Lesson 4: Praying with Scripture

Prayer is a conversation, and a conversation needs two voices. Scripture is the primary way God speaks in prayer. This lesson teaches the oldest Christian method of praying with the Bible, called lectio divina, or sacred reading. Monks have used it for fifteen centuries. It takes ten minutes and requires nothing but a Bible and attention.

Choosing a passage

Start with the Gospels. Choose a short passage, ten to fifteen verses at most. The daily Mass readings are an excellent source because they are chosen for the whole Church and keep you from only reading your favorites. Do not try to cover ground. The goal is depth, not distance.

The four steps

Read (lectio). Read the passage slowly, preferably aloud or moving your lips. Then read it again. Notice a word or phrase that stands out, that snags your attention for any reason. Do not analyze why. Just notice.

Reflect (meditatio). Stay with that word or phrase. Repeat it. Ask what it might mean for your life right now. If the phrase is Do not be afraid, ask what you are afraid of. If it is Follow me, ask where. This is not Bible study; you are not looking for the historical meaning. You are letting God use the text to speak to your situation.

Respond (oratio). Talk to God about what came up. If the passage stirred gratitude, thank Him. If it exposed something, confess it. If it raised a question, ask it. This is where reading becomes prayer.

Rest (contemplatio). Stop talking. Sit in silence for two or three minutes with the word still in your heart. You are not trying to achieve anything. You are simply being with God. If your mind wanders, return to the word.

What to expect

Some days a phrase will leap off the page and speak directly to your life. Other days nothing will seem to happen. Both are fine. God is not limited to the days you feel something. Seeds planted in dry soil still grow.

Over months you will begin to notice that Scripture surfaces in your mind during the day, at exactly the right moments. That is the fruit of lectio: the Word of God taking up residence in you.

Common mistakes

Reading too much. Ten verses is plenty. Analyzing instead of listening. Save the commentary for another time. Skipping the silence. The rest at the end is where much of the work happens. Giving up after a dry week. Lectio is a slow practice with slow, deep fruit.

Practice exercise

Open the Gospel of Mark, chapter 1, verses 35 to 39, where Jesus rises early to pray alone. Read it twice. Notice the word or phrase that catches you. Spend three minutes reflecting on it, two minutes talking to God about it, and two minutes in silence. Write the phrase on a card and carry it with you tomorrow.