Lectio Divina – a holy reading of the Bible slowly, savoring it, and enjoying it with the Lord – is the spiritual practice of sacred reading of the scriptures. The intention is not to learn or gain information but to deepen our relationship with God. St Benedict encourages us to “to listen with the ear of our hearts.”
Join me once a week for Lectio Divina. I will share a verse and a word that spoke to my heart. Read and listen to the verses here. And gently ask God for a word or phrase that speaks to your heart for that day – that is what lectio means. Once we find that gift, we hold it, meditate, and savor its meaning. This step is called meditation.
Then offer that word back to God in prayer or the third step of oratio. In prayer we allow our real selves to be touched and changed by the word of God.
Finally, we simply rest in the presence of the One who has used His word as a means of inviting us to accept His transforming embrace. No one who has ever been in love needs to be reminded that there are moments in loving relationships when words are unnecessary.
Come into the presence of the Lord.
he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
I see, Lord, in these verses I am passive
You are doing it all.
I don’t have to try to force you to appear
You are with me all the time
I don’t have try and try again to save myself or to earn your love
You already have used your power to save insignificant little me
I don’t have to hide my heart in shame and sorrow
You lavished delightful buckets of joy over my life’s journey
When I cry out in my pain and fear
You promise to surround me with your love that quiets my terror and hushes my aching heart
And I can hardly believe the last verse
You rejoice over me?
You sing about me?
You are doing for me what I should be doing for you
Let me use this time, this day to praise you
Let me give you back the gifts you have first given me – your love, your presence, your joy
Be thankful for the smallest blessing, and you will deserve to receive greater. Value the least gifts no less than the greatest and simple graces as special favors. If you remember the dignity of the Giver, no gift will seem small or mean, for nothing can be valueless that is given by the Most High God.
Thomas à Kempis
I love this scripture verse!! And the quote by Thomas a Kempis. Thanks for the nourishment!
I can hardly understand the verse that says He rejoices over me. That just blows my mind!
Love that Thomas a Kempis quote, Jeanie! I was planning to post about thankfulness, and that quote spurred me on.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Laura