# Spaciousness Day 5 > Come to Stillness: Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God. > ### Opening Prayer: *Teach me, God to make room for you in all the events and affairs of my days. Then I shall find rest. Then I will be at peace with myself and with you. (Norman Shawchuck in A Guide To Prayer for All Who Seek God)* #### Psalm for the Week: Psalm 18:1-19 #### The Lord Is My Rock and My Fortress *To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, the servant of the Lord, who addressed the words of this song to the Lord on the day when the Lord rescued him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said:18 I love you, O Lord, my strength.2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,and I am saved from my enemies.4 The cords of death encompassed me;the torrents of destruction assailed me;[a]5 the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.6 In my distress I called upon the Lord;to my God I cried for help.From his temple he heard my voice,and my cry to him reached his ears.* *7 Then the earth reeled and rocked;the foundations also of the mountains trembledand quaked, because he was angry.8 Smoke went up from his nostrils,[b]and devouring fire from his mouth;glowing coals flamed forth from him.9 He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet.10 He rode on a cherub and flew;he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him,thick clouds dark with water.12 Out of the brightness before himhailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.13 The Lord also thundered in the heavens,and the Most High uttered his voice, hailstones and coals of fire.* *14 And he sent out his arrows and scattered them;he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.15 Then the channels of the sea were seen,and the foundations of the world were laid bareat your rebuke, O Lord,at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.16 He sent from on high, he took me;he drew me out of many waters.* *17 He rescued me from my strong enemyand from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,but the Lord was my support.19 He brought me out into a broad place;he rescued me, because he delighted in me.* #### Scripture for the Day: John 8:31-37 *The Truth Will Set You Free* *31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”* *34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave[a] to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you.* #### Reading for Reflection: *As our lives and faith progress, the heart expands and with the sweetness of love we move down the paths of God’s commandments. Never departing from His guidance…we patiently share in Christ’s passion, so we may eventually enter into the Kingdom of God. (The Rule of St. Benedict)* *Our “dwelling place” may be physical—a room, apartment, or house. It may also be a metaphor for mental and emotional [and spiritual] “space.” We can invite others into our inner world of thoughts and feelings, sharing gifts of heart and mind. Gracious inner space gives others room to play, question, and converse; room to be heard and understood; room to reveal themselves as they choose. (Soul Feast by Marjorie J. Thompson)* #### Reflection and Listening: silent and written #### Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself #### Song for the Week: How Deep the Father’s Love for Us *How deep the Father's love for us* *How vast beyond all measure* *That He would give His only Son* *To make a wretch His treasure* *How great the pain of searing loss* *The Father turns His face away* *As wounds which mar the chosen One* *Bring many sons to glory* *Behold the Man upon a cross* *My guilt upon His shoulders* *Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice* *Call out among the scoffers* *It was my sin that held Him there* *Until it was accomplished* *His dying breath has brought me life* *I know that it is finished* *I will not boast in anything* *No gifts, no power, no wisdom* *But I will boast in Jesus Christ* *His death and resurrection* *Why should I gain from His reward?* *I cannot give an answer* *But this I know with all my heart* *His wounds have paid my ransom* ### Closing Prayer: *O Lord, the house of my soul is too small for you to enter: make it more spacious by your coming.*