Focus

Lectio Divina—Latin for “Divine Reading”—is a way of praying with Scripture. You choose a single word or phrase, from a short passage and listen prayerfully for how God is speaking to your mind and heart. Instead of reading to gather information, you slow down, reflect, and let the Word shape your thoughts, feelings, and actions. This is not about mastering the text; it’s about letting the Living Word master you and draw you closer to Him. 

Ways to Use This Practice

1. Personal Devotion – Practice Lectio Divina in your daily quiet time. Use it to slow your mind, open your heart, and let Scripture lead you into prayer and conversation with God.

2. Discipleship Groups – Use it in small groups focused on spiritual formation. Read the same passage together, share what each person heard or sensed, and encourage one another in obedience to what God reveals.

3. Small Groups or Retreats – Use Lectio Divina to create sacred space for encounter—times of reflection, stillness, and hearing God’s voice together. It can be especially powerful when paired with silence, journaling, or worship.

• Group Tip: To begin this spiritual practice with a group, you could say: "Let's close our eyes, quiet our hearts and be attentive to the movement of the Spirit of God, as we partake of His Word and allow it to do its work inside us."

The Purpose

The goal of Lectio Divina is communion with God, not information. It’s not about getting through Scripture but letting Scripture get through to you. As we prayerfully read, meditate, and respond, we cultivate a posture of listening and intimacy with God that transforms our thinking, heals our emotions, and aligns our will with His.

Why It Matters

We live in a noisy, distracted age. The practice of Lectio Divina slows us down and helps us recover the art of listening—not just hearing words, but receiving them as life-giving truth. It forms the heart to be receptive rather than reactive, contemplative rather than hurried, and responsive rather than resistant. Through this rhythm, the Word becomes alive, personal, and deeply transformative.

Suggestions for Journaling

After your meditation, take a few moments to write down:

• What you noticed or felt in the passage—whether it’s a story, teaching, psalm, or letter.

• Which word, phrase, or moment captured your attention.

• What you discovered about yourself and about God.

• How God might be inviting you to respond, trust Him, or live differently today.

Write as if you are having a conversation with God—a dialogue of the heart.

Three Great Responses for This Practice: Journal, Pray, & Share!

• Journal – Let your pen become your prayer. Capture what God stirred in you so that you can return to it later and see His faithfulness unfold.

• Pray – Turn what you discovered into conversation. Speak your thoughts, desires, and confessions openly to God.

• Share – 1) In a Group: Encourage others by sharing what you heard or experienced.  2) With a Friend or Family Member: Tell them how God’s Word is shaping your life and invite them to join you in the journey.   

Selecting a Passage

When choosing a text for Lectio Divina:

• Stories (Narrative) invite you to step into the scene and encounter God personally. Notice the characters—their words, actions, and even what they don’t say—and pay attention to your own reactions as you experience the story. 

• Other prose (Teachings, Psalms, Letters, Wisdom texts) invites reflection, prayer, and response. Focus on words or phrases that speak to your heart, convict, comfort, or guide you.

• Both approaches reveal God’s heart—one through experience, the other through reflection—and together they help you listen, love, and live the Word.

Tip for Selection

• Prefer short, vivid texts (5–15 verses) rather than long passages, and return often to texts that move you personally.

• Choose passages where God speaks, Jesus acts, or a heart responds.

• Return often to passages that move you personally—familiarity deepens revelation.

• Mix narrative, teaching, psalms, and letters—these types of Bible passages reveal God’s heart and invite you to listen, love, and live the Word.

Final Thought

Lectio Divina teaches us to come to Scripture not as consumers of information, but as lovers seeking the Beloved. As we return again and again to the Word with open hearts, we discover that God is not distant but near—speaking, healing, and forming Christ within us.

1. Stories of Jesus (Gospels)

Narratives invite you to step into the scene, notice the people, emotions, and movements, and listen for the Living Word behind the words.

•  Jesus’ Baptism – Matthew 3:13–17

• Luke 4:1–13 – The Temptation of Jesus

• Luke 5:1–11 – Calling of the First Disciples

• Mark 2:1–12 – The Healing of the Paralytic

• Luke 7:36–50 – The Woman Who Anointed Jesus’ Feet

• Mark 4:35–41 – Jesus Calms the Storm

• John 6:1–14 – Feeding of the Five Thousand

• Luke 24:13–35 – The Road to Emmaus

• John 20:11–18 – Mary at the Tomb

• John 13:3–17 – Jesus washing feet

• Mark 4:26–29 – Parable of the growing seed

• Matthew 8:23–27 – Jesus calms the storm

These stories allow you to see, hear, and feel the compassion, power, and presence of Christ—and to listen for what He’s saying to you today.

2. Psalms and Prayers

The Psalms are the Bible’s built-in prayer book—perfect for meditation and prayer. Even a single verse can become a deep reflection.

• Psalm 23 – The Lord is my Shepherd

• Psalm 27 – Seeking God’s face

• Psalm 42 – Longing for God

• Psalm 51 – Prayer of repentance

• Psalm 63 – Desire for God’s presence

• Psalm 91 – Trust in God’s protection

• Psalm 103 – Bless the Lord, O my soul

• Psalm 131 – Resting like a child in God’s arms

• Psalm 33:4–5 – God’s faithfulness and love

• Psalm 116:1–2 – Gratitude for deliverance

• Psalm 139:1–6 – You know us, Lord

• Psalm 139:7–12 – Where can I flee from Your presence?

• Psalm 139:13–16 – You created us

• Psalm 139:17–18 – God’s thoughts

• Psalm 139:23–24 – Search me, O God

3. Jesus’ Teachings and Wisdom

Short teachings and parables invite meditation and dialogue with the Spirit.

• Matthew 5:1–12 – The Beatitudes

• Matthew 5:13–15 – Salt and Light

• Matthew 5:43–48 – Love for enemies

• Matthew 6:19–24 – Treasures in heaven

• Matthew 6:25–34 – Do not worry

• Matthew 7:1–6 – Judging others

• Matthew 11:28–30 – Come to Me and find rest

• John 10:1–18 – The Good Shepherd

• John 15:1–5 – I am the vine, you are the branches

• Luke 10:25–37 – The Good Samaritan

• Luke 12:22–31 – Do not worry; trust God

• Luke 12:32–34 – Where your treasure is

• 1 Corinthians 13:1–3 – Without love

• 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 – What love is

• 1 Corinthians 15:57–58 – Victory in Christ

4. Encounters and Transformations

Moments when people meet God—full of awe, change, or emotion—open space for personal reflection.

• Genesis 12:1–9 – The call of Abram

• Exodus 3:1–12 – Moses and the burning bush

• 1 Samuel 3:1–10 – Samuel hears God’s voice

• Isaiah 6:1–8 – Isaiah’s vision of God’s holiness

• Luke 1:26–38 – Mary’s encounter with Gabriel

• John 4:1–26 – The Samaritan woman

• Acts 9:1–19 – Saul’s conversion

5. Apostolic Wisdom (Letters)

Epistles provide short passages for meditation on truth, obedience, and transformation.

• Romans 8:1–17 – Life in the Spirit

• 2 Corinthians 1:3–5 – God of all comfort

• 2 Corinthians 1:20–22 – God’s promises are “Yes”

• 2 Corinthians 2:14–16 – Pleasing aroma

• 2 Corinthians 3:2–3 – Our lives as letters of Christ

• 2 Corinthians 3:18 – Being transformed into His image

• 2 Corinthians 4:6 – God shines light in our hearts

• 2 Corinthians 4:7–12 – Jars of clay

• Philippians 2:1–11 – Humility of Christ

• Colossians 3:1–17 – Set your heart on things above

• Ephesians 3:14–21 – Prayer for fullness in Christ

• Hebrews 4:15–16 – Approach the throne of grace

• 1 John 4:7–21 – God is love

6. Short, Still Verses for Contemplation

Perfect for contemplation, resting quietly in God’s presence.

• Isaiah 30:15 – “In quietness and trust is your strength.”

• Isaiah 41:10 – “Do not fear, for I am with you.”

• Jeremiah 33:3 – Call to Me and I will answer

• Micah 6:8 – Walk humbly, act justly, love mercy

• Zephaniah 3:17 – The Lord rejoices over you

• John 3:26–31 – John the Baptist on Jesus

• John 5:16–20 – My Father is always at work

• John 15:9 – As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you

• Philippians 4:6–7 – God’s peace will guard your hearts