Lectio Divina literally “divine reading”. This is a way of becoming immersed in the Scriptures very personally. Many of my THEROADOFFAITH reflections are formed from Lectio Divina from the Bible or other readings.
The Christian form of Lectio Divina was first introduced by St. Gregory of Nyssa and also encouraged by St. Benedict of Nursia the founder of the Benedictine order. Lectio Divina is a way of developing a closer relationship with God by reflecting prayerfully on His words. In Lectio Divina, the chosen spiritual text is read four times in total, giving an opportunity to think deeply about it and respond thoughtfully. When we practice Lectio Divina, we can imagine we’re actually involved in the events of Scripture — for example, hearing God’s words to the Israelites in the desert. It’s an intensely personal experience.
I recommend dedicating 30 minutes your time reading, reflecting and responding to the Holy Spirit. Set the spot aside for quiet, removing distractions (Matthew 6:6). Light a candle to serve as a gentle reminder when collecting your thoughts and help calm your mind. Say a prayer of invitation, something like, “God, open my heart to hear You speak,” and spend a few moments sitting quietly so my mind is open to hearing from God.
Then, read through the selected verses. Don’t just blast through the words but read deliberately and slowly. Listen for a word of phrase that pops out at you. When finished with this first reading, spend a few moments reflecting upon what you read and what God is trying to say.
Next, read through the verses a second time focusing further on the passage. Ask God to start making His focus clear. Reflect on what I believe God is saying. Try not to analyze the passage. This isn’t about “study mode”, thinking about interesting points. This is about listening to what God might be saying.
The third time through is a time to respond to what God is saying. This is a great time to journal. I love to write down what I feel God is saying to me in the verses. I don’t try to overthink or have a preconceived thought in what I write. I try to let God speak to me and often find what I wrote on the page isn’t what I first thought when I picked up the pen. You can also respond in prayer, which gives an opportunity for a conversation with God.
Lastly, spend a few minutes in silent contemplation. This isn’t a time of prayer or meditation — just sit quietly and allow God to work. When my mind starts to wander and dart here and there, I bring it gently back to stillness again.
Tomorrow, we close our “Drawing Closer to God” series with thoughts on journaling.