Session 1: Lectio Divina

“so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17–19, ESV)

Lectio divina is Latin for “divine reading” or “spiritual reading.” The Bible is a spiritual book. That is, it was given to us through God’s Spirit; it communicates spiritual truth; and it intends to form us spiritually.

So naturally we must read it spiritually. Before we jump into the practice, let me highlight a few key points about lectio divina:

1. Lectio Divina will help you move from being a distant reader to a receptive listener of God’s Word.

2. Lectio Divina will help you love God better by really listening to his voice.

3. “Lectio Divina is a way of reading that becomes a way of living. It’s a way of life that is intentional about fostering and enjoying your relationship with God.

4. Lectio Divina has four parts: Read, Meditate, Pray, and Contemplate. At first, they appear to be sequential, but the Bible isn’t that easy. In reality, all four parts should happen at the same time.