Meditations for Today

 

OPENING UP THE BIBLE USING LECTIO DIVINA

Lectio Divina (pronounced "Lec-tsee-oh Di-vee-nah") is an ancient spiritual practice from the Christian monastic tradition. Its title derives from Latin words meaning reading and divine/holy.

In Lectio Divina, we seek to experience the presence of God through reading and listening, meditation, prayer, and contemplation.

Lectio Divina is practiced both by individuals and groups.

 

Practicing Lectio Divina on your own.

1. Choose a passage from the Bible

Begin by choosing a section of Scripture that you would like to read and pray. You can choose the passage yourself or perhaps work through a book of the Bible or use one of the readings from one of our Sunday services (you’ll find the details on the Bulletin sheet). Try not to set a pressing goal for how much content you will cover; the goal is to listen for God and to experience his presence.

2. Preparation

Do what you must to quiet and prepare yourself to hear from God.  If you can, find a quiet space and sit in silence for several moments as you prepare to receive and experience God’s presence. You may find it helpful to light a candle.

(If you find it hard to locate a quiet space do talk with Rev’d Tricia – we could arrange for you to use the Church privately if you wish).

Pray asking for God to open your mind and heart to His word.

You can pray using your own words or you could use a set prayer such as the following:

    

Come Holy Ghost, fill the hearts and minds of your faithful servants, and inflame them with the fire of your divine love. O God, who by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of your faithful servants; grant us in the same Spirit, to discern what is right, and enjoy His comfort forever, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

3. Reading/Listening

When you sense that your heart is prepared, begin slowly reading the passage of Scripture that you have selected.

Move slowly through sentences and phrases.

As you read, pay attention to what word, phrase, or idea catches your attention.

It may be helpful to read the passage through slowly a couple of times. As you do so visualize it, listen deeply to it.

4. Meditation

Next, begin to meditate on the word, phrase, or idea that has captured your attention. Repeat it again and again. Turn it over in your thoughts.

Consider:

• What thoughts come to mind as you meditate on this word, phrase, or idea?
• What do these thoughts say to you about God? About others? About yourself?
• What are you reminded of in your life?
• What does it make you hope for?

Meditation is no easy task—as you try to concentrate don’t be disappointed if random thoughts enter your head. If and as they do, offer them to God.

 

5. Prayer

Now we ask God for the grace to be transformed by what we have read and for His help in applying it in our own lives.

So begin to speak to God, either out loud or in your inner being. Tell God what word, phrase, or idea captured your attention and what came to mind as you meditated upon it. Tell God what you have been thinking and feeling as you’ve listened and meditated. Tell God how you hope this word, phrase, or idea will change your heart to be more like His. Ask for his grace and help.

 

6. Contemplation

Finish by focusing your attention on the fact that God’s presence is with you. Rest with and in Him, in gratitude for his word and His presence with you.

 

A BIBLE PASSAGE YOU MAY WANT TO EXPLORE USING LECTIO DIVINA

From Paul’s Letter to the Philippians (Philippians 2:4-11)

^“4Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. ⁵Let the same mind be in you that was^* in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, ⁷but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.  And being found in human form, ⁸ he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.

⁹Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”