Have you ever had a Bible verse jump off the page at you? As you’re reading, a phrase or words just seem to speak to your heart, unlike any others on the page? I was taken aback the first time this happened, couldn’t understand how these words seemed to speak so profoundly and personally to me. Now, one of my favorite phenomena of studying God’s word is experiencing how the Bible is a living text and God can speak through its words to the core of my heart.
What Is Lectio Divina?
Lectio Divina, “divine reading,” is a way to connect with God’s word through prayer. It’s sometimes described as reading scripture with the “ear of the heart.”
The Lectio Divina prayer method was founded by Saint Benedict and Pope Gregory in the 6th century, although its roots date back to the Christian scholar Origen in the 3rd century. It has been a core part of monastic life for centuries but has been growing in use outside the monastery too. Over the last century, Lectio Divina has become more widely practiced within the Catholic church, as well as with Protestants. It’s a prayer method with deep roots and a powerful connection to God.
This form of prayer is different from reading the Bible for study or analysis. Rather the passage is read as the living Word of God, through which he can speak into your heart.
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Lectio Divina is a process of reading, reflecting, responding, and resting in a piece of scripture.
It’s a way to engage God in a conversation and listen for His words to you.
Allow the “ear of your heart” to listen for God’s still small voice
Lectio Divina has become one of my favorite forms of prayer. I love the intimacy of choosing a small verse of scripture and diving deep into it. Soaking in each word and then listening for what God wants me to hear. Sometimes He speaks something related to the scripture and sometimes the scripture is a spark for something else He wants me to hear.
How To Pray the Basic Lectio Divina Steps
Lectio Divina is a meditative prayer, allowing God to speak through his living Word. It has been described as a way to “feast on God’s Word”, so we’ll use that analogy as we walk through the four steps of this prayer.
“Seek in reading and you will find in meditation; knock in prayer and it will be opened to you in contemplation.” ~St. John of the Cross explaining the four steps of Lectio Divina
- READ a brief passage of Scripture – “take a bite”
- REFLECT and meditate on the word or phrase that caught your heart – “chew”
- RESPOND in prayer to what God called to your attention – “savor”
- REST in God, contemplating his word to you – “digest”
Prepare Your Heart for Lectio Divina Prayer
Choose a passage of scripture. You can use any scripture for Lectio Divina. Remember, though, this isn’t a study exercise, so you don’t need a whole chapter or lengthy passage. A short passage or even a single verse or two is sufficient.
- As you get started, find a comfortable and quiet place to sit.
- Begin to quiet your mind and body, setting aside all the thoughts and to-do lists running through your mind.
- Open your time of prayer by calling upon the Holy Spirit to guide your reading.
Step #1: READ (lectio)
In this first step, we’re “taking a bite” of the scripture (lectio) by reading a passage of Scripture.
Read the verse slowly, several times, listening with the “ear of the heart.”
Some methods of Lectio Divina recommend reading the verses at least four times. It may even help to listen to the verses read either from an audio Bible or by another person.
- Is there a word or phrase that begins to stand out to you?
- The word or phrase that grabs your heart may not be the main idea of the passage. Listen and be open to how God wants to use his Word to speak into your heart.
- Begin to repeat that word or phrase over and over slowly, soaking your heart in the words.
Step #2: REFLECT (meditatio)
Next, spend some time “chewing” on the words or phrases God placed in your heart.
Reflect and meditate on the words you heard in the Scripture passage, attentive to what speaks to your heart.
- Sit in the silence and allow God the space to speak to you as you turn the words over in your mind.
- Ponder what these words mean for your life.
- What hope or encouragement do these words bring to you?
- What next step do you feel God asking you to take?
Step #3: RESPOND (oratio)
Now “savor” the essence of God’s Word.
Respond in prayer to what you heard from God and how the words spoke to your heart.
- Offer up a prayer of praise, thanksgiving, or petition, depending on how you’re moved.
- Continue turning your word or phrase over and over in your mind.
- Share your heart with God in prayer, responding to his Word.
Step #4: REST (contemplatio)
Finally, “digest” what God’s spoken to you, embedding it deeply into your heart.
Rest in God and contemplate his words for your life. Sit in the silence and just “be” with God for a few minutes.
Open your heart to God’s presence and allow His words to permeate your soul.
- You may want to journal your experience so you can see how God is moving in your life.
- Record the verse you used and what you heard God speak to your heart.
- Write down how those words apply to your life and how is God calling you to action in response.
A Lectio Divina Example You Can Pray Today:
Are you ready to give Lectio Divina a try? Follow the guided prayer below and experience Lectio Divina for yourself.
Prepare:
- Open your Bible to John 10:24-30 (or queue up an audio Bible version).
- Get comfortable and clear your mind for prayer.
- Ask God to come into this time and speak to you through his Word.
Read:
- Read John 10:24-30.
- Pause to listen for any words or phrases that caught your attention.
- Now, read John 10:24-30 again, slowly. Listen to each word, opening your heart to hear God.
Reflect:
- Sit back and close your eyes.
- Think about the word or phrase that seemed to catch in your heart as you read through this passage.
- Turn just those words over and over in your mind.
- Listen for what God wants to speak into your heart through these words.
Respond:
- After you’ve reflected on these words and God’s whispers to your heart, respond to him in prayer.
- Discuss with God what you’ve heard and how your heart feels led to respond.
Rest:
- Keeping your eyes closed and body relaxed, sit in the silence with God.
- Spend time in his presence, allowing his words and your responses to sink deeply into your heart.
While you can experience Lectio Divina prayer on your own with any scripture, it can be helpful to use a guide as you get started. The Pray As You Go app has a beautiful collection of prayers available, including several guided Lectio Divina prayers. You can also find many other examples and guides online.
PRAY DEEP CHALLENGE: Choose a scripture and try Lectio Divina today. Try starting with Matthew 11:25-30. Journal your experience and how you heard God speak to the ears of your heart through the passage.
Resources:
About Lectio Divina @ Contemplative Outreach
Lectio Divina Resources @ BibleGateway.com
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