Deuteronomy 31:1-8 Lectio Divina
Preparation: Read Deuteronomy 31:1-8. Remember that the Israelites had been wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, waiting to enter the land that had been promised to them by God. The generation to which Moses is speaking has only known life in the wilderness under the leadership of Moses. Moving forward requires a total shift in their thinking, their behavior, their lifestyle and their leadership.
Read: Read these verses a second time, imagining what it must have been like for the people of Israel. Underline the words that are spoken about fear. Highlight the promises God makes.
Meditate: Spend time repeating the words that Moses speaks, first to all Israel, and then to Joshua in the presence of all Israel. Focus particularly on the words that speak to you as you hear them spoken to Israel.
Pray: Pray for the courage to go forward in your own life, facing the fears that hold you back. Pray that God will allow you to realize his presence as he moves forward with you. Name the fears that stand before you, and ask God to help you face them in a way that allows you to take the first steps toward living beyond your fear.
Contemplate: As you reflect on your fears, consider how facing your fears will make a difference in the relationships of which you are a part. With God’s help, plan specific steps you can take that will change your behavior to reflect trust in God and move you forward in the knowledge that he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Sojourners y Peregrinas 