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Manna for the Movement: Psalm 125 image

Manna for the Movement: Psalm 125

CCDA Podcast
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Welcome to Manna for the Movement, short devotionals from the CCDA community to encourage you to meet with God today, wherever you find yourself on your journey. For the next three weeks, every Thursday, this series will focus on the theme of Shalom—a concept encompassing wholeness, well-being, justice, development, and harmony. It speaks to a state of right relationship with God, with one another, and with creation, where nothing is missing and nothing is broken.

In this episode, Lyndal Bedford leads us in meditating on Psalm 125 through the practice of Lectio Divina.

Lyndal is a licensed clinical social worker for the state of Florida and the Founder, CEO, and Clinical Director of Community Bridge Counseling and Outreach Services. Along with working at CBCOS, he also serves as an Assistant Professor of Social Work at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in sociology and a Master of Social Work degree from Southeastern University. Lyndal has experience working in the mental health field, including areas such as the school system, medical settings, and private practice. Before getting into social work, Lyndal spent his time working as a licensed minister and a U.S. missionary. He is passionate about Christian community development and helping others to thrive in their communities. He currently co-leads the behavioral health network for the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) and works to provide mental health services and support for local church members, local schools, and other organizations. In his free time, he loves to spend time with his friends/family, play pickleball, play board games, and go to the movies.

Learn more about CCDA and how you can get involved at ccda.org. Connect with CCDA on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Follow CCDA on YouTube.

Transcript

Introduction to 'Manna for the Movement'

00:00:10
Speaker
Hello, welcome to Manna for the Movement, short devotionals from the CCDA community to encourage you to meet with God today, wherever you find yourself on your journey.
00:00:22
Speaker
Hi, let me introduce myself. My name is Lyndal Bedford, and I'm one of the co-facilitators of the Behavioral Health Affinity Network with CCDA, and I will be leading us through today's reading.

Preparing for Meditation

00:00:34
Speaker
This is a space where we take a few minutes out of our day to recenter ourselves and meditate on the Bible together. So I want you to find a comfortable place to sit, silence your phone, limit any distractions, and let's begin.

Introduction to Lectio Divina

00:00:49
Speaker
Today, we'll be looking at Psalms 125 through the practice of Lectio Divina, which means divine reading in Latin. It's a meditative way of reading the Bible in which we let go of our agendas and open ourselves to what God is trying to say to us.

First Reading of Psalms 125

00:01:06
Speaker
I'll be reading from the New King James Version. So, together, let's take ah breath in
00:01:16
Speaker
and a breath out.
00:01:20
Speaker
One more time. Let's take a breath in
00:01:26
Speaker
and a breath out.
00:01:30
Speaker
I'll be reading from Psalms 125, verses 1 through 5. And it says this, Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
00:01:48
Speaker
As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forever. For the scepter of the wickedness shall not rest,
00:02:01
Speaker
on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity. Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts.
00:02:15
Speaker
As for such as turned aside to their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them away with the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel.

Reflective Second Reading

00:02:28
Speaker
Was there a word or phrase that stood out to you in this passage? Let's take a moment to savor the word or the phrase.
00:02:39
Speaker
In this second reading, what I want you to do is i want you to ask the Holy Spirit to lift a word or a phrase that is meaningful for us today. As we read it again, ah really want you to attune your spirit to the nudge of the Holy Spirit.
00:02:56
Speaker
Psalms 125, verses 1 through 5. Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
00:03:11
Speaker
As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forever. For the scepter of the wickedness shall not rest,
00:03:25
Speaker
on the land allotted for the righteous, lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity. Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts.
00:03:39
Speaker
As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them away with the workers of iniquity.

Conversational Prayer in Third Reading

00:03:49
Speaker
Peace be upon Israel.
00:03:54
Speaker
What stands out to you in this passage? If you are able, whisper it to yourself. You could speak it out loud, or you can even write it down and carry it with through you throughout your day.
00:04:10
Speaker
In this third reading, I want you to imagine God sitting in the room with you, inviting you into a conversation about this passage. We are invited to respond in prayer.
00:04:25
Speaker
Psalms 125, verses 1 through 5.
00:04:32
Speaker
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Sinai, which cannot be moved but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people from this time forth and forever.
00:04:51
Speaker
For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest. on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity. Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts.
00:05:10
Speaker
As for such as turn aside their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them away with the workers of iniquity.

Final Reflective Reading and Closing

00:05:19
Speaker
Peace be upon Israel.
00:05:25
Speaker
What does this passage prompt in you?
00:05:29
Speaker
What questions do you want to ask?
00:05:33
Speaker
What do you want to talk to God about? For me, I love how this verse and how this book talks so heavily about just being with our Heavenly Father, to just be in His presence and to know that we can go to His resting place at any time in prayer.
00:05:55
Speaker
and overall spiritual community.
00:06:01
Speaker
We will continue with our final reading, this time more slowly to allow space for the Holy Spirit to speak.
00:06:11
Speaker
Psalms 125 verses 1 through 5.
00:06:19
Speaker
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Sinai.
00:06:26
Speaker
which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
00:06:33
Speaker
As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people from this time forth and forever.
00:06:45
Speaker
For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity.
00:07:00
Speaker
Do good, O Lord, to those who are good and to those who are upright in their hearts.
00:07:11
Speaker
As for such as turn aside their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them away with the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel.
00:07:28
Speaker
I pray that as you continue on with your day, you will be reminded of this passage, God's presence, and God's love for you. May you experience the peace of God and move in that peace today.
00:07:44
Speaker
I want to thank you so much for listening to Manna for the Movement and meditating with us. If you'd like to learn more about CCDA and how you can get involved, visit CCDA.org.
00:07:56
Speaker
And together, let's see our communities flourish.