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How to Start a Scripture Habit: A Beginner’s Guide to Lectio Divina

Velany Rodrigues Everyday Faith

Surely, you’ve heard it.

The “Read your Bible daily” suggestion when you’re just starting out on your faith journey. And no matter how often it’s said, it’s worth saying again: Read your Bible daily.

If you’re like me, and you’d like a little help navigating the holy library of God’s word, then this is the post for you! Because today, we’ll delve into one of the most ancient and most transformative of all Bible reading practices – the Lectio Divina.

Lectio Divina is not a method of scholarly Bible study. It is a way to let Scripture speak to us.

If you’re looking for a way to read Scripture that is intensely personal and reflective, that will help you grow your faith, then this is definitely one of the best ways to dig deep into the Word!

Lectio Divina: A time-tested practice

Not a fan of history? Jump directly to how to practice Lectio Divina.

Simple, but powerful, Lectio Divina (Latin for “divine reading”) has deep roots:

  • The early Church Fathers began practicing slow reading of Scripture in the first few centuries itself. They were looking not just for information but for a way to seek God through His Word.
  • In the 6th century, St. Benedict of Nursia listed this practice in his Rule for Monks, emphasizing reading Scripture slowly and prayerfully so that it really entered the heart of the reader.
  • Passed down through the centuries, Lectio Divina entered ordinary Catholic homes after Vatican II. This is when lay readers of Scripture began delving into it.

What was once practiced in ancient monasteries is now part of the small Christian community meetings in my little parish in Mumbai!

Ancient and modern forms

Over time, a few different forms of Lectio Divina have emerged. The two most common are the original ancient form and the modern model.

The most widely practiced form is described in the 12th century book The Ladder of Monks by the Carthusian monk Guigo II:

  • Read (lectio)
  • Meditate (meditatio)
  • Pray (oratio)
  • Contemplate (contemplatio)

Although the original model has stood the test of time and is widely practiced today, the 20th century added some “action” to it.

Literally.

My Catholic Prayer Bible published by Paulist Press, for example, lists “Read, Reflect, Pray, Act,” while the American Bible Study recommends adding “Act” as a fifth step after Contemplate.

In essence, both variations invite us to let our reading and contemplation of the Word of God change the way we live.

How to practice Lectio Divina

Ready to pray your way through God’s Word? Find a quiet time and place, and follow this simple guide that combines the ancient and modern approaches:

  • Read: Find a passage that you want to soak into. Read slowly (aloud or silently). Re-read the passage and allow each word to sink in. You may be drawn to a word, phrase, or verse. Focus on that before you move on to the next step.
  • Reflect: This is where you let the Word sink in and “speak” to you in silence. What is God telling you through the passage you’ve just read? For example, if you’re reading Matthew 16:15-16 (Peter’s proclamation of Jesus as the Messiah), you might ask yourself, “Who is Jesus to me?”
  • Pray and Stay: After “hearing” the Word, after letting it speak to you, it’s your turn to speak to God. Express whatever is in your heart right now. Praise, thanksgiving, supplication, repentance. This is where you truly connect with Him in deep conversation. And then, stay there. Sit for a while in silence and let the Word stay in your heart and mind.
  • Act: Now, it’s time to think. How can you apply this Word in your life today? Taking our earlier example of Matthew 16, you might consider: “How can I show by my actions who Jesus is to me?” (The answer could be prioritizing God in your life. The action could then be setting aside time daily to pray and read the Word.)

Step into a closer walk with God through Lectio Divina!

Slow down, read, and pray with God’s Word. Download a beautiful PDF of 20 curated passages for Lectio Divina, as well as the step-by-step guide to the ancient practice.

Download the Lectio Divina Guide.

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How to choose a passage for Lectio Divina

Any passage (from a few verses to an entire chapter) can be used to pray through the Word in this way. But here are a few suggestions to get you started:

The heart factor

Lectio Divina goes beyond an intellectual study of Scripture. It takes us into prayerful listening. It is a way to meet the Living God through His Living Word.

I first stumbled upon Lectio Divina when I was trying to bridge the mind-heart gap. The gap between knowing God and loving Him. And this simple yet profound ancient tradition gave me new eyes to see the Word, in a way that cut right through every layer of knowledge and went straight to my heart.

That’s why ancient or adapted, I love Lectio Divina.

If you haven’t tried it yet, give it a go. And let the Author and Perfecter of our faith meet you in His Word.

In faith,

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Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12 (NABRE)

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