Lent: Fix My Eyes on Your Ways: Psalm 119:9-16
Psalm 119:9-16
9 How can young people keep their way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
10 With my whole heart I seek you;
do not let me stray from your commandments.
11 I treasure your word in my heart,
so that I may not sin against you.
12 Blessed are you, O LORD;
teach me your statutes.
13 With my lips I declare
all the ordinances of your mouth.
14 I delight in the way of your decrees
as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on your precepts,
and fix my eyes on your ways.
16 I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.
- Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
- Sit five to fifteen minutes in silent meditation paying attention to the deep breath.
- What word do you treasure in your heart today?
- How does this word keep your way pure?
- What freedom do you notice in this word?
- Open yourself to a new teaching from God today.
- Sit and be open to something new from God.
- Keep God’s word on your lips.
- Delight in the way of God’s decrees.
- Meditate on God’s precepts.
- Fix your eyes upon God’s ways.
- Go forward in your day with this sense of expectation that God has something new to teach you.
- At the end of the day, take time to review your day. Where did you notice God? Did you learn something new?
- Give thanks to God for this time in prayer and for any new insights you have received.
- Share in the reply box below.
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, March 21, 2021, the Fifth Sunday in Lent (Year B)
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm 51:1-12
Psalm 119:9-16
Hebrews 5:5-10
John 12:20-33
If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author. Permission to use in not-for-profit settings. (c) 2021 The Rev. Dr. Lil Smith, DASD
Rev. Dr. Lil Smith is a trained spiritual director, supervisor, and co-founder of Retreat House Spirituality Center in Richardson, TX. Upon completion of her spiritual direction certification, Lil began Praying the Lectionary in 2011 as a spiritual practice for her morning prayer time. Instead of reading about someone else’s experience of God, it was important for her to create a prayer practice that would encourage felt sense experience of the Holy emerging from within. It dawned on her others might enjoy the practice, as well. So she began to share them on this site.
As you experience the practice of Praying the Lectionary, adopt a loving, caring, and compassionate stance. If the end of your prayer and meditation time is not pointing to love and hope, there is more work to do. Keep wrestling. God is faithful to your journey. Love and hope will emerge. Be gentle with yourself and befriend any judgment that arises in you.
