Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina (divine reading, pronounced lexio dahveena) is a way of immersing ourselves in a short passage of Scripture with the idea of allowing the Holy Spirit to draw our attention to what He wants us to know in that time. It is a practice that invites us to slow down and pay attention.
Click here to listen. The reading takes about 9.5 minutes.
The text is below if you prefer to read aloud to yourself.
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Sit comfortably and come to stillness, allowing yourself to arrive here. Feet on the floor, muscles relaxed, posture open. Breathe deeply in, and hold for a beat, and exhale. Inhale and exhale, slowly, 2 or 3 more times. Inhale the love of God; exhale and release that which distracts you.
Now, on the first reading, allow the words to wash over you and notice which word or phrase stands out to you today. Read aloud, very slowly. There is no hurry here.
Romans 8:27-28
God, the searcher of the heart, knows fully our longings,
yet He also fully understands the desires of the Spirit,
because the Holy Spirit passionately pleads before God for us, His holy ones,
in perfect harmony with God's plan and our destiny.
So we are convinced that every detail of our lives
is continually woven together to fit into God's perfect plan
of bringing good into our lives,
for we are His lovers who have been called to fulfill His designed purpose.
(The Passion Translation)
The second time you read this passage aloud, allow the word or phrase that stood out to you to linger in your mind, pausing if you need to, to notice how it relates to your life right now. Again, read slowly, and breathe.
The third time you read this passage aloud, listen for God's invitation to you and notice your response to Him. You may pause here to converse with God and/or journal about your experience with Him.
Finally, as you read the passage a fourth time, allow yourself to rest in the Word of God, softened and yielded to Him. Simple presence, gratitude, or something completely your own may be how you end this time.