Sacred Scripture Reading: Lectio Divina

Devote yourself to the...reading of Scripture... 
1Timothy 4:13

Simply reading the Scriptures was what I began to do when I was in the convent (see Stone #3). In fact I devoured the Gospels and fell in love with Jesus. I just read and read and read. And I came to see, hear, and know Him ever more deeply.

In later years, I came to know what I was most likely doing was what “saints of old” called lectio divina . . . sacred reading.

Yes, we should read the Scriptures, because it's by repeated reading that we begin to get the "big picture" of what God is saying in the Bible.

And yes by reading, we also begin to notice repeated key truths.

But most precious of all, we begin to hear the Lord speak to us through His treasured words. As the prophet Jeremiah once said,

Your words were found and I ate them,
And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart;
For I have been called by Your name,O Lord God of hosts. 
Jeremiah 15:16

Or as my sweet friend Penny often prayed,

LORD, Your words are so delicious!

One summer, a small group of ladies met at cafe every Friday afternoon.  We shared with each other the Lord's "whisperings" from our personal meditative reading in the Gospel of John from the previous week. Then we spent time in worship based on our treasured reflections. Our time with the Lord was so rich!

Jan Org has described lectio divina this way:

Lectio Divina is like the joyful reading of an ancient pile of love letters. It is a time to listen-- not to dissect, analyze, evaluate or dialogue. It is not studying to learn about the Scriptures; it is reading to listen. Come to this reading and listening as a young lover would-- eager to hear afresh the whisper of the Beloved. Listen to the sound of each word. Read slowly. And rest as you listen.

So grab a journal or notebook and your Bible. Chose a book or passage (maybe using different versions for each day) and then just read, read, read -- not books about the Bible. Read the Scriptures!

Write down verses that jump out, thoughts that come to you in the reading...and of course, prayers that rise up.  Write it down.  Otherwise, trust me, you will forget!  So you will be glad to have recorded what God has said to you!

So...HAPPY, RESTFUL READING... and listening for the Voice of your Beloved.