Lectio Divina
What
Lectio Divina, or divine reading, is the discipline of listening for the voice of God through the images, words, and phrases that catch our attention as we read the Scriptures. Lectio Divina helps us hear the voice of God through reading and reflection using the ear of our heart.
Why
The Belgic Confession, one of the historic articulations of our Reformed faith, describes the Scriptures as one of the ways we come to know God. This means that our reading of Scripture is a way of getting to know God. We study the Scriptures and read the Scriptures but we rarely think about the Scriptures as a way of building a relationship with God. This is easy to forget, particularly when reading the Scriptures feels like an obligation, a task, or a chore.
Lectio divina transforms our reading of the Scriptures from a transaction to an encounter with the living God. Lectio Divina makes space for the Holy Spirit to engage with us through God’s word, rather than our reading being only for information gathering. Because we want to have moments where we listen to God speaking within Scripture and also moments where we remember the vitality of Scripture, we practice Lectio Divina. Through lectio divina, we become more attuned to the voice of God and gradually allow the voice of God to come alive within and through us.
How
Preparation | Select a Scripture Passage + Place
Set aside 15 minutes to try this. Find a place where you can have quiet and solitude. Choose a scripture passage to read. A Psalm can be a great place to start!
Step 1 | Silencio | Allow Yourself to Become Silent and Still Before God
Come into the presence of God and quiet yourself. You could pray something as simple as the prayer that Eli taught Samuel to pray as he prepared himself to hear the voice of God: “Here I am, Lord!”
Step 2 | Lectio | Read Aloud + Notice the Images, Words, Phrases
Read through a chosen passage slowly, with focus, and aloud to yourself. Pause and reflect on what you read. What images, words, or phrases stood out to you? Sit with those words or phrases, running them through your mind for a couple minutes. You need only notice them this time around.
Step 3 | Meditatio | Meditate on the Connection Between the Text and My Life
Read the passage to yourself a second time. Notice the words or phrases that catch your attention. How do the words or phrases connect to your heart, life, and relationships? Take a moment to ask God to bring to your recollection moments, interactions, actions, or stories from your life that He might be inviting you to consider.
Step 4 | Oratio | Discern the Divine Invitation
Slowly reread the passage with your mind on God’s love for you. What is God’s invitation to you? How is God inviting you to respond? Take a moment to ask God what the message or revelation might be for you in those words.
Step 5 | Contemplatio | Contemplate + Rest in the Presence of God
Take a moment to pray again. Thank God for the word you read, and rest in God’s presence. Allow yourself to experience the calm and peace that comes from taking time with God.
Resources
Opening to God: Lectio Divina and Life as Prayer by David G. Benner
Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading by Eugene H. Peterson