Devotional Reading

The first 1,500 years of church history were characterized by the practice of lectio divina. Since many people were illiterate and many that could read didn’t have Bibles, lectio divina offered a way of attending to Scripture as it was read in church, with an ear to hearing a word from God. Some brief and memorable word or phrase became bread for the soul throughout the week. Devotional reading is not an exercise in mentally critiquing or exegeting the text. It exists to further divine companionship. Lectio divina invites us into God’s presence to listen for his particular, loving word to me at this particular moment in time. In lectio one listens to the word as it is read aloud, or you read the text aloud for yourself.

Devotional reading of Scripture is rooted in the assurance that every part of the biblical story—letters, parables, Gospels, Prophets, history—is inspired and can give voice to God’s particular word to us.

Devotional reading was traditionally made up five movements:

1. Silencio—quiet preparation of the heart. Come into God’s presence, slow down, relax, and intentionally release the chaos and noise in your mind to him.
2. Lectio—read the word. Read a Scripture passage slowly and out loud, lingering over the words so that they resonate in your heart. When a word or phrase catches your attention, don’t keep reading. Stop and attend to what God is saying to you. Be open to the word. Don’t analyze it or judge it. Listen and wait.
3. Meditatio—meditate. Read the Scripture a second time out loud. Savor the words. Listen for any invitation that God is extending to you in this word. Reflect on the importance of the words that light up to you. Like Mary, who pondered the word in her heart, gently explore the ramifications of God’s invitation.
4. Oratio—respond, pray. Read the Scripture a third time. Now is the moment to enter into a personal dialogue with God. There is no right or wrong way to do this. The important thing is to respond truthfully and authentically. What feelings has the text aroused in you? Name where you are resistant or want to push back. Become aware of where you feel invited into a deeper way of being with God. Talk to God about these feelings.
5. Contemplatio—contemplate, rest and wait in the presence of God. Allow some time for the word to sink deeply into your soul. Yield and surrender yourself to God. Before you leave, you might consider a reminder that can help you dwell on or incarnate this word throughout the day.

Reflection Questions

1. How has your faith journey been characterized by a head-heart split?

   How has God’s love moved from being a matter of belief to a real and lived experience?

2. How would you characterize the way you tend to read?

   How has the way you read Scripture been influenced by reading habits in general?

3. What are the strengths and weaknesses of scanning and hurrying through material in search of the main idea?
4. How and when have the Scriptures been the voice of God to you?

   How have they brought you into the presence of Christ?

Spiritual Exercises

1. Using Mark 10:46-52
   • Silencio. Put yourself in the presence of God. Become quiet and offer yourself to God.
   • Lectio. Read Mark 10:46-42 out loud, slowly allowing the words to resonate and settle in your heart. Linger on the word or phrase that catches your attention and lights up for you. Sit with the word or phrase and savor it as a word of God for you.
   • Meditatio. Read the passage again and listen to where the word connects with your life right now. Enter into the scene in your imagination. Imagination is a God-given gift. Envision the scene. Carefully watch the people. Listen to how they interact. What do you hear and experience as you watch and listen?
   • Oratio. Read the passage one more time, listening attentively. Has God addressed you in this Word and invited you to respond? Allow the Scripture to lead you into a prayer response. Do not censure your thoughts or requests. Let them flow out spontaneously and freely before the Lord who loves you. Hold nothing back. Respond to God’s invitation to you.
   • Contemplatio. Deeply receive God’s Word and rest in his presence and love. Give yourself some time to wait and be still before you reenter life as usual. Take God’s Word to you with you throughout the day. Return to it and remember it all day long. Stay with God until you feel prompted to leave.
2. Before reading Scripture, open yourself to the presence of God. Say something like “Here I am, Lord” or “Open my eyes to see wonderful things in your Word.” • Read slowly until a word or phrase lights up for you. When you sense a word lighting up for you, attend to this word. Do not read any further. Listen to your feelings and God’s nudging around this word. Let this word summon you into prayer. • Reflect on this word throughout the day.
3. In your Bible reading, ask God to give you a prayer response to his Word. As a word or phrase lights up for you, consider the prayer God may be calling you to pray. Then pray that prayer for the coming week.
4. When you read Scripture, insert your own name into the pronouns that stand for you. What is it like for you to read Scripture in this personal way? • For example read Isaiah 43:1-3. Insert your name in the blank space.

   But now this is what the LORD says—

   .. he who formed you O ______________,

   Fear not, for I have redeemed ______________;

   .. I have summoned ______________ by name; ______________ is mine.

   When ______________ passes through the waters,

   .. I will be with ______________;

   and when ______________ passes through the rivers,

   .. they will not sweep over ___________.

   When _________________ walks through the fire,

   .. _____________ will not be burned;

   .. the flames will not set ___________ ablaze.

   For I am the LORD, _____________’s God,

   .. the Holy One of Israel, ____________’s Savior.

   What is this experience of reading Scripture like for you?

5. Choose a biblical character with whom you identify. Turn to Scripture passages in which this character shows up. Read the passage aloud, placing yourself in the story as an onlooker. Let the story settle deeply into you. Listen for similarities between you and this biblical character. Where do you struggle like he or she does? How do his or her circumstances give deeper meaning to your journey? Listen to what the Lord is saying to you through this character and his or her story. • How does this story help you understand your own story and where God is in that story? Talk to God about what it is like to have his Word speak to you.

Resources on Devotional Reading

Gathered in the Word by Norveen Vest

Shaped by the Word by Robert Mulholland

“A spiritual kingdom lies all about us, enclosing us, embracing us, altogether within reach of our inner selves, waiting for us to recognize it. God Himself is here waiting our response to His Presence. This eternal world will come alive to us the moment we begin to reckon upon its reality.” —A. W. Tozer

Meditation