Weekly Practice 2/2/26

Make every effort to do or reflect upon this week’s practice with others.

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Scripture

Matthew 6:7-13 MSG

“The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:

Our Father in heaven,

Reveal who you are.

Set the world right;

Do what’s best—

    as above, so below.

Keep us alive with three square meals.

Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.

Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.

You’re in charge!

You can do anything you want!

You’re ablaze in beauty!

    Yes. Yes. Yes.

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Practice

Just Ask

This week, ask God to address your seen and unseen needs. The things that keep you up at night, and those things on the edge of your mind that you’re barely aware of. He is good and he is wise. He sees you and your circumstances, and all that complexity, with utterly clarity. He knows better than you what you need. So, just ask.

Here’s a helpful adaptation of the Lord’s prayer from Richard Foster’s aptly named book, Prayer:

Dear Father, I don’t want to treat you like Santa Claus, but I do need to ask things of you. Give me, please, food to eat today. I’m not asking for tomorrow, but I am asking for today. Please forgive me for the infinite offenses to your goodness that I have committed today… this hour. I’m not even aware of most of them. I live too unaware. That in itself is a sin against heaven. I’m sorry. Increase my awareness.

And in my ignorance if I have asked for things that would really be destructive, please, do not give them to me—do not lead me into temptation. Do protect me from the evil one. 

For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

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And speaking of adaptations

Here’s a lovely song based on the Anima Christi, the prayer I shared last week.

Weekly Practice 1/26/26

Make every effort to do this week’s practice with others.

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Scriptures

Read these out loud and, if possible, with others.

Epistle to the Philippians (Yes, the whole thing. It’s not that long.)

Psalm 2 NASB

Why are the nations restless

And the peoples plotting in vain?

The kings of the earth take their stand

And the rulers conspire together

Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,

“Let’s tear their shackles apart

And throw their ropes away from us!”

He who sits in the heavens laughs,

The Lord scoffs at them.

Then He will speak to them in His anger

And terrify them in His fury, saying,

“But as for Me, I have installed My King

Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

“I will announce the decree of the Lord:

He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,

Today I have fathered You.

Ask it of Me, and I will certainly give the nations as Your inheritance,

And the ends of the earth as Your possession.

You shall break them with a rod of iron,

You shall shatter them like earthenware.’”

Now then, you kings, use insight;

Let yourselves be instructed, you judges of the earth.

Serve the Lord with reverence

And rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the Son, that He not be angry and you perish on the way,

For His wrath may be kindled quickly.

How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!

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Practice

Rethinking our relationship with the Bible: Part 4

This week, watch or listen to the next episode from Practicing the Way’s “Rule of Life” podcast: Scripture 04: What’s the point of reading the Bible? Then, reflect on the following questions:

• How does reading the Bible out loud feel different from reading it silently?

• How does reading the Bible with others feel different from reading it alone?

• Do you have a favorite part of scripture, something that resonates deeply or feels especially important to you?

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Anima Christi

This prayer, probably written in the 14th century, is one we will be using over the coming weeks as we “companion Jesus to the Cross”:

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.

Body of Christ, save me.

Blood of Christ, inebriate me.

Water from the side of Christ, wash me.

Passion of Christ, strengthen me.

O Good Jesus, hear me.

Within your wounds hide me.

Permit me not to be separated from you.

From the wicked foe, defend me.

At the hour of my death, call me

and bid me come to you

That with your saints I may praise you

For ever and ever. Amen.

Weekly Practice 1/19/26

After doing this week’s practice, try to share your experience with a friend.

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Scripture

Psalm 1 NASB 

Blessed is the person who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,

Nor stand in the path of sinners,

Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

But his delight is in the Law of the Lord,

And on His Law he meditates day and night.

He will be like a tree planted by streams of water,

Which yields its fruit in its season,

And its leaf does not wither;

And in whatever he does, he prospers.

The wicked are not so,

But they are like chaff which the wind blows away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,

But the way of the wicked will perish.

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Practice

Rethinking our relationship with the Bible: Part 3

This week, watch or listen to the next episode from Practicing the Way’s “Rule of Life” podcast: Scripture 03: Wisdom for human flourishing. Then, reflect on the following questions:

• Instead of a book to master, the Bible can be described as a masterpiece meant to be  read again and again over a lifetime. How does this sit with you? Is it different from the way you typically approached the Bible?

• Are you encouraged or annoyed by the proposition that the Bible may be intentionally puzzling at times, inviting us to continually meditate upon it?

• Would you say you read the Bible more like an informational text or like a piece of literature? How is reading each of these a different experience?

Weekly Practice 1/12/26

After doing this week’s practice, try to share your experience with a friend.

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Scripture

Matthew 5:17-20 GNT

“Do not think that I have come to do away with the Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets. I have not come to do away with them, but to make their teachings come true. Remember that as long as heaven and earth last, not the least point nor the smallest detail of the Law will be done away with—not until the end of all things. So then, whoever disobeys even the least important of the commandments and teaches others to do the same, will be least in the Kingdom of heaven. On the other hand, whoever obeys the Law and teaches others to do the same, will be great in the Kingdom of heaven. I tell you, then, that you will be able to enter the Kingdom of heaven only if you are more faithful than the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees in doing what God requires.”

Here are some different translations to try out as well: 

New King James Version 

New Testament for Everyone (translated by N.T. Wright)

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Practice

Rethinking our relationship with the Bible: Part 2

This week, watch or listen to the next episode from Practicing the Way’s “Rule of Life” podcast: Scripture 02: When the Bible seems weird to you. Then, reflect on the following questions:

• How do you respond when the Bible is strange, confusing, or even offensive to you? Do you dig in and study it out? Set it aside and try not to think about it? Are you unsure of what to do?

• According to the Bible Project, "The Bible is a unified story that leads to Jesus." Is this a new concept for you? How might this approach change the way you read and relate to Scripture?

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All the Wright moves

Here’s a link to the book our guest speaker, Glenn Schroder, mentioned yesterday. Tom Wright is a New Testament scholar, Pauline theologian, and Anglican bishop. He’s translated the New Testament (see link above) and written numerous books and Bible commentaries. He also has a great podcast. It's especially nice if dense, Biblical academia is not your cup of tea. And speaking of tea, Tom has a lovely, British accent!