Lectio Divina—What is it?

from the old testament

• While the Old Testament does not explicitly describe Lectio Divina, it builds the foundation for meditative and prayerful engagement with God’s Word. God’s Word is described as “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). We do not just read God’s Word to learn information, but to reflect on it and internalize it.
• Joshua 1:8 emphasizes meditating on the law, day and night, to prosper and succeed. Reading and pondering God’s Word is meant to transform life.
• The Psalms are full of examples of praying Scripture, reflecting on God’s character, and speaking to Him in response (Psalm 1; 119), which parallels the steps of Lectio Divina: reading, meditation, prayer, and contemplation.
• Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" Lectio Divina can be a great tool to help us be still. When we truly contemplate God's Word and seek to be in His presence, He speaks to us.

from the new testament

• The New Testament reinforces a prayerful, reflective approach to Scripture. Jesus often explained Scripture and encouraged reflection on its meaning (Luke 24:27, 45).
• Paul exhorts believers to let the Word of Christ dwell richly in them (Colossians 3:16), implying meditation, teaching, and worship.
• First Timothy 4:13 instructs believers to devote themselves to reading, exhortation, and teaching, combining study with prayerful engagement.
• The early church practiced communal and personal reading of Scripture with devotion and prayer (Acts 2:42).
• Only through God's Word and the Holy Spirit can we know the truth and can, therefore, be set free (John 8:32).

implications for today

Lectio Divina consists of four parts:

Lectio: First, a person reads a passage of Scripture. This reading is meant to be intentional and slow. Most people will read the focus passage several times through.

Meditatio: Next, the person doing Lectio Divina meditates on the Scripture. This means he or she ponders over the passage, seeking to hear from the Holy Spirit. He or she does not analyze the passage but does attempt to view it from various perspectives.

Oratio: This step consists of prayer. After having read and meditated on the passage, the practitioner of Lectio Divina brings it to God in prayer.

Contemplatio: The Lectio Divina process concludes with contemplation. This is a type of listening or restful prayer. The practitioner seeks to simply sit in God's presence with His Word still fresh on the mind.

Some Christians have warned against Lectio Divina because it can be misused to chase personal insights or spiritual experiences instead of genuinely encountering God. Without careful grounding in the Bible, it risks turning into a subjective or even idolatrous practice, rather than a faithful means of drawing near to Him. Still, others have found it to be spiritually beneficial and a means by which they have drawn closer to God. The potential dangers of Lectio Divina are obvious. If our hearts are not set on God, it is easy to "hear" the Holy Spirit tell us what we want to hear. There is danger in making the practice of Lectio Divina more about an experience than about true relationship with God. If we engage in Lectio Divina for a spiritual high or to gain some sort of special truth, then our hearts are in the wrong place. It becomes an idol, rather than a helpful spiritual discipline. However, there is something to be said for intentionally slowing down to spend time with God.