In the last chapter, Pete Greig, wrote about the importance of hearing God through the primary means of the Bible. In that chapter, he spoke of hearing God with the head. In the chapter we look at in this post (Chapter 3), he is looking at hearing God with our hearts.
Summary
Chapter 3 – Hearing God’s Word in Prayer – Lectio Divina: how we listen can be more important than what is said – we need to listen with our hearts. It’s possible to have knowledge in our head but not to hear with our heart. We have to learn to read the Bible with our heart, and Greig recommends Lectio Divina as a way of doing this. It is to read not for information about God but for conversation with God. It was established within the Benedictine monastic communities and systematised by a Carthusian monk, but we must not feel constrained by his 4 stages, as it was developed to simply encourage a conversational exchange between us and God. Pete Greig shares the pattern he has developed through the Prayer App Lectio 365. First, we pause. Slow down and draw near to God. Quieten down, breathe, consciously relax any tense places in your body, whisper a short prayer. It is a way of preparing our hearts but also of respecting the Bible. Then, read and reflect. Read short passages, and go slow and deep. Approach it believing there is precious, buried treasure in its depths. Read it and re-read it. Don’t just read it, but feed on it. Chew each word and savour its sweetness. Don’t just try to ‘get through’ the passage but let the Spirit inwardly interrupt you with specific words and thoughts. Read intuitively, letting words and phrases jump out at you. Talk with the Lord about them. It is also okay to use our imagination, by both putting ourselves in the story of Scripture and seeing through the window of Scripture to another world. Next, we ask. Talk to God, praying through the Scripture. It may involve repentance and rejoicing. But also include petition and intercession for others. Finally, we yield. Simply sit quietly and wait, your heart full. If you feel God’s presence, simply embrace it. If the Bible is God’s love letter, at times your lover walks into the room, and then you turn from the letter and embrace the lover. As we learn to hear God speak in this way through Scripture, we gradually learn to his voice everywhere.
Some Key Quotes
Lectio divina is meant to be a delightful relational exchange, never a rigid religious straitjacket. (p. 76).
Since the aim of lectio divina is meditation, conversation and contemplation through Bible reading, it’s a good idea to stop before you start. Pause for a moment to settle your heart before reading the text. Consciously slow down and draw near to God as he draws near to you. (p. 77).
A true understanding of the Scriptures requires both divine revelation and human imagination because its object lies far beyond the bounds of ordinary human experience. (p. 92).
…the most wonderful secret superpower granted to those who practise lectio divina over weeks and months and years. By training ourselves to hear God’s voice where it’s easiest – in the Bible – we gradually learn to hear his voice everywhere else as well…When we root ourselves in Scripture, the whole of creation becomes God’s mouthpiece. (p. 98).
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
- Have you ever practised Lectio Divina, or read the Bible with your heart in a similar way to Lectio Divina?
- Do you ever hear God speak to you through Scripture and then talk with him about what he was saying? Can you see the advantage of making this a regular and intentional practice?
- If you have practised this over the years, how has it helped you to hear God speak generally?
There is a PDF version of this study here.