Lectio Divina is Latin for divine reading, spiritual reading, or "holy reading," and represents a traditional Christian practice of prayer and scriptural reading intended to promote communion with God and to increase in the knowledge of God's Word. It is a way of praying with Scripture that calls one to study, ponder, listen and, finally, pray and even sing and rejoice from God's Word, within the soul.
The Method
Preparation
Prior to reading say a short prayer inviting the Holy Spirit to guide your prayer.
Lectio Divina has 4 stages (or moments), these are explained below.
1. Lectio (Read)
Reading the scriptural passage slowly, attentively several times. Lets any words or sentences that standout take your attention.
2. Meditatio (Think)
Allow your self to pause and think about the words that stood out to you, ruminates on it, thinking in God’s presence about the text. Allow the holy spirit to guide you to an understanding.
3. Oratio (Speak)
What ever associations come to mind from thinking about the scripture words that stood out to you, offer this to God. Make you prayer (spoken or in the mind) an offering of what you have learned or understood from the words you read.
3. Contemplatio (Contemplate and rest)
Hold a loving focus on God. Or in other words, rest in his peaceful presence.