From September 2 to November 25 we will be writing reflections based on the scripture passage, Luke 11:1-13 and its theme of Prayer. We will take one verse per week and invite you to join us in first meditating and digesting this passage slowly using lectio divina and then read the reflection. Our writers will be sharing testimony of how this scripture has impacted their lives personally.
For those new to our community, lectio divina is a traditional monastic practice of engaging with Scripture not just for intellectual understanding but to allow the Word of God to speak to the heart and transform our lives. It involves prayerfully reading the scripture four times, pausing to notice the following:
- Read the verse and listen for the word or phrase that the Holy Spirit highlights for you.
- Read the verse and ask the question, how is my life touched by this word? What in my life needs to hear this word?
- Read the verse and ask what is my response to God because of what I have read and encountered? What am I feeling, talk to God about it, listen to Him, feel His uninterrupted love and attention toward you and follow His lead in any way He is prompting you to respond.
- Read and rest in the Word and resolve to live it out.
Listen:
Then Jesus said to them, ‘Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; …” ‘ (Luke 11:5 NIVUK)
Reflect:
Friendship with other people is a normal part of human life. We are made for community. We live better if we are able to share our struggles and joys; to work, rest, play and pray with others.
Suppose you don’t have a friend to turn to in the middle of the night for help. Suppose you are trying to live life independently of other people. Life is harder.
In our time, we can fool ourselves that we are friends with people we listen to in podcasts, read on social media or even talk to online, but the connection may be fragile or an illusion.
I have a tendency to try to be too independent, but I’m learning and when I moved to the UK, I prayerfully and deliberately sought deep friendships in my local area. It was one of the best decisions I made.
Those people are now the friends I have the most opportunities to love, serve and support. They are people I can celebrate with, grieve with and ask for help. They are a blessing to me and I am a blessing to them.
Jesus had friends. He went out and chose them and we can do the same. Some were his inner circle, some less close, but still friends. If you don’t have a close friend you can lean on for help, how about praying and taking action to find one? If all your friends live a long way away, how about praying for someone local too?
A couple more verses about friends to look up and reflect on:
Proverbs 17:17
Proverbs 18:24
Prayer of Response:
Lord, I thank you for my friends and community. Please show me if you are leading me to new or deeper friendships.
Questions to Ponder:
- Do you have a friend you would go to or call at midnight and ask them to help you? Do you allow people to help you?
- Lifesprings aims to bring the love of Jesus to our communities. How can you do that in your local community?
Breath prayers:
Join us in praying breath prayers each day. We invite you to write your own as well.
Inhale(Breathe in): Jesus
Exhale(Breathe out): my Friend. (Repeat)
—Submitted by: Sylvana Botterill
Sylvana Botterill adventures through life with husband David. She joined Lifesprings at its beginning in France. She now lives in the UK and works with the local church as a discipleship group leader and a mentor. She leads Lifesprings UK and is part of the Lifesprings International prayer team.
Feature photo by Annie Splatt on Unsplash.