A Prayer Discipline: Lectio Divina

As part of our multi-pronged approach to prayer at GBC, we are encouraging people to take up a prayer discipline.  This is something which will add to our prayer life as a congregation and foster our own spiritual life and growth.  We are suggesting that we take up the simple practice of Lectio Divina (Divine Reading).

Lectio Divina is an ancient practice that has been part of the prayer life of the Christian church for centuries.  It is a simple method of praying through the Scripture as a means of interaction with God.  It is about cultivating the ability to listen to the still small voice of the Spirit as He speaks through the Word. It’s primary focus isn’t on gaining further knowledge of the Scripture (although that may happen) but it is about nurturing our friendship with God.  It is a means whereby we place ourselves under the authority of God's Word.

The following steps are designed as a guide only.  It may be helpful to follow them while you are learning what Lectio Divina is all about, but you should feel free to adapt them according to what suits you and your prayer life as the process becomes more familiar. There is no set time but a minimum of 15 minutes would be good.

Beginning

Begin by taking time to become quiet and deliberately focus your attention on God.

This may be done simply by sitting quietly for a couple of minutes or by praying a simple prayer asking God to remove distractions from your mind.

Choose a passage which will be the basis of your prayer for reflection.  A helpful approach is to gradually work your way through one of the books of the Bible.

Step 1: Reading/Listening

Read the passage you have selected.  You should not read this as you might a novel or newspaper because Lectio has a different focus and purpose.  Reflective reading is what is required.  Think of it as reading something from a friend or loved one.

You might decide to read the passage more than once.

Try reading the passage aloud, which was the ancient way of reading.  This has a number of advantages:

• It slows us down.  It does not allow our eyes to race over the page but forces us to go steadily, dwelling on each phrase.
• A passage heard tends to have more impact as we sometimes hear things in a way we have not heard before.
• It is a good means of helping avoid distractions.
• It makes this a distinctive exercise because we don’t normally read this way.
• It will also aid our memory.

As you read in this reflective manner carefully listen to hear a word or phrase, one that leaps off the page or stands out from the other words, through which you hear God speaking to you today. Take special note of that word or phrase.

Step 2: Meditation

Meditation is the process of pondering the word or phrase God brought to our attention. It is similar to Mary "pondering in her heart" what she saw and heard of Christ (Luke 2:19).

As you repeat the word or phrase, allow it to interact with your thoughts, your hopes, your memories, your desires.

Prayerfully seek God’s work in your heart as you reflect and ponder.

Step 3: Prayer

Having spent time meditating on the word or phrase that God brought to your attention, you then make that a matter of prayer.

You enter into dialogue with God, allowing His word to touch the deeper parts of yourself.

You place yourself and all the elements of your life under this word, allowing God to cast the light of His word onto your Life, allowing His word to shape you.

Step 4: Contemplation

Having heard his Scripture, his particular word or phrase to you, having spent time talking with him, you then have a time of silence in his presence.