Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina, a prayer for spiritual growth, is a helpful tool. “Lectio” means reading, and “divina” means holy or sacred. Lectio Divina has been practiced for centuries as a way to encourage spiritual growth. Across Christianity it has become a popular method of approaching Scripture in our information-saturated world.
Preparation: Find a quiet place to do lectio. Choose a Biblical text on which to meditate. Read slowly for meaning, not speed.
1. Silence (silencio) – Take several deep breaths and allow the silence to quiet your inside clutter
2. Read the Word (lectio) – Read a brief portion of Scripture slowly several times, listening for a key phrase or word that stands out to you. What is the word or phrase that stands out to you?
3. Meditate (meditatio) – Reread the passage slowly. As you attend to the deeper meaning of the text, pay attention to the emotions that arise in you. Also allow your imagination and senses to be involved (i.e. what you taste, smell, see, hear, and touch). What are you experiencing and observing? (This helps the Word to sink from your head to your heart)
4. Contemplate (comtemplatio) – Reread the passage one more time. In silence listen (instead of talking to God or thinking your thoughts) and allow God to speak to you. What do you sense God saying and how does he want you to respond?
5. Prayer (oratio) – Allow a period of silence as you rest in God. End with a prayer of commitment to what God has said during this time in the word. Feel free to speak your prayer or to write it out.
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Here are some scriptures for you to use in practicing lectio Divina:
OLD TESTAMENT: Psa. 63:1-8, Exo. 14:10-14, Psa. 16:5-11, Psa. 1:1-6, Josh. 1:5-9, Psa. 46:1-7, Deut. 11:13-21, Psa. 27:4-8, Psa. 3:3-8, Psa. 37:3-7, I Kings 19:9-13, Psa. 103:1-5, Psa. 40:1-3, Psa. 119:9-16, Psa. 62:5-8, Psa. 73:21-28, Psa. 125:1-5, Lam. 3:19-32, Jer. 17:5-8, Deut. 30:14-20, Gen. 13:5-18, Gen. 50:15-21, Exo. 3:1-6, Psa. 18:1-3, Psa. 20:1-5, Psa. 23:1-3, Psa. 34:1-8, Psa. 34:15-19, Psa.85:8-13, Psa. 91:1-8, Psa. 121:1-8, Psa. 139:1-18, Psa. 143:8-10, Prov. 3:1-8, Isa. 30:15-18, Isa. 30:18-21, Isa. 32:16-20, Isa. 40:28-31, Isa. 41:9-10, Isa. 42:5-9, Isa. 43:18-21, Isa. 49:13-16, Isa. 50:9-11, Isa. 54:5-10, Isa. 57:14-21, Isa. 58:11-12, Isa. 64:88-9, Jer. 6:19, Zeph. 3:14-17, Hab. 3:17-19.
NEW TESTAMENT: Matt. 6:25-34, Phil. 4:4-7,Mark 8:27-38, Col. 4:2-6, Gal. 2:19-21, Col. 3:12-17, I Pet. 5:5-11, Eph. 4:29-5:2, II Cor. 4:16-18, Matt. 11:28-29, Mark 10:35-45, Luke 19:1-10, Jn. 14:1-5, Jn. 14:23-27, Jn. 14:1-5, Rom. 8:31-39, Rom. 12:1-2, I Cor. 13:1-13, II Cor. 1:1-5, II Cor. 2:14-17, II Cor. 4:1-12, II Cor. 5:1-10, II Cor. 10:3-6, II Cor. 12:8-10, Gal. 5:13-26, Eph. 1:15-23, Eph. 2:13-16, Eph. 6:10-18, Phil 2:1-11, Phil. 3:7-14, Phil 4:10-13, Col. 2:6-10, I Thess. 5:16-24, Heb. 4:12-16, Heb. 12:1-3, James 1:2-8, James 1:22-27, James 3:1-12, James 4:1-10, James 15:1-5.
GROUP LECTIO DIVINA (A group prayer for Spiritual Growth):
The practice of lectio can be a great experience for a group. I have used this in a woman’s Bible study group for over 10 years and it has been an effective tool for growth for us.
1. Silence (silencio) – Begin with a few moments of silence and then open with prayer.
2. Read the Word (lectio) – Have someone read the passage 2 or 3 times, slowly and deliberately. Participants are asked to choose a word that speaks to them and share it with the group.
3. Meditate (meditatio) – Read the passage 2 more times (with a different voice). In silence, ask participants to reflect on the word or phrase that speaks to them, attending to the emotions it brings up in them. Also, ask them to be aware of the senses that are triggered through the text (taste, smell, see, hear, and touch) Encourage the participants to share what they experience or observe if they are willing.
4. Contemplation (comtemplatio) – Read the passage once again (with a different voice); a longer period of silence is kept in order for each person to listen to what God is saying to them. Allow the participants to share what God is saying to them through the text and how they plan to respond.
5. Prayer (oratio) – Close with a prayer of commitment to what they have heard God saying through the text.
Final Words on lectio:
Guigo II (ca.1115-ca.1198), a Carthusian monastic order in France, wrote these words: “Reading is an exterior exercise; meditation belongs to the inner intellect. Prayer operates at the level of desire. Contemplation transcends every sense”.
Mary Margaret Funk says, “Lectio divina is a personal prayer and each individual needs to see how it works best”.
Saint Benedict described lectio as “cultivating the ability to listen deeply (and) to hear ‘with the ear of our heart'”.