is a gift, it is something to which we are receptive and obedient…it is “infused.” Eugene Peterson “Eat This Book”

13. * Psalm 23 (NIV) * 1 The L ORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. * 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, * 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. * 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. * 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. * 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the L ORD forever.

14. Psalm 23 (Wolthuis paraphrase) * God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is my guide. * I want nothing else. * He orders my hours so I can rest. * He leads me to the well of living water. * He focuses my life on the essential. * He directs me in productive ways * So that his purposes are clear. * Even when I crawl through the tunnel of dark depression, * I will not fear destruction, * For you are with me; * Your strong hands and gentle nudges, * They comfort me. * You host a banquet in my honor, * Before those who would dishonor me. * You shower me with gifts. * You continue to pour out blessings. * Surprisingly and certainly, * Beauty and unfailing love pursue every moment of my life. * My home is in God’s presence now and always.

15. * Psalm 23 (NIV) * 1 The L ORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. * 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, * 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. * 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. * 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. * 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the L ORD forever.

16. * Savior, like a shepherd lead us, much we need Thy tender care; In Thy pleasant pastures feed us, for our use Thy folds prepare. Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! Thou hast bought us, Thine we are. Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! Thou hast bought us, Thine we are. * We are Thine, Thou dost befriend us, be the guardian of our way; Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us, seek us when we go astray. Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray. Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray. * Words: At­trib­ut­ed to Dorothy A Thrupp, 1836. * Music: William B. Brad­bu­ry, 1859