Lectio Divina - Listening with our hearts

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Last week we talked about how God longs to talk to us through the story of Scripture and how it is the primary authority for all reality, everything that we know, and should believe. Scripture reveals God’s heart to us which draws us closer to Himself through the person and the work of Jesus.

Listening with our hearts

While equipping ourselves to “rightly divide the Word of Truth” is of utmost importance. We must also not have an unbalanced approach to partaking of the scriptures. We must not only increase in our knowledge (hear) but also train ourselves to listen and do.

Listening to Mancy - Reacting to what she’s saying in a way that’s meaningful and heartfelt.

Knowing the Bible is undeniably essential. But even more, is the importance of knowing God. Where there is knowledge of the Bible, it isn’t guaranteed that we will also know and be known by God.

1 Corinthians 8:1–3 (ESV)

1 ...we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. 2 If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.

Looking through the window (Knowing) vs Living in the house (Experiencing)

We want to, as believers, to be the type of people that don’t just know about the bible or God. But regularly interact with it. We want it to envelop our hearts not just engage our minds. We must let God’s Word burrow down deep into our souls, so that it can grow and bear fruit.

Luckily for us, due to some amazing work of the ancestors of the faith, there is a spiritual practice that can aid us in hearing God’s word in a way that will cause it to grow within and change us, mind and heart.

Lectio Divina - Listening to Scripture with our hearts

Lectio Divina was developed in the sixth century by Benedict of Nursia. It was something that he required of his monks to do 3 hours a day. This radical devotion of time and energy reveals to us just how vital it was to them to accomplish the goal of having the Scripture SPEAK INTO THE LIVES of it’s readers and for it to powerfully transform their lives.

Eventually it was developed into a 4 step process that a person could walk through everyday.

Lectio - Read the text

Meditatio - Reflect on the text

Oratio - Pray the text

Contemplatio - Contemplate the Lord

During our lessons on the Lords Prayer we offered a framework to use in your daily Prayer life using the acronym P.R.A.Y(Pause, Rejoice, Ask, Yield). This same acronym and framework also works well for Listening to the Scriptures with our hearts.

(P)ause (R)ead & Reflect (A)sk (Y)ield - And for the rest of our time together this morning we’ll examine each step of this wonderful practice.

1. Pause

On the road to Emmaus Jesus started off by drawing near, then started a casual conversation, and then He opened up the scriptures. Jesus took a small period of time to prep the mood of the moment before diving into the Bible. This is wisdom for us as well.

Especially in our world when things are moving faster than ever, and even so, we are more rushed and hurried than ever, it’s essential to slow down. We often times wait for the moment to be right, for life to slow down or even-out before we feel it’s the best opportunity to conversate with God through His Word.

Psalm 46:1–10 (ESV)

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. 6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. 10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

It is when the mountains tremble, the rivers swell , the nations rage, and the kingdoms totter, that is when we are instructed to be still and know that God is God. Then, that is when He will be exalted.

We can’t wait for the opportune time when life is quite and stress free. We must make the time and and know that we can’t wait for peace, but that it is God who brings the peace.

The act of pausing isn’t complicated. It’s a straight forward act of slowing body and spirit to tune ourselves to God.

Steps To Slowing The Soul

Pause in silence

Be aware of any tension, stress, or distraction

Repeat a short prayer

“My God and my all.”

“Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me”

“Thank you Jesus”

Sing the Doxology in-between deep breaths

Allow God to remove tension, stress, and distractions

By pausing and slowing our soul we give space for the Holy Spirit to do what he does best, which is to draw us nearer to Jesus. The Holy Spirit:

Teaches us all things & reminds of everything that Jesus has taught us (John 14.26)

Testifies about Jesus (John 15.26)

Guides us into all truth (John 16.13)

Allowing the Holy Spirit space within us will prime our souls for the truth of scriptures.

2. Read & Reflect

Having paused a prayed it is now time to dive into the Word

Mancy looking for EGs bracelet

Lady with the lost coin (Luke 15)

Merchant looking for a pearl (Matt 13)

the treasure in the field (Matt 13)

In this particular practice it is recommended that you refrain from reading large passages. 20 verses max.

This will help you to slow down and dive full into what your reading understanding that you’ll be reading it at least tow times fully.

Quality or quantity is the name of the game.

Colossians 3:16 (AMP)

16Let the [spoken] word of Christ have its home within you [dwelling in your heart and mind—permeating every aspect of your being]

First Reading - Lectio (Read)

Goals:

Gain an overview of the passage. This is where a study Bible comes in handy. I would, personally, read through the passage and then read all the notes from your study Bible from that particular section of scripture.

Don’t dive too deep into study. There’s a time and a place for that but this practice isn’t it. Don’t get side tracked on the minute details. Just gain the basic understanding of what the text is trying to say and then move to reflection.

Second Reading - Meditatio (Reflect)

Now that we have a good understanding of the passage, we’ll move to something that may be out of the norm for most people.

Now our Goal is to meditate on the Word so that the Holy Spirit can illuminate the passage to you.

Psalm 1:2 (ESV)

2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Psalm 19:14 (ESV)

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 119:97 (ESV)

97 Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.

Joshua 1:8 (ESV)

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Meditate = Hagah = muse, ponder, utter

Matthew 4:4 (ESV)

4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

Now that act of reflection and meditation on Scripture is probably foreign to most of us

3 Keys to Reflecting on Scripture

Embracing the squirrels - Interruption

Pay attention to wear you mind is drawn when your rereading the passage. Listen to where the Holy Spirit is drawing your mind.

ADHD

2. Make notes of key words or phrases - Intuition

When you come across a particular word or phrase. Circle it, perhaps make a marking or note of it. We’re not looking for super in depth theological explanation. We are seeking discover why the Holy Spirit decided to highlight that to me, today

Hebrews 4:12–13 (NLT)

12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

3. Be there. Smell it. - Imagination

Make use of the all to often under utilized imagination. Take the opportunity to put yourselves in the shoes of the differing pov’s of the passage your reading . The main character, the author, the audience, the servant, the soldier, the mother, the brother, the pigs, the donkey, the governor, the thief, the demons, and the angels. And as you do not only will you see new perspectives but you’ll also giver yourself opportunities to read the text over and over again.

“The devotional masters of nearly all persuasions counsel us that we can descend with the mind into the heart most easily through the imagination.”

-Richard Foster

“I long to see the imagination released from its prison and given to its proper place among the sons of the new creation. What I am trying to describe here is the sacred gift of seeing, the ability to peer beyond the veil and gaze with astonished wonder upon the beauties and mysteries of things holy and eternal.

-A.W. Tozer

3. Ask

If we’ve Paused and Read & Reflected, now we get to the part of the practice where we might hear what Jesus said to the blind man

Mark 10:51 (ESV)

51 And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

After following this structure it almost becomes easy to let the Scriptures dictate the path where our prayers must follow.

Instruction - Repentance & Obedience

Comfort or Provision - Adoration

Generosity or Need - Intercession

As we seek to hear with our hearts from the scriptures we can be assured that God will draw hearts in prayer toward His own Heart

4. Yield

Now we pause again to yield to what the Lord has so graciously chosen to speak to us today. Whatever it is, we sit silently and take it in. Enjoy the moment. God has just spoken to you.

This moment may not overwhelm you, although sometimes it may, but it may just be like the elderly couple that is content just to sit in silent satisfaction with one another. Unhurried. Relaxed. You can just take a moment in the wonder of what just happened and then get on with you day.

Other times He will overwhelm you. You will be so starkly aware of His presence it will bring you to tears. You will be submerged with His love that you will be unaware of any troubles, insecurities, shame or guilt. Unaware of even time itself. And then you will get on with your day.

Near death experience/EG

Practices

1. Try to read the Bible 4 times a week

Research shows that mental health dramatically improves upon reading 4x per week

2. Reading the Bible out loud

Whether you read it out loud or you listen to one of many audio versions available, it may benefit you to hear it out loud on a walk or in the card, or while cleaning the house

3. Write in your Bible

This might aid you in interacting with the Scriptures. Write thoughts or questions in the margins. Find a highlighting system to bring the Word alive to you visually. We recommend the Inductive Method Highlighting System

4. Live out your Bible

This is something that we should all be striving for, however maybe you come a cross a text that has an immediate application that you feel drawn to. Do it!

Luke 3:11 ESV

11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”

Maybe then you could donate some clothes you don’t have use for to those in need.

Questions to keep in mind while reading the Scriptures.

What is the context of this passage?(A study Bible will help)

How do I see Jesus in this passage?

What questions does this passage make me want to ask God?

How are these verses relevant to me today?

What is God saying to me through this passage?

Lectio Divina - Enhanced with a group

Split the passage into chunks for each person in your group

Vocalize any words or phrases

Re-read the passage with the first method, note highlights the Holy Spirit brings to your attention

Pray as group pertaining to what has been illuminated in your time of reflection and meditation

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