Day 18 – Visio Divina
WEEK 3
On days 15-21 of our time of prayer and fasting, we are reading the final words of the Bible in Revelation 22:6-21. This passage describes the interaction between John-an apostle of Jesus-and an angel of the Lord as he proclaims Jesus’ return.
Read the passage and return to it as needed for your daily quiet time.
This Week's Passage — Revelation 22:6-21
6 The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”
7 “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9 But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!”
10 Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near. 11 Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”
Epilogue: Invitation and Warning
12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you[a] this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.
Visio Divina
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people… — Ephesians 1:18 (NIV)
Visio Divina invites us to use our sense of sight to become more aware of God’s presence in the world around us and how He speaks through creation. Let’s take a few moments to focus on the beauty of God through a photograph, artwork, nature or other surroundings—and even the person staring back at you in the mirror! After all, you were masterfully formed in His hands, made in His very own image.
Next Steps:
- Choose your setting. (If possible, choose a different setting than last week.)
- You may decide to take a leisurely walk, sit on a park bench, exercise outdoors, visit a museum or gallery, or look at photographs. You may decide to observe what’s going on around you wherever you are, like a coffee shop, on your lunch break, or in your living room.
- Say a prayer and get still before you begin.
- Brief prayer: “Father, I surrender this time to you. Help me to receive all that you have for me.”
- Then close your eyes, breathe deeply, and sit quietly for a few moments so that your mind is open to hearing from God.
- Look around your environment and ask Holy Spirit to guide you to what He wants you to set your gaze upon.
- Take a look around and allow your eyes to settle on what captures your attention.
- Pause and meditate.
- Pause to focus on what has caught your eye.
- Try to keep your eyes from wandering.
- Take your time to reflect for a minute or two.
- Contemplate and consider.
- What emotions does this evoke? What memories and/or feelings are stirring?
- Ask God to speak to you about what you are seeing and sensing. Is there a correlation to your life?
- Respond.
- Express your heart to God. What do you want to remember about this moment in time? You can do this out loud, silently, or in written form.
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