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ePray | Lectio Divina: Ep. 70 Renewal
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ePray | Episode 70| September 7, 2026
Lectio Divina: Renewal
With Char Lockhart – Central Alberta Youth Unlimited
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Lectio Divina: Renewal
Date: September 7, 2026
Scripture: Isaiah 40:29–31
Char Lockhart
Part 1: Inward Focus
Welcome, everyone.
Our theme for this month is Renewal, and today we are going to spend some time reflecting on Isaiah 40:29–31.
These verses hold familiar words for many of us, and yet, I think sometimes the passages we know well are the ones we need to return to again and again, allowing God to meet us in each new season afresh.
Before we read the passage, let’s take a moment to slow down and become aware of God’s presence.
Take a slow breath in, and as you do, silently pray:
“Lord, I receive Your strength.”
And as you breathe out:
“I release what I am carrying.”
Again…
Breathe in: “Lord, I receive Your strength.”
And breathe out: “I release what I am carrying.”
One more time.
Breathe in: “Lord, I receive Your strength.”
And breathe out: “I release what I am carrying.”
Lord, quiet our hearts and our minds.
Help us to become aware of You and to listen to what You might want to speak to us today.
Amen.
Listen now to Isaiah 40:29–31:
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young people stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
As you hear those words, notice what catches your attention.
Perhaps there is a word or phrase that seems to meet you where you are today.
The passage begins with something that is very human and very universal:
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”
We all have seasons when we become weary.
We can be tired, discouraged, overwhelmed, uncertain, or simply feel like we don’t have what we need for what is in front of us.
Our first question is:
Where are you feeling weary or weak right now?
You don’t need to fix it or explain it.
Simply notice it, and bring that place before God.
Pause
The passage then says:
“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.”
To hope in someone is to turn toward them with trust and expectation. We don’t place our hope in someone we don’t believe will meet us.
So our second question is:
What would it look like for you to turn toward the Lord with hope today?
Where might you be trying to rely on your own strength, when God is inviting you to look to Him?
Perhaps simply whisper, “Lord, I am turning toward You.”
Pause
And finally, let’s return to the image at the end of the passage:
“They will soar on wings like eagles.”
If you’ve ever watched an eagle high in the sky, you may have noticed that it doesn’t seem to be working very hard to stay there. Its wings are stretched wide, and it seems to catch the currents of the air and simply be carried.
There is something beautiful about that picture.
The weary person is not simply given more strength to work harder.
There is an invitation to receive strength — to be carried.
So our final question is:
Where might God be inviting you to stop striving and allow yourself to be carried by Him?
What would it look like to stretch out your wings, so to speak, and trust the strength of the One who is carrying you?
Rest in that invitation.
Pause
Part 2: Outward Focus
Now let’s turn our attention outward.
Think of one young person in your life.
Perhaps someone who is tired, discouraged, overwhelmed, uncertain, or carrying more than they know how to carry.
As I read the passage again, bring that young person to mind.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young people stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
As you picture this young person, consider:
Where might they be experiencing weariness or weakness right now?
What might they be carrying that others don’t see?
Bring that part of their story before God.
Pause
And then:
What would it look like for this young person to discover that their strength doesn’t have to come entirely from themselves?
Pray that they would come to know a God who meets them in their weakness, gives strength to the weary, and invites them to place their hope in Him.
Ask God how you might be part of that — through your presence, your listening, your encouragement, or simply by walking alongside them.
Pause
As you move into the rest of your day, perhaps carry one phrase from this passage with you:
“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.”
You may still feel tired.
You may still have difficult things to carry.
But you don’t have to generate all the strength yourself.
The God who has carried you before is still with you now.
Part 2: Closing Prayer
We will close with an ancient prayer for our Father’s peace and protection as we entrust ourselves into his care:
O God,
from whom all holy desires, all good counsels,
and all just works do proceed:
give to your servants that peace
which the world cannot give;
that our hearts may be set to obey your will;
and that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies,
may pass our time in rest and quietness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.