Weekly Prayer Time
Lectio Divina is Latin for "Sacred" or "Divine" reading. It is a structure of prayer that uses Scripture and silence to invite God's presence and direction into our lives. It's a meaningful and relaxing way to get more out of Scripture, and gives us greater capacity to listen for that "still, small voice."
Take a passage of Scripture, and read it through four times, pausing in meditation between readings:
1st Reading: Simply listen to God's Word read aloud.
2nd Reading: Reflect on the ways the passage touches your life right now.
3rd Reading: Ask yourself, what is God asking me to do with this passage?
4th Reading: Rest in God's Word and let it sink in.
You'll find several Scripture passages here, so you can practice this kind of contemplative prayer online, perhaps in the morning before work begins, during your lunch break, or any time you want to pause and become aware of God's presence. You can also practice Lectio Divina without your computer. All you need is your Bible and ten minutes to spend in silence and solitude. Simply choose a passage that calls to you, and follow the steps above. The Psalms and the parables of Jesus are a good place to start.
Two things I ask of you, O Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, "Who is the Lord?" Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
Proverbs 30:7-9
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord;
O Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness;
therefore you are feared.
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
O Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.
Psalm 130
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the spirit.
Galatians 5:22-25