Hitting ‘Refresh’ on my Bible Reading with Lectio Divina
I wonder if you’ve ever hit a point in your life where you needed something fresh in your relationship with God. Not a fresh set of beliefs, rather something that helps you to see the same truths afresh in a new season of life.
That’s exactly how I was feeling to begin 2020 (pre-Covid and the whole world being turned upside down).
In the midst of a tough season personally, I was given a gift of grace in the form of ‘lectio divina’. A way of seeing the same old truths in the Scriptures from a different angle.
It helped me go from a Bible College student who had, for good purposes, engaged with the Scriptures on a primarily intellectual level, to someone who longed to hear God speak directly to ME when I opened my Bible—just like in my pre-college days.
Lectio divina is a historic and time-honoured way that the people of God have approached the text, and yet I’d never heard of it before!
Rich Villodas, pastor at New Life Fellowship Church in Queens, New York, is particularly helpful here. In his book ‘The Deeply Formed Life’, he explains Lectio Divina like this:
Lectio Divina is latin, and simply means sacred or spiritual reading. It’s a practice of slowing down and chewing on Scripture through four movements: lectio, meditatio, oratio, and contemplatio; that is, reading, meditation, prayer, and contemplation.
What I realised was in different stages of life, our rhythms often look distinct too. They need reinvigorating. The core is the same—we read God’s word—but the approach shifts. For me, this ancient, four-movement process was what I needed to ‘hit refresh’ spiritually.
In brief, here is how I’ve understand and practiced the four movements:
1. Lectio (Reading) - The first step is reading the text. The heart behind ‘reading’ here is not to simply read over the passage, but to slowly and attentively read, remembering that the words you’re reading are ‘alive and active’ - able to ‘penetrate even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow’ (Hebrews 4:12). It involves reading with a listening spirit, and being conscious that this is a time where you’re hearing from God.
Often it means reading the passage two or even three times, allowing the words to soak in, and asking God to help us locate what stands out or is being emphasised to us.
2. Meditatio (Meditation) - The second part is meditating, or reflecting. The practice of returning to the portion of the text that was most significant, and then meditating on it, enables it to sink in deeply and not be forgotten. By creating space to ponder the implications of this for our life, relationships and the situations we’re in, we enable God’s word to dwell in us richly.
It’s like chewing slowly, savouring the taste and texture with gratitude and thoughtfulness, taking as much time as you need.
3. Oratio (Prayer) - The third movement is prayer. After we’ve heard God speak, we offer words in response from our hearts, freely and honestly, from what has been revealed in the Scriptures. This particular text of Scripture determines our prayer to God in this moment, whether it be gratitude, lament, confession, praise or anything else.
The emphasis is on speaking to God after hearing him speak first, and actively engaging in our relationship with him.
4. Contemplatio (Contemplation) - The final portion of lectio divina is contemplation. Rather than finishing with ‘application’, or considering how to change, it’s a moment to rest in the goodness of the relationship you enjoy with God.
God has spoken in the word, and we’ve responded in prayer. There are no more questions required, but instead there is time to contemplate God’s love for us in Christ and slowly re-enter the rest of our day.
What I love about 'lectio divina' is that it's an invitation to slow down in a sped up world. It focuses on what God is saying through the text in the noise of our lives. And it allows us to be immersed in a relationship with God, and not only seeking to learn.
Maybe for you this is an invitation to reassess how you go about reading the text.
An opportunity to consider how you might ‘get something out of it’ when you read the Bible - namely deeper communion with Jesus - if you struggle too.
A chance to take stock and ponder if how you’ve always done it is helping you to love God more - or just a routine.
We can never reinvent or alter an ancient faith, and nor should we. But we can refresh our rhythms by revisiting the ways of old, and reclaiming lost traditions for a new age.
My hope is that you and I continue to fall more in love with the God who authored the Scriptures as we meet Him through them.
May you seek, and find, deeper communion with Jesus today as you read the Scriptures.
