Contemplative Bible Reading

Lamentations 3:25-26 (New Living Translation)

25 The Lord is good to those who depend on him,

to those who search for him.

26 So it is good to wait quietly

for salvation from the Lord.

Read softly and slowly: Let us pause. Let us consider what it is we do. Stop all things and first seek God and depend on God.

Scream and read quickly: But I have lots of things to do. You don’t understand what is happening in my life and there are people who…oh what wait sorry I had to answer that call and look at that text and you know things are hopping here and people need me to answer right now and…

Read softly and slowly: After the first task (two paragraphs, not one paragraph above), it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.

Scream and read quickly: Wait? Okay, I can wait, but I can’t waste time. I have lots to do. While I’m waiting (and could you hurry it up a bit, huh?) I’ll tend to these other things. Oh look just what popped up on Insta-tweet-face! Why that’s cute, but they really shouldn’t say that. I have to correct the world on that point, so hold on a minute, but look you distracted me and someone else beat me to the punchline, well I’ve got another one for them and it will top them and…

God, please help me to breathe deeply and quietly. To wait for your salvation and to seek you alone while I wait.