Lectio Divina

Recently, I had the opportunity to teach someone this method of Bible study.  As I watched with great joy the Holy Spirit speaking so powerfully to this individual through our time of meditation on the Word of God, I decided to bring this post forward to help encourage all of us to continue to practice deliberate meditation on and study of God’s Holy Word.  Originally posted January 1, 2008.  Enjoy!

    

There are many ways to study the Bible: topical, inductive, book studies, etc. All of which are very profitable and worthwhile methods. One method which has been handed down to us through the centuries is known as Lectio Divina which in Latin means divine reading, spiritual reading, or holy reading. It is a method of prayer and scriptural reading designed to “promote communion with God and provide special spiritual insights” (Wikipedia, 2007). For all intents and purposes, “it is a way of praying with the Scripture that calls one to study, ponder, listen, and finally, pray from God’s Word” (Wikipedia, 2007)

                     

Lectio Divina is also a wonderful way to learn to listen and respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit in your daily devotions, I would like to encourage you to make use of this particular method of Bible reading. I believe it will profit you and your family in many ways. In particular, I believe it will help you to learn how to listen and hear the Holy Spirit speak to you through the Word of God. Below are the steps involved in Lection Divina.

                    

Step 1: Invocation

                   

Begin by asking the Holy Spirit to guide your time of study and meditation on the Word.

                   

Step 2: Key Word or Phrase

                   

The leader should have everyone to close their eyes as he or she reads the Scripture text. The leader should read the text through 2-3 times slowly. As the text is read slowly through instruct everyone to listen for a key word or phrase that stands out to them. After the final reading, the leader should ask each person in turn to state the word or phrase that caught their attention or the Holy Spirit seemed to illuminate. This is not a time for comment or discussion. Simply ask them to name the word or phrase.

                

Step 3: Impression or Emotion

                    

The leader should have everyone close their eyes again as he or she reads the text through again slowly 2 or 3 times. This time everyone should be reflecting on how the reading is speaking to them emotionally. What impression or feeling each one is having. For example: Does the reading stir up feelings of peace, joy, conviction, longing, hope, etc. After the reading, the leader should have everyone state the feeling or impression they are receiving from the reading. Again, this is not a time for comment or discussion. Have everyone simply state the feeling or impression.

                   

Step 4: What is God saying?

                        

The leader should again have everyone close their eyes and listen as he or she reads the text through slowly 2 or 3 times. This time the leader should ask everyone to ask themselves what they sense God is saying to them through this reading. After the last reading the leader should have everyone take turns sharing what they feel the Holy Spirit is saying to them through the reading. Now is the time to discuss and comment on the text.

                  

Step 5: Benediction

                           

Conclude your time of study with a prayer of thanksgiving for the insight you have received and the grace to apply God’s Word faithfully in your life.  One final note: Lectio Divina helps us to learn to read God’s Word as living and not just for information gathering. However, all our “impressions” as to what God is saying should be in accordance with the plain reason of the text. Beware the temptation to see what you “feel” regarding the Scripture as a license to make the Scriptures say anything you want them to. If the Holy Spirit is speaking something to you through His Word then it will agree with and not contradict the plain meaning of the text.

                             

Sources Cited 

Lectio Divina. (2007, January 22). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 04:51, February 27, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lectio_Divina&oldid=102446213