 |
|
        |
ENTERING THE GATE CALLED BEAUTIFUL By Dr. Bette J. Shellhorn
MEDITATION This meditation offers you a time of quiet reflection that will take about 10 minutes. Prepare the place where you are sitting, clearing away items that could distract you or get in the way of your quiet time with God. Sit in a chair with your back straight, your feet flat on the floor, and your arms gently resting in your lap or freely at your side. Make sure you are comfortable and when you are ready take in a deep breath, breathing deeply into your abdomen. Hold your breath for a second savoring how it feels to have your lungs filled with fresh air. Exhale slowly and feel the air leave your body. Breathe in again, paying attention to how your body feels and then exhale slowly. Offer this experience to the Lord asking Jesus to bless your time in prayerful meditation. After taking several breaths, slowly read the following passage of Scripture, stopping to pause and reflect on words and phrases that strike you as important.
SCRIPTURE PASSAGE “One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk. And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God, and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.” Acts 3: 1-10
Ø After reading the passage in Acts 3: 1-10 select one or both of the following ways to meditate on the passage during your time of quiet prayer. Ø Wait and listen for how the Holy Spirit is working in your life as you spend this time with the Lord Jesus Christ in prayerful reflection.
1. REFLECT ON THE KEY WORDS 2. GUIDED MEDITATION + + + 1. REFLECT ON THE KEY WORDS Take time to think about the key words in this passage. Choose one key word at a time and let your thoughts pour over each word. Do the words invite you to some action? Are the words a name or a place? What is important to you about these words? Why did you choose the words at this time in your life? Reflect on your words and savor any thoughts the Lord may give you. These words can be special words that you and the Lord share for this time in prayer. Key words suggestions: Beautiful Gate Hour of prayer Temple Asking for alms Stand up and walk Wonder and amazement Or choose other words that stand out as you read the passage What is the Lord saying to you about each word? Reflect on how this word connects your faith and your life. Are there areas in your life that need healing? Do you know others who are in need of healing? Spend time in prayer asking the Lord to bring healing to you and to others. Wait in prayer and listen to hear Jesus Christ speak words of healing grace to you. Go in peace. Serve the Lord. Thanks be to God. Amen. + + + 2. GUIDED MEDITATION Now, you will be using your faith imagination to enter into the above passage of Scripture. Read the following guided meditation, prayerfully, and open your heart to the working of the Holy Spirit as you sit with the Lord in prayer. Remember to breathe slowly and sit comfortably in your chair.
Imagine that you are in the above Bible passage and you going to the temple to pray. On your way up the stairs to the temple gate you see Peter and John walking ahead of you. You have heard so much about them and now here you are going with them to the temple to pray. What do they look like? How do they walk and what are they talking about as you hear them go by you? How do you feel? Take a moment to get in touch with your emotions. Now, as you go up to the temple gate you see a man who is crippled, laying by the gate and calling out to people who walk by him. How do you feel about the man? You wonder if he will call out to you. As you walk closer to him you notice that the lame man reaches out to touch Peter and John. What does he say to Peter and John? What will they do? What do they say to the man? Others have walked by him and acted as if he was not visible. Perhaps this time he will be validated and reach out in faith to pray for healing. This is a time of day that you have regularly set for prayer in your life and you are strangely moved to reach out and touch the man with your hand in gentle healing prayer. What will you do? How will you pray for the man who needs healing? Peter and John also reach out to the man and they ask him to look at them as they are speaking. Peter tells the man that he does not have any money or food, but Peter offers his hand to the man and asks the man to reach out and take Peter’s hand. The lame man takes Peter’s hand and looks intently into Peter’s eyes. There is a strong sense of the Holy Spirit at work in this interaction and you feel the healing presence of Jesus flow from Peter to the man. All of a sudden the man gets up off the ground, stands with help from Peter, becomes tall and straight, and the man begins to move. Everyone is amazed and there is clapping and joyful noise all around the man. You can’t believe your eyes. You haven’t seen anything like this healing experience before and now you realize that the Lord Jesus Christ has touched the man with healing grace and mercy. As you look around you notice that it is a beautiful day. The sun is brightly shining on everything around you like a spotlight on people and buildings all around. Bask in the heat and light as the sun warms each part of your body. Notice that you feel heat on your upper back and it feels as if God’s arm is around your shoulders. As you continue to walk up to the temple you feel a sense of anticipation. What will happen during this time of prayer today? How will your prayer life change now that you have seen with your own eyes that God healed a man who was lame since his birth. You walk into the temple and take your place in prayer. Who do you know that is in need of healing prayer? Lift each one in prayer now and see them as reaching out to be healed. Seek the grace of the Lord to heal each person. Feel the healing presence of Jesus Christ go out to each person. Jesus loves each one and pours out healing love to each person. Sit with the Lord in prayer for as long as you feel the Lord lead you in prayer. When you are finished, thank the Lord for this time of quiet prayer and meditation. Breathe in and breathe out several times, being aware of your breath. When you are ready close your time with the Lord in prayer. CLOSING PRAYER Lord of all healing, we bow before you in prayer. May your grace and mercy reach out to me and to each person that is in need of your healing touch. Come, Lord Jesus, and heal your children. Thank you for being our Savior, our Healer, and Lord of all. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Bette J. Shellhorn, Ph.D. is a spiritual director and serves in the ELCA Prayer Ministry as the Online Manager for www.prayingchurch.org. Contact her at ELCAPrayingChurchOrg@msn.com. .
|
