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"Lectio Divina" or spiritual reading |
wrap your head around this little tidbit from Leadership Magazine |
The ancient Christian practice of 'lectio divina' (spiritual reading) is the primary mode of reading the Bible for transformation.
Distinct from other ways of reading the Bible, the ancient Christian practice of 'lectio divina' (spiritual reading) is the primary mode of reading the Bible for transformation. There is a place for reading large portions of the bible in one sitting, such as an entire book, but this is not it. Here we are concerned with depth rather than breadth. There is also a place for Bible study, in which we apply exegetical tools of interpretation, but this is not “study” per se. Rather, lectio is a way of allowing the mind to "descend" into the heart, so that both mind and heart might be drawn into the love and goodness of God.Our goal is immersion. We are shaped by the environment in which we live and breathe and interact. Lectio immerses us in the deep and timeless waters of God, that more of God's eternal life might flow into our time-bound lives.
In its classic form, lectio comprises four elements, although there are many variations on them with different wording and emphasis; lectio (reading with a listening spirit), meditatio (reflecting on what we're "hearing"), oratio (praying in response to this hearing), and contemplatio (contemplating on what we will carry forward into our lives). We can also refer to these basic elements of lectio as listening, reflecting, praying and obeying.
When these elements are combined regardless of sequence, for they overlap and intermingle in a circular rather than a linear way-they lead the human spirit into a dynamic interaction with the Holy Spirit.
Richard J. Foster · Leadership Journal · Winter 2009 · Volume 30 Number 1
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