{"id":2501,"date":"2026-05-18T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/?p=2501"},"modified":"2026-05-11T11:06:40","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T15:06:40","slug":"epray-ep-54-lectio-divina-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/2026\/05\/18\/epray-ep-54-lectio-divina-growth\/","title":{"rendered":"ePray | Ep. 54 Lectio Divina: Growth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<a name=\"top\"><\/a>\n\n\n\r\n<section class=\"y-intro guten-block \">\r\n\t<div class=\"y-intro--upper\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-narrow\">\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"y-intro--upper--row\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"y-intro--upper--left\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"y-intro--title\">ePray | Lectio Divina: Ep. 54 Growth<\/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<div class=\"y-intro--content\"><p>Listen to the episode here, or read the transcript below &#8211; and don&#8217;t forget to tune in weekly!<\/p>\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-2501-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2026\/05\/May-18.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2026\/05\/May-18.mp3\">https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2026\/05\/May-18.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">ePray | Episode 54| May 18, 2026<br \/>\n<strong>Lectio Divina: Growth<\/strong><br \/>\nWith Brett Andrews &#8211; 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<div class=\"y-intro--buttons\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"button primary\" href=\"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/epray\/\" target=\"_self\">Return 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\t<a class=\"button secondary\" href=\"#read\" target=\"_self\">Read 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<div class=\"y-intro--upper--right\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"y-c-img extend\">\n\t\t<div class=\"y-c-img--extend short\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2026\/04\/May.jpg);\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"y-c-img--contain\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2026\/04\/May.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t<div class=\"y-intro--lower\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-narrow\">\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"y-intro--lower--left\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n\n\n<a name=\"read\"><\/a>\n\n\n<section class=\"y-columned-content white one center  guten-block\" >\r\n\t<div class=\"grid-narrow\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"y-columned-content--inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"y-columned-content--column y-color-responsive-text\"><p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Lectio Divina: Growth<br \/>\nDate: May 18, 2026<br \/>\nScripture: Mark 4: 26-27<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Brett Andrews<\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Part 1: Inward Focus<\/strong><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<p>Welcome to e-pray.\u00a0 I am Brett Andrews and I have been with YFC for approximately 39 years.\u00a0 I serve with the National Team as the Director of People Development.<\/p>\n<p>It is my great privilege to share this week\u2019s epray with you. Our theme for this month is Growth and I will be sharing from Mark 4, verses 26 &amp; 27 which are part of what is called the Parable of the Growing Seed.<\/p>\n<p>In this chapter in Mark\u2019s gospel, Jesus tells several parables around growth and how the kingdom of God works. He doesn\u2019t spend time explaining these parables\u2026 he simply gives them for us to ponder.<\/p>\n<p>Before I read the scripture, I invite you to pause to quiet your heart and mind\u2026<\/p>\n<p>If it helps, breathe in saying \u201cJesus speak to me\u201d and exhale, \u201cI am listening.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mark 4:26, 27<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>He also said, \u201cThis is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Where in my life am I trying to control the outcomes instead of trusting the slow, unseen process of growth?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Pause<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Do I feel restless when I don\u2019t see immediate results in my spiritual life or in the lives of others? What might it look like to be more patient?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Pause<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Part 2: Outward Focus<\/b><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<div dir=\"auto\">\n<div>\n<p><strong>What \u201cseeds\u201d am I currently planting in others\u2019 lives (through words, actions, or influence)?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Pause<\/p>\n<p><strong>Am I discouraged when I do not see visible impact from what I do? How might I continue faithfully without needing immediate results?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Pause<\/p>\n<p><strong>Where am I seeing evidence that God by his Spirit is at work in the life of a young person that I am in relationship with? How can I join the Holy Spirit in this?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Pause<\/p>\n<p>Consider how this word might change your perspective today:<\/p>\n<p>Mark 4:26, 27<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>He also said, \u201cThis is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Part 3: Closing Prayer<\/b><\/p>\n<p>We will close with an ancient prayer for God\u2019s peace and protection as we entrust ourselves into his care.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">O God,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from whom all holy desires, all good counsels,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and all just works do proceed:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> give to your servants that peace<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which the world cannot give;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that our hearts may be set to obey your will;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> may pass our time in rest and quietness;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> through Jesus Christ our Lord.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span> <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amen.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/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<section class=\"y-columned-content white one center  guten-block\" >\r\n\t<div class=\"grid-narrow\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"y-columned-content--inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"y-columned-content--column y-color-responsive-text\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"button primary\" href=\"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/epray\/\">Return to ePray<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <a class=\"button secondary\" href=\"#top\">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":"<p>Welcome. Our theme for May is Growth. May you find growth in Christ through this guided prayer&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":96,"featured_media":2497,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[91],"tags":[122,121],"class_list":["post-2501","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-epray","tag-growth","tag-may"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2501","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=2501"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2501\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2497"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2501"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2501"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2501"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}