What might it look like for us to be people who seek separation in order to pursue spiritual growth?
How could we apply some of the principles we see in the Desert Fathers and Mothers within our contemporary context?

“In contemporary society our Adversary majors in three things: noise, hurry, and crowds. If he can keep us engaged in ‘muchness’ and ‘manyness,’ he will rest satisfied.” - Richard Foster

Devote: Proskartereō: to be earnest towards, to persevere, to be constantly diligent, to attend continually, continue in/with, and to wait on.

What is something you could un-devote from over the next 40 days so that you can devote yourselves to prayer?

- Commit to be here on Sunday
- Download the Lectio 365 Bible app
- Get in a Hub Group

Beloved Is Where We Begin
If you would enter into the wilderness, do not begin without a blessing. Do not leave without hearing who you are: Beloved, named by the One who has traveled this path before you. Do not go without letting it echo in your ears, and if you find it is hard to let it into your heart, do not despair. That is what this journey is for. I cannot promise this blessing will free you from danger, from fear, from hunger or thirst, from the scorching of sun or the fall of the night. But I can tell you that on this path there will be help. I can tell you that on this way there will be rest. I can tell you that you will know the strange graces that come to our aid only on a road such as this, that fly to meet us bearing comfort and strength, that come alongside us for no other cause than to lean themselves toward our ear and with their curious insistence whisper our name:
Beloved.
Beloved.
Beloved.
—Jan Richardson from Circle of Grace

What is something you could un-devote from over the next 40 days so that you can devote yourselves to prayer?