Lectio divina is a very useful and practical discipline for spiritual growth. Rooted in ancient monasticism, the practice is a fourfold cycle: Reading, Meditation, Prayer, and Contemplation. In fact, the term itself means "sacred reading."
Reading. Lectio divina begins with a "text," whether that is the Bible, a spiritual classic, something in nature, or even another person. You must "take up and read." But the reading is not done to acquire knowledge or information, to master the text. Reading is done slowly, focusing on words and connections. In lectio divina, we are seeking to let the text master us.
I read through the Bible, a practice known as lectio continua, during my devotional times. I used to read for information, and to get through a certain amount (say, four chapters every day), but now I read slowly, taking at most a chapter each day. As I read, I listen for how the Word of God is addressing me.
Meditation. Meditation is focused thought. In lectio divina, we are neither letting our mind run wild with thoughts nor letting it empty of all thoughts. Instead, we concentrate our focus on the words of the text, thinking about each one. Let each word resonate within you.
Think of the meditation phase as though it were tea steeping. You are the hot water, and the tea bag is the Bible. As the tea bag steeps (reading), flavor is diffused throughout the hot water. This is meditation. It is the slow, simmering period where we digest the text and gain insight.
Prayer. The prayer phase takes the fruit of our meditation and offers it back to God. Perhaps a text led us to joy because of the gifts of God, or maybe a passage exposed sin in our lives and the need for repentance. Prayer is when we offer these insights back to God.
Contemplation. Contemplation is the act of sitting in the presence of God with total attention and concentration on God. After a time of prayer, we just sit with God.
If you preach or teach, you should use lectio divina as part of your preparation. Sit with the text away from analysis and exegesis, and let God speak to you through his word. A sermon or class could follow this four-part cycle.
For a sermon, the preacher could read the passage, describe the paths he or she explored during meditation and the insights found, and offer a prayer to God based on the meditation. After, there could be a congregational period of silence for contemplation.
When I teach, I often use lectio divina as an outline. I read the passage from my Bible and ask two or three others to read the same passage, but from different translations. Then I help the class to "meditate": I ask what words or images struck them from the reading, what they noticed or didn't noticed, what feelings they had as they read, or what was most surprising in the text. We follow these threads, learning from each other, and then conclude with prayer.
Lectio divina is a very helpful discipline for spiritual growth. If the reader practices lectio divina often, she will begin to plumb the depths of her soul and her relationship with God. The single greatest facet of lectio divina is its ability to create a mindset that can actually listen to and for God.
Jeremy M. Hoover is a part-time minister and writes full-time in Windsor, Ontario. visit his website to learn how he supports his writing with an online business. Read more of Jeremy's writing at his blog, visit his website
after renovation cleaning Glenview ..Recently I was watching a re-run of "Everybody Loves Raymond".... Read More
The smart 'spiritual' answer is 'you always get what you... Read More
Our Creator is an infinitely loving and generous provider -... Read More
"There must be a higher love/Without it life is wasted... Read More
The ultimate purpose of dreaming is to provide you with... Read More
Matthew 2:16-18Herod Kills the Children16 Then Herod, when he saw... Read More
Picture this state of existence in your mind by closing... Read More
We hear this word so often and have one thing... Read More
Let Your Family and Friends Know That You Are A... Read More
Enlightenment can come in an instant or it may take... Read More
It's an almost unbelievable thought, but could you be getting... Read More
There is an old tradition song called, The Lighthouse and... Read More
When the storms in your life are raging, just believe,... Read More
We all have spirit guides and we all benefit from... Read More
Rose Ann Schwab is an internationally and world renowned professional... Read More
A Nathan type prophet sees with his eyes. A Samuel... Read More
African-American people are natural caretakers. We do a great job... Read More
When we feel that something has gone wrong and are... Read More
The "Left Behind" series is inspiring, in that it makes... Read More
The still place is the beginning. Settle in there, ask... Read More
Obviously, if you really want to learn about the meanings... Read More
It is no doubt that so many of you are... Read More
There is a concept in Jewish mystical thought known as... Read More
Be filled with the Spirit.? always giving thanks to God... Read More
Do you want victory in your life? Do you have... Read More
no-contract cleaning service Lincolnshire ..Before Donna was born she took with her a dollar,... Read More
Have you heard the saying that; You have a friend... Read More
Spirit - All Around Us, All of Us, Every One... Read More
Sometimes, in traveling a path, we discover a short-cut, and... Read More
Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell recently starred in the movie... Read More
The Bible tells us that we need to be led... Read More
There is so much going on in the world around... Read More
If we don't behave according to a specific church's doctrine,... Read More
On one side there is a dark cloud. It is... Read More
Your guardian angel is your link to the divine. The... Read More
I'm not sure Paul had the Japanese culture in mind... Read More
Sundered Knight:Although the world, Denies the weak aid and justice,... Read More
Dreams take us not into ourselves, but out of ourselves.... Read More
Well I had a website that I was posting on... Read More
While study and pursuit of the Kundalini is considered part... Read More
Each of us has far more potential to serve the... Read More
Why do we have an Ego?Almost all spiritual guides say... Read More
I often ask myself this question. Not in the times... Read More
Presently, many of us live in uncertainty. Due to the... Read More
An Introduction to MatthewSETTINGHave you ever been promised something wonderful,... Read More
The word "psychology" is the combination of two terms -... Read More
All of my life I had heard, read and sang... Read More
Ever notice how people dread discussing... Read More
I come face to face with self whenever you come... Read More
An angel can be your best friend. Angels have been... Read More
Spirituality |