* Meditate (“meditatio”). Keep the Scripture passage at the front of your mind and ponder it. Consider which word or phrase stands out above the others to you. Once a certain word or phrase rises to the top of your thoughts, focus just on that and let the rest of the passage fall away. Then ask yourself what the word or phrase is causing you to feel and think. Consider what you see when you shine a light on the word or phrase in your mind’s eye. Don’t rush the meditation process; stick with it for the full amount of allotted time rather than hurrying into prayer. Give God time to say all He wants to say to your heart through the word or phrase.

* Pray (“oratio”). Ask God why He gave you the particular word or phrase you focused on today, and why you felt or thought what you did when you meditated on it. Invite God to show you what He wants you to do with what He has given you during this devotional time. Be persistent as you pray, seeking to know how you should apply this experience to your life. Listen carefully and patiently for God’s response, trusting that He will reward your faithfulness with answers.

* Contemplate (“contemplatio”). Rest in the love God gave you to experience during this devotional time. Imagine that you’re ascending a ladder into heaven and letting the concerns of this world fall away. Thank God for the gift of the fresh message He has just given you through His Word. Write down your thoughts about this experience in a journal.

* Make it a habit. Don’t worry if you get distracted in the middle of lectio divina, or if you can’t get to it every day as hoped. Just do your best to practice it as well as you can, whenever you can. Make it a regular part of your schedule. Look forward with eagerness to the new messages God will give you through His Word in the future.

Adapted from Divine Intervention: Encountering God through the Ancient Practice of Lectio Divina, copyright 2006 by Tony Jones.  Published by Think Books, a division of NavPress, Colorado Springs, Co., www.navpress.com.

Tony Jones is a nationally recognized leader and published author in youth ministry and the emerging church movement. He serves on the National Working Group of the Faith as a Way of Life Project at Yale and is an active police chaplain in Edina, Minnesota. His primary interests lie in the intersection of faith with contemporary issues, practical theology, and the emerging church. Tony and his wife, Julie, live in Minnesota with their three children – Tanner, Lily, and Aidan – and a 90-pound yellow Labrador Retriever.