LECTIO DIVINA

How to Practice Lectio Divina

A step-by-step guide to praying the Bible

Early in my journey the Holy Spirit taught me to read scripture in prayer and meditation. It was years later when I learned this practice has a name. It’s called “Lectio Divina” for “divine reading” in Latin to draw closer to God through intentional reflection on His Word.  This method of praying Scripture and using Scripture in prayer is attested by the Jews throughout the Old Testament (Joshua 1:8, Psalms 1:2, 77:12). 

In the early fifth century the monk St. John Cassian who is  best known for his two written works: The Conferences and The Institutes depicted Lectio Divina's fruit as apprehending multiple hidden levels within the sacred text. But it through St. Cassian that the Catholic Church learned how effective Lectio Divina was and the third-century Bishop Cyprian of Carthage adopted the Jewish practice in a single sentence: "Be constant as well in prayer as in reading: now speak with God, now let God [speak] with you." 

Originally, it was not a religious practice until Ambrose of Milan reworked this phrase into a proverb that the Catholic Church now reference in their Catechism under NO. 2653, The Word of God, "We speak to him when we pray; we listen to him when we read the divine oracles.” 

You don’t have to be religious to embrace Lectio Divina, but be encouraged that when you to reflect on Scripture by meditating it provides guidance, wisdom, teachings, refutation, and training in righteousness (2 Tim 3:14-17). 

It’s a practice that begins by reading slow, and praying of the words in Scriptures. It’s about setting time aside in a special way to discover an underlying spiritual rhythm. Within this rhythm, we discover an increasing ability to offer more of ourselves and to accept the embrace that God is continuously extending to us in, Jesus Christ. 

Very often our concerns, our relationships, our hopes and aspirations, naturally intertwine with our meditations on the Scriptures. We can attend "with the ear of our hearts" to our own memories, listening for God's presence in the events of our lives. 

How to Practice: 

Lectio (Read)

Begin by reading or listening to a passage of scripture. 

Choose a text of the Scriptures that you wish to pray. It makes no difference which text is chosen, as long as one has no set goal of "covering" a certain amount of text. The passage does not need to be too long; 10-15 verses will do. Many suggest reading the passage 2-3 times either silently or aloud.  The amount of text covered is in God's hands, not yours.  

 

Turn to the text and read it slowly, gently. Savor each portion of the reading, constantly listening for the "still, small voice" of a word or phrase that somehow says, "I am for you today." Do not expect lightning or ecstasies. In lectio divina, God is teaching us to listen to him, to seek him in silence. He does not reach out and grab us; rather, he gently invites us ever more deeply into his presence. 

Meditatio (Meditate)

After reading or listening to the passage, meditate on the text for a few minutes. Don’t be afraid to use your imagination to picture yourself in the passage. Consider how the scripture is relevant in your own life. Does anything stick out?

Take the word or phrase into yourself. Memorize it and slowly repeat it to yourself, allowing it to interact with your inner world of concerns, memories, and ideas. Do not be afraid of distractions. Memories or thoughts are simply parts of yourself that, when they rise up during -these things we are asking to be given to God along with the rest of your inner self. Allow this inner pondering, this rumination, to invite you into dialogue with God. 

Oratio (Pray)

When you feel ready, respond with prayer. Aloud, silently, or written in the journal, spontaneous or with a prayer book, long or short, respond in a way that feels right to you in that moment.

Speak to God. Whether you use words, ideas, or images--or all three--is not important. Interact with God as you would with one who you know loves and accepts you. And give to him what you have discovered during your experience of meditation. 

 

Experience God by using the word or phrase he has given you as a means of blessing and of transforming the ideas and memories that your reflection on his word has awakened. Give to God what you have found within your heart. 

Contemplatio (Contemplate)

The final step is to rest in God’s presence. Contemplation is a space where you can set aside “doing” and prioritize “being” with God’s love for you. 

 

Place yourself in a comfortable position and allow yourself to become silent. Some focus for a few moments on their breathing; others have a beloved "prayer word" or "prayer phrase" they gently recite. For some, the practice known as "centering prayer" makes a good, brief introduction. Use whatever method is best for you and allow yourself to enjoy silence for a few moments. 

Rest in God's embrace. And when he invites you to return to your contemplation of his word or to your inner dialogue with him, do so. Learn to use words when words are helpful, and to let go of words when they no longer are necessary. Rejoice in the knowledge that God is with you in both words and silence, in spiritual activity and inner receptivity. 

Sometimes in lectio divina, you may return several times to the same printed text, either to savor the literary context of the word or phrase that God has given or to seek a new word or phrase to ponder. 

In my experience, I return to the same text because what the word means hasn’t fully opened up to me. In the past, this has frustrated me, but over time I have the meaning of the text evolves in an important way for my maturity in Christ.

At other times, only a single word or phrase will fill the whole time set aside for lectio divina. It is not necessary to assess anxiously the quality of your lectio divina, as if you were "performing" or seeking some goal. Lectio divina has no goal other than that of being in the presence of God by praying the Scriptures.

End your Lectio Divina with a prayer.

Father YHWY, Thank you for revealing yourself to me in prayer today. Thank you for touching my heart, speaking to me, and showing me how to change my life. May any and all seeds you have sown in my heart today, by your grace, grow to maturity and bear fruit for you that will last. I ask all these things in Jesus’ name and by his blood. Amen.

After closing, take a few extra minutes to reflect on how your prayer went. Consider the environment, your experience, your prayers, your posture and any distractions. Allow this to help you the next time you pray Lectio Divina, replicate what was helpful and adjust what wasn’t.