The Practical Disciple

Lectio Divina is Latin for “divine reading” or “holy reading” and there are four lectio divina steps that I will cover in this post.  Lectio is a Christian tradition of prayerfully reading a passage from scripture by tarrying with the text pondering it’s meaning and lifting up words of thanks. The intent of Lectio is to both increase our understanding of the Word and nurture a deeper more open connection with God through His Word.

A well rounded approach to scripture involves what I call both informational and formational reading.  Most Bible study tends toward the informational side of the equation.  Informational study is predominantly about getting to know the Bible stories and the principles presented therein.  Formational reading involves taking time to encounter the text in a way that shapes us as disciples.  One approach isn’t better than the other.  In fact, they feed one another.  Lectio is a practice that is very much a formational reading of scripture.

The Method

The four Lectio Divina steps are:

• Lectio: This first movement consists of slowly and attentively reading a scripture passage several times.  You  may want to jot down words or phrases that seem to stand out to you.
• Meditatio: In this second movement, as the name implies we meditate on the text.  This “meditation” is not like that of Eastern traditions in which we seek to bring the mind to rest or emptiness.  Rather instead, the intent of meditatio is to engage with the text with an active mind.  You  may ponder a phrase or word that arrested your attention in your first readings of the text and sit with it wondering how it speaks to your life right now.  You may imaginatively place yourself in the story.  All the while listening for the Holy Spirit to speak within you about the meaning of this text for your life write now.
• Oratio:  Oratio is a Latin word associated with speech.  It is a word from which we derive words  like oral and oratory.  In this third movement, we speak to God from the heart about what we have found in the text.  The Word may have convicted our hearts about something, if so we may find ourself seeking God’s forgiveness in mercy.  If the Word touches on a hurt ,we may cry out in pain.  If the Word reveals a calling then from our hearts we may pledge ourselves to God or ask for guidance.  Oratio is a time for us to voice a response to God from our understanding of the text.
• Contemplatio: When all is said and done, lectio comes to an end by simply joyfully resting in God’s presence.  We offer back to God our loving focus and attention with a heart of gratitude.

Don’t over think this method or be legalistic about it.  The essence of Lectio is slowing down in your reading enough to prayerfully consider what God may be saying to you right now.  Chat with God about what you are hearing and then just tarry a few quiet moments in God’s presence. Just prayerfully follow the four lectio divina steps, the Holy Spirit will do the rest.  In some ways I have found this form of reading more valuable to my  growth as a disciple than more academic studies of scripture.  Nevertheless, I will repeat what I said earlier, formational and informational reading enhance one another.  A mature and wholistic study of God’s Word will include both approaches.

Blessings to you in your reading from The Practical Disciple

p.s. If you are not sure what to read then try a using a daily Bible reading guide.  There are 5 great Bible reading plans on The Practical Disciple Resource page.  Click here to see them.