LECTIO DIVINA

Spiritual Practices

Praying the Scriptures or Lectio Divina is a time of reflection and listening to God’s Word as an opportunity to dwell in God’s presence.

As you begin, sit comfortably, breathe deeply, relax your body, acknowledge and release distractions, and invite God’s presence.

PROCESS

1) Read the passage simply allowing the word of God to speak.

2) Read the passage a second time listening for when a word or phrase stops you, becomes vibrant or attracts you. Is there a word or image that impresses you?

3) Read the passage a third time asking yourself the question, “How would I define this word or phrase? What does it mean?” Bring your senses to the text. Allow for 1-2 minutes of silence.

4) Read the passage a final time. Listen to discover how this passage touches your life today. What is God trying to say? It may be helpful to begin as if God is writing a letter to you: write your name and then what you feel God wants you to hear today. Do not try to force a meaning. Stay open. This is a time of reflection, involving thinking, feeling, and/or intuition. Allow for 1-2 minutes of silence.

POSSIBLE SCRIPTURE PASSAGES

Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Philippians 2:5-11
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.