READ, Reflect, Respond,Rest

"Lectio Divina" is a spiritual discipline which invites us to read the Word.  However, it is not the kind of reading we might normally do.  Some of us read until we are exhausted.  Some of us read a chapter a night.  Or, maybe some have a plan for reading a certain amount of time.  When I first started reading the Word, I would write down the month and date at the end of my reading so that it would remind me of my faithfulness to the reading discipline. 

 

"Lectio Divina" is a different approach to reading the Word as it encourages us to read shorter portions of Scripture.  Instead of racing to more verses, this discipline suggests that we read the same short portion over and over again, sometimes silently, sometimes aloud so that we can hear it.   We read the same portion of the Word until we find ourselves becoming focused on a verse, or a phrase, or maybe even just a word.  As we practice this discipline of Scripture, we are not looking for information, but a focus point to which the Holy Spirit is leading us.

 

So, it goes without saying that to practice the discipline of "Lectio Divina" is to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  This is not to be confused with opening the Bible, closing our eyes, and putting a finger on a place on the page expecting it to be the place that God wants us to read.  Praying for the guidance of the Spirit is not about random decision making, but Spirit led decision making.  As we move into this spiritual discipline we want to become focused on the part of the Word from which God desires to speak and make Himself known.  Thus, a pointed finger cannot take the place of praying for guidance as we begin to read.