Today, I invite you to go through the steps of the spiritual discipline known as Lectio Divina. This discipline can be practiced with any portion of Scripture.
Before you start, spend some time in silence, preparing your mind to hear what God says to you through that passage of Scripture.
The chosen verses (Philippians 1:3-11 or whatever verses you choose) are read four consecutive times, each time asking a different question and following each step with another period of silence.
1. Read the passage listening for a word or phrase that jumps out at you. Savor and repeat the word without reflecting too much on it.
2. Reflect or meditate on the word or phrase while reading through the passage a second time. You might ask, “What is it in my life that needed to hear this word today?”
3. Respond. Is there an invitation or challenge that God is calling you to? What is your response to this invitation? Perhaps this scripture has touched a place of pain, frustration, or anger. We can pour out these feelings in the safety of this moment of communion with God, and in prayer.
4. When our response has subsided, we read the passage one last time, in contemplation—to rest in God and resolve that we will walk with Him in our daily life, inspired and encouraged by the word or phrase that we have heard through this exercise.
Portions taken from Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton and Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster.