Praying Scripture: The Time-Tested Practice of Lectio Divina
“LECTIO DIVINA IS NOT A METHODICAL TECHNIQUE FOR READING THE BIBLE. IT IS A CULTIVATED, DEVELOPED HABIT OF LIVING THE TEXT IN JESUS’ NAME. THIS IS THE WAY, THE ONLY WAY, THAT THE HOLY SCRIPTURES BECOME FORMATIVE IN THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH AND BECOME SALT AND LEAVEN IN THE WORLD.” (EUGENE PETERSON, EAT THIS BOOK, p. 116).
Photo by Franzi Meyer via UnSplash.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF LECTIO DIVINA
Lectio divina is Latin for “divine reading,” and is a practice of slowly meditating upon, praying, and being formed by God’s word. Dating as far back as the Desert Fathers of the 4th century in Egypt, this method of engaging scripture was further developed by Benedict of Nursia, the founder of the Benedictine order, in the 6th century and became central to monastic tradition. By the 12th century, lectio divina’s four traditional movements of lectio, meditatio, oratio, and contemplatio were composed by Guigo the Second, and this method has been practiced across church traditions since. For the last 1500 years, God has used this practice to transform the lives of Christ followers--Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Evangelical, and beyond.
Eugene Peterson calls it “living the text in Jesus’ name.” This practice is all about soaking in a short passage of scripture, slowly reading it and re-reading it a few times, and inviting the Holy Spirit to speak. When we meditate upon God’s word in this practice, we don’t just “think” and only use our intellect or our mind. Rather, we bring our whole selves to God in lectio divina - our mind, body, soul, heart, desires, relationships, questions, fears, insecurities. We wait quietly for God to speak, and we allow God’s word to take root in us, to become a part of how we pray and how we live.
As a point of caution, I want to emphasize that this practice must be grounded in solid interpretation. In lectio, we aren’t using scripture to make it say what we want it to say. We are entering into it in a way that allows God’s word to permeate and fill us. Eugene Peterson’s words eloquently describe how we ought to approach scripture through lectio divina:
a way of reading that guards against depersonalizing the text into an affair of questions and answers, definitions and dogmas. A way of reading that prevents us from turning scripture on its head and using it to justify ourselves like that pathetic religion scholar was trying to do with Jesus. A way of reading that abandons the attempt to take control of the text as if it were helpless without our help. A way of reading that joins the company of Galilean women at the tomb as they abandon the spices and ointments with which they were going to take care of the word made flesh, the Jesus they expected to find wrapped in grave clothes, and embrace the resurrection of that same word and all the words brought to life in him. A way of reading that intends the fusion of the entire biblical story and my story. A way of reading that refuses to be reduced to just reading but intends the living of the text, listening and responding to the voices of that “so great a cloud of witness” telling their stories, singing their songs, preaching their sermons, praying their prayers, asking their questions, having their children, burying their dead, following Jesus.
(Eugene Peterson, Eat This Book, p. 90.)
The Psalmist declared to have hidden the word in his heart, and that it was “sweeter than honey” (Ps. 119:11, 103), and Paul encouraged us in Colossians 3:16 to “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” I’ve never found a practice of reading scripture that invites me to do the same quite like lectio divina!
I was first introduced to this ancient practice while on staff with Young Life, when Bob and Claudia Mitchell led us through it at a staff retreat a decade ago. Their love for the words of Scripture were only unmatched for their love for the God these words revealed, and I was captivated. I wanted to know the heart of Jesus the way that they did, and so began my journey with lectio divina.
THE BENEFITS OF LECTIO DIVINA
I’ve practiced lectio for years in the quiet of my own prayer time, when it’s just me and the Holy Spirit in communion. It’s often been a safe space for me to wrestle with scripture and leave room for mystery. But I’ve found this practice to be especially meaningful in community. I’ve never once experienced lectio with others and not been amazed at how God moves. Every time, I’m astonished at how God’s word can speak so personally and so uniquely to each of us, and I’m better for having heard how the same passage of scripture can come alive in a multitude of ways to others.
Here are a few benefits of practicing lectio divina that I’ve discovered:
LECTIO DIVINA TEACHES US HOW TO LISTEN TO GOD.
We live in a world so full of noise and distraction, and so much of the noise is self-created. But we serve a God who longs to reveal Himself to us, a God who invites us to commune with Him in prayer, and what is prayer if not a two-way conversation with our God? I don’t know about you, but one-way conversations have never been enjoyable to me. I may speak, but I also ought to listen. And lectio divina has helped me to develop a listening heart.
LECTIO DIVINA DEVELOPS A SURRENDERED HEART.
As I listen to God through His word, I’ve also learned how to better submit to Him. Adele Calhoun writes in her Spiritual Disciplines Handbook that lectio divina is not so much about mastering the text, but rather “being mastered by it.” And that certainly doesn’t come naturally to me!
Truthfully, I’ve spent many times wrestling with God over certain passages, wondering what on earth God could have meant by allowing these phrases into His living word. All too many times, the Bible has been used as a means of manipulation, coercion, and control in the hands of humanity, and I’ve been personally wounded by such behavior. However, practicing lectio has been like a salve in those wounds. When I come to scripture with a longing to find God, He reminds me that I can trust Him, and that I can also trust the mystery of His word. He is not a God who can be manipulated nor controlled, and for some reason, in His sovereignty, He’s allowed us to wrestle with the mystery and interpretation of the scriptures. He reveals Himself through His word, to be sure, but His word invites us into soul conversation and communion with its Author rather than just the anatomizing and analysis of its contents.
LECTIO DIVINA HELPS TO REVEAL GOD’S HEART IN SCRIPTURE.
So often, we come to the Bible expecting to learn about God, to dissect and understand the passage we’re studying—and believe me, I’m all for that! I spent four years of my life in seminary, learning exegetical and hermeneutical processes and learning to translate Biblical Hebrew and Greek. I LOVE studying scripture, its history and context, and interpreting its meaning for us in the 21st century, and I also love sharing what I learn with others.
Lectio divina, though, is about knowing God Himself, not just knowing more about him. It’s not merely an intellectual exercise, involving only our minds. Lectio divina cultivates a posture of seeking God for who He is, because we can’t get enough of Him. Bryan likes to say that we can never get to the end of Him—that there is always, always more to discover about our God.
LECTIO DIVINA CAN BE A MEANS OF TRANSFORMATION.
Lectio has been a practice that God has used transform me. I not only learn His heart, but He forms His heart into me. I know you’ve probably gathered that 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 is a foundational passage for us at CURATE, but it’s for good reason! We are told that wherever the Spirit of God is, there is freedom. And the Spirit of God dwells within us. We are living, breathing, Spirit-filled, embodied FREEDOM. And that as we behold Jesus, that Spirit of freedom continues to transform us, in ever-increasing glory, into His image. We not only carry the Spirit of freedom, but we also look like Jesus.
With Christmas approaching, as we lean into the waiting of Christ’s arrival, the Incarnation always takes on a new depth this time of year. To think that God would descend into our broken world as an infant, then walk through every human experience, astonishes me. But even more astonishing is the reality that the same Spirit of Jesus now lives within us, as His church. The incarnational work of God continues within you and me, as the Lord brings transformation and healing to all of creation. Lectio divina helps me to behold Jesus, so that the reality of the Incarnation—of God with us—permeates every part of my life.
PRACTICING LECTIO DIVINA
Without further ado, let’s learn how to actually practice lectio divina! Before you begin, choose a short passage of scripture (emphasis on the SHORT). You don’t need an entire chapter from Leviticus, or an entire book from the New Testament. A psalm, a handful of verses from one of Paul’s letters, or a story from one of the Gospels is perfect. (For suggestions on scripture passages, see below!) Then, follow the steps outlined below (adapted from Charles Bello’s Prayer as a Place).
Ready (Silencio)
Get comfortable, steady your breathing, and begin to quiet your thoughts.
Ask the Lord to meet you in this time of prayer and sit in silence for a few minutes.
Read (Lectio)
Slowly read the passage of scripture you’ve chosen (try to stick with only a handful of verses).
Listen for any word or phrase that catches your attention.
Reflect (Meditatio)
Read the passage again.
This time, spend a few minutes reflecting upon that word or phrase. Let it sink into your heart and allow God to speak to you.
Be aware of any emotions or memories that are stirred up.
Respond (Oratio)
Read the passage a third time.
Respond in prayer to this word or phrase.
Dialogue with God. What feelings do you have? What struggle or longing in your life today is God speaking into? Let His grace meet you there.
What is God’s invitation to you through this passage?
5. Rest (Contemplatio)
Rest in God’s presence. No words are necessary. Just be.
Taste and see the Lord’s goodness to you.
LECTIO DIVINA AND ADVENT
If you’re looking for a simple practice to do with your family during this Advent season, lectio divina is a great option! Gather your family in the evening, light your Advent candle and pray together, then read an Advent passage out loud, following the movements of lectio above. Ask your family to share what they heard or noticed, and how the themes of the passage are speaking to them in this season.
If you belong a church tradition that follows the lectionary or a liturgical calendar, such as The Book of Common Prayer, choose a passage from the day. If you’re using an Advent devotional, use the passage for that day.
You can also follow the traditional weekly themes of Advent, and choose a relating passage (suggestions included below):
Week One: Hope (Romans 5:1-5)
Week Two: Peace (Philippians 4:6-7)
Week Three: Joy (Psalm 16)
Week Four: Love (Ephesians 3:14-21)
A few more of our favorite Advent passages include:
Psalm 27, 130
Isaiah 11:1-5
John 1
Philippians 2:1-11
Hebrews 2
OTHER RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE PASSAGES FOR LECTIO DIVINA
You may use the whole chapter, but we recommend choosing a just handful of verses from the chapter instead!
Psalms 23, 27, 34, 42, 46, 51, 61, 63, 73, 121, 145 (or really ANY Psalm!)
Isaiah 40, 43
Jeremiah 18:1-6
Lamentations 3
Luke 7:36-50, 8:4-8
John 15
Romans 8
1 Corinthians 2, 13
Ephesians 3
Philippians 1, 2, 3, or 4
Colossians 1
1 John 4
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
Eat This Book, Eugene Peterson
Prayer as a Place, Charles Bello
Sacred Rhythms, Ruth Haley Barton
Spiritual Disciplines Handbook, Adele Ahlberg Calhoun