Hearing God in Prayer Lectio Divina

Today, we’re exploring an ancient way to read the Bible, learning to hear God’s voice as he speaks through it.

‘The monastic practice of lectio divina was first formally established in the sixth century by Benedict of Nursia... although its origins are much older, rooted in the Bible itself... The lectio divina was eventually systematized into a distinct four-step process by a Carthusian monk called Guigo II in the twelfth century using a Latin word to describe each stage:

Lectio – ‘read’ the text.

Meditatio– ‘meditate’ upon the text.

Oratio– ‘pray’ the text.

Contemplatio– ‘contemplate’ the Lord.’

To contemplate the Lord is to focus on him, pondering and enjoying who he is. Pete assures us that we don’t have to be too rigid with these steps: ‘I will often start by praying (step #3: oratio) before I have finished meditating upon the scripture (step #2: meditatio). If a thought comes into my head that I want to express to the Lord, I do so, regardless of Guigo’s process! …Lectio divina is meant to be a delightful relational exchange, never a rigid religious straitjacket.

In my previous book, How to Pray, I recommended a very simple framework for prayer using the acronym P.R.A.Y. One of the lovely surprises we’ve had since that book came out, and particularly since launching the Lectio 365 devotional, is how well this framework also works with the lectio divina...’

P for ‘Pause’: quietly prepare your heart.

R for ‘Read and Reflect’, which correspond with lectio and meditatio: to slowly read, rejoice, reflect, and repeat.

A for ‘Ask’, corresponding to oratio: to turn your reflections into prayer.

Y for ‘Yield’, corresponding with contemplatio: enjoying the presence of God.

‘And this brings me to the thing I’ve been longing to tell you... By training ourselves to hear God’s voice where it’s easiest – in the Bible – we gradually learn to hear his voice everywhere else as well. We start to hear him in books that are not ‘sacred texts’, and between the lines of newspapers, and in conversations with colleagues who don’t even believe God exists. When we root ourselves in Scripture, the whole of creation becomes God’s mouthpiece.’

I choose a Psalm and read it slowly, trying out the P.R.A.Y. method, listening for God’s voice.

Lord, I want to hide your word in my heart (Psalm 119:11). Come and meet me as I seek you. Let your voice infuse my whole life.

Amen.