We often think that prayer and reading Scripture are two separate things... we pray and we read our Bible. Have you ever considered that the two actually go hand in hand. The ancient practice of lectio divina, or divine reading, incorporates reading Scripture and listening for the message God has for us. Reading, reflecting, responding and resting — this is the basic rhythm of divine reading.
The Upper Room Daily Reflections gives these steps:
1. Read the scripture slowly. Watch for a key phrase or word that jumps out at you or promises to have special meaning for you. It is better to dwell profoundly on one word or phrase than to skim the surface of several chapters. Read with your own life and choices in mind.
2. Reflect on a word or phrase. Let the special word or phrase that you discovered in the first phase sink into your heart. Bring mind, will and emotions to the task. Be like Mary, Jesus’ mother, who heard of the angel’s announcement and “treasured” and “pondered” what she had heard (Luke 2:19).
3. Respond to what you have read. Form a prayer that expresses your response to the idea, then “pray it back to God.” What you have read is woven through what you tell God.
4. Rest in God’s word. Let the text soak into your deepest being, savoring an encounter with God and truth. When ready, move toward the moment in which you ask God to show you how to live out what you have experienced.
Give it a try
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