{"id":2449,"date":"2026-01-26T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/?p=2449"},"modified":"2026-01-13T19:00:27","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T00:00:27","slug":"epray-ep-38-lectio-divina-begin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/2026\/01\/26\/epray-ep-38-lectio-divina-begin\/","title":{"rendered":"ePray | Ep. 38 Lectio Divina: Begin"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/a>\n\n\n\r\n
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ePray | Lectio Divina: Ep. 38 Begin<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Listen to the episode here, or read the transcript below – and don’t forget to tune in weekly!<\/p>\n

ePray | Episode 38| January 23, 2026
\nLectio Divina: Begin<\/strong>
\nWith Josh Lott – Youth for Christ Canada<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tReturn to ePray<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead Transcript<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t
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Lectio Divina: Begin
\nDate: January 23, 2026
\nScripture: Zechariah 4:10<\/strong><\/p>\n

Josh Lott<\/b><\/p>\n

Part 1: Inward Focus<\/strong><\/p>\n

Welcome, friends.<\/p>\n

As you arrive at this moment, take a deep breath in and a slow breath out. Let your body settle, your mind quiet, and your heart become aware of God\u2019s presence with you right now.<\/p>\n

Our theme for January is Begin.<\/p>\n

We are listening today to a short but powerful verse from Zechariah 4:10, a word that speaks into places of small starts, fragile hope, and new beginnings. As this Scripture is read, turn your thoughts quietly toward the Lord. Ask Him: \u201cGod, as this new year begins, what do You want to say to me about the small things You are starting in my life and ministry?\u201d<\/p>\n

Listen now to Zechariah 4:10:<\/p>\n

\u201cWho dares despise the day of small things\u2026?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let those words linger for a moment: \u201cthe day of small things.<\/p>\n

Where in your life with God does something feel small, unimpressive, or easily overlooked? It might be a habit you are trying to start, a new discipline of prayer, a step toward healthier rhythms, or a fresh beginning in a relationship or in ministry.<\/p>\n

As you rest in silence, you might gently ask:<\/p>\n

\u25cfLord, where am I tempted to despise or dismiss the small beginnings in my life?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u25cfWhat are You beginning in me right now, even if it feels hidden or fragile?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u25cfHow do You see these small things?<\/em><\/p>\n

Allow one of these words or phrases from the verse to stay with you: \u201csmall things,\u201d \u201cbegin,\u201d \u201cdo not despise.\u201d Let it sink from your mind into your heart.<\/p>\n

Let us pause for a moment to be silent and listen.<\/p>\n

Pause<\/p>\n

Part 2: Outward Focus<\/b><\/p>\n

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We will listen again to this verse, but now with our hearts turned outward.<\/p>\n

As you hear Zechariah 4:10 again, ask the Holy Spirit to bring to mind one young person in your life\u2014a student, a young leader, someone in your community\u2014for whom God is beginning something new. It might not look impressive from the outside. It might be barely noticeable. But God sees and values the \u201cday of small things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Listen again:<\/p>\n

\u201cWho dares despise the day of small things\u2026?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hold that young person before the Lord now. Picture their face. Remember where you last saw them, what they are walking through, how you have seen even the smallest signs of God at work in them.<\/p>\n

In this quiet space, you might ask:<\/p>\n

\u25cfLord, what \u201csmall thing\u201d are You beginning in this young person\u2019s life?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u25cfHow are You inviting me to notice, encourage, and bless what You are doing in them?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u25cfIs there a word of hope, a prayer, a simple act of presence you are calling me to offer?<\/em><\/p>\n

Let us pause for a moment to be silent and listen.<\/p>\n

Pause<\/p>\n

Consider how this word might change your perspective today:<\/p>\n

When you see small steps\u2014a question asked, a tiny bit of vulnerability, a single choice to come closer to Jesus\u2014ask God to help you celebrate rather than overlook those beginnings.<\/p>\n

Ask the Lord to help you begin again too: in prayer, in love, in showing up for young people, trusting that He delights in the day of small things.<\/p>\n

Invite God now to give you one concrete response for today: a conversation to start, a message to send, a prayer to pray, or a simple act of faithfulness in the small things.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Part 3: Closing Prayer<\/b><\/p>\n

As we close this time, we end with a prayer of surrender that echoes the heart of the WesleyanCovenant Prayer\u2014offering our beginnings, our small things, and our whole selves to God.<\/p>\n

Let us pray together.<\/p><\/div>\n

Lord, this year, I offer You my beginnings.<\/div>\n
The small habits, the quiet prayers, the unseen acts of love.<\/div>\n
I confess how easily I despise or dismiss what seems small.<\/div>\n
Teach me to see as You see.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I am no longer my own, but Yours.<\/i><\/div>\n
Put me to what You will, place me with whom You will.<\/i><\/div>\n
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.<\/i><\/div>\n
Let me be put to work for You or set aside for You,<\/i><\/div>\n
Praised for You or criticized for You.<\/i><\/div>\n
Let me be full, let me be empty.<\/i><\/div>\n
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.<\/i><\/div>\n
I freely and fully surrender all things<\/i><\/div>\n
to Your glory and service.<\/i><\/div>\n
Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer,<\/i><\/div>\n
You are mine, and I am Yours.<\/i><\/div>\n
So be it.<\/i><\/div>\n
And the covenant which I have made on earth,<\/i><\/div>\n
let it also be made in heaven.<\/i><\/div>\n
Amen.<\/i><\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\n\n
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Return to ePray<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Listen to this episode<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Welcome. Our theme for January is Begin. Allow God to speak to you through this guided prayer…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":96,"featured_media":2448,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[91],"tags":[114,113],"class_list":["post-2449","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-epray","tag-begin","tag-january"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2449","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/96"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2449"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2449\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2448"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2449"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2449"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2449"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}