Scripture
Week 2: Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina is the Latin phrase for divine reading. It is an ancient way of reading the Bible in which you make space for a two-way conversation with God. It is, in other words, a prayerful reading of the Bible. With lectio divina, we make space to listen to God through the Bible.
An easy way to remember Lectio Divina is by the acronym P.R.A.Y. Check it out below!
The practice for the week: Now that we've learned to make space for God we can build upon that foundation. The first part of lectio divina is what we did last week – making space to be alone & quiet with God.
01 – Pause. Pause in silence for 3 minutes. Choose a time and place where you can be alone with God. Place your phone or any distractions away from you in another room. Try to become aware of God’s presence with you.
02 – Read. Take 3 minutes to read a passage from the Bible. For this week we are suggesting you read Psalm 23. Take your time reading every word and phrase. Read the passage and notice anything that stands out (a phrase, a word, an emotion, etc.). When something stands out to you stop. Read that word or phrase again. Allow yourself to sit with it to see if God may be speaking to you through this part of the passage.
03 – Ask. Take the next 2 minutes to ask God what he wants to say to you. Ask why the Holy Spirit made this particular thing stand out to you. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you.
04 – Yield. Take the next 2 minutes to meditate on what the Holy Spirit spoke to you about. Take some time and reflect on how that word might impact you. Talk to God about it.
Our recommendation is to start each day this week practicing Lectio Divina. You can do this with Psalm 23 for all of the days or try another passage if you'd like. As you start, remember that consistency is more important than intensity. Please do try to start with 15 minutes. Start small and stay consistent.
Recommended reading: How to Hear God: A Simple Guide for Normal People