Week 3 Christmas Challenge: Lectio Liminal.Shembull

Here’s the Infinitum Christmas Plan take on the old discipline of ‘divine reading’. 

First Movement: Peruse. Peruse means ‘read (something), typically in a thorough or careful way’. Before you start, ask the Lord to open the eyes of your heart for this exercise and then read slowly, curiously, and aggressively. Here is the story (TPT):

39 Afterward, Mary arose and hurried off to the hill country of Judea, to the village where Zechariah and Elizabeth lived. 40 Arriving at their home, Mary entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 At the moment her aunt heard Mary’s voice, the baby within Elizabeth’s womb jumped and kicked. And suddenly, Elizabeth was filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit! 

42 With a loud voice she prophesied with power: “Mary! You are a woman given the highest favor and privilege above all others, for your child is destined to bring God great delight. 

43 How did I deserve such a remarkable honor to have the mother of my Lord come and visit me?

44 The moment you came in the door and greeted me, my baby danced inside me with joy!

45 Great favor rests upon you, for you have believed every word spoken to you from the Lord.”

Second Movement: Weigh. Here are contextual synonyms: ‘consider · contemplate · think about · give thought to · entertain the idea of · deliberate about · turn over in one's mind · mull over · chew over · reflect on · ruminate about · muse on · assess · appraise’. Don’t rush this movement.

Third Movement: Ask. Ask God to confirm or clarify bits you’ve been chewing on and to enlighten you on things you missed that He as for you. In this movement, you might profitably ask about lessons and tips God has from this reading for you in the realm of surrender, generosity, and mission.

Fourth Movement: Muse. Muse—‘be absorbed in thought… gaze thoughtfully at’—is a verb synonym of the Latin word ‘contempatio’. From Google, “The word contemplation is derived from the Latin word contemplatio, ultimately from the Latin word templum, a piece of ground consecrated for the taking of auspices, or a building for worship.” So, in a sense, we are to recognize that we are on holy ground in this exercise (note further that ‘auspices’ means ‘a divine or prophetic token’).

Fifth Movement: Activate. Apply what you have picked up (this might take the rest of the day… or the rest of your life).