The first time I heard of Lectio Divina I was in a room full of women leaders and it was presented as a way to slow down and savor Scripture. We live in a world that moves fast. Text messages buzz, social media scrolls, and to-do lists seem to grow longer every day. In all the noise, it can be easy to miss the still, small voice of God. If there’s anything I want to do, it’s savor the Word of God. But here’s the thing. I do get busy. But God isn’t in a hurry. He’s never rushed. And while He handles all of the things, He is never frazzled. And He invites us into His pace. One of the things that I discovered that day is that Lectio Divina is a beautiful way to slow down and hear Him speak.
Lection Divina is Latin for “divine reading.” Don’t let the fancy term intimidate you. No fancy commentaries are needed, and you don’t have to drag out a long reading plan. Those have their place in a disciplined life, and I enjoy both. Lectio Divina is about lingering with Scripture. It’s about giving God your full attention and allowing His Word to soak into the deepest places of your heart. Those dry places, the nooks and crannies that might get missed with a reading plan.
So, let’s talk about what Lectio Divina is, how you do it, and how you can include it in your Devotional Routine. I’ve have a tendency to rotate through Bible Study Methods, because I get bored easily using just one. Eventually I will share all the different ones I’ve used. I’ve used Lectio Divina in my own quiet times, I’ve taught groups of teens (teen boys at that), and used it in small groups. It is useful in many settings, so let’s dig in.
What is Lectio Divina?
Lectio Divina has been practiced by Christians for centuries. The history of it dates back to the 3rd century, and it became a central spiritual discipline in monastic life. But you don’t have to be a monk, a nun, or even a morning person to benefit from it. It is a practice for all believers who want to hear God’s voice more clearly through His Word.
At its heart, Lectio Divina is reading the Bible slowly, prayerfully, and repeatedly. Instead of reading (or skimming) through a chapter to get it done, you dwell on a smaller portion. I’ve used as little as one or two verses with Lectio Divina and let it speak to me in layers. And it’s not about getting something new every time you open your Bible. It’s about letting God use His living Word to form and transform you.
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)
The Four Steps of Lectio Divina
Traditionally, Lectio Divina has four simple steps. They build on each other and lead you from reading to listening to responding.
Lectio (Read)
You begin by simply reading a passage slowly. Let the words sink in. Read it more than once, maybe even in a couple of translations. Notice any word or phrase that stands out to you. Don’t rush to figure out why it stands out, just notice that it does.
For example: Let’s say you’re reading Psalm 46:10 (NKJV):
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Maybe the phrase “Be still” catches your attention. That’s the Spirit’s nudge to pause there.
Meditatio (Meditate)
Now, meditate on that word or phrase. This isn’t emptying your mind; it’s filling your mind with God’s Word. Ask yourself: What might God be saying to me through this? How does this speak into my current situation? Let your imagination picture the scene.
With “Be still,” maybe you start to see all the ways your life feels busy, and you sense God inviting you to rest in Him.
Oratio (Pray)
Respond to God in prayer. Talk to Him about what you’ve noticed and how it touches your heart. This can be a whispered prayer, written in your journal, or spoken out loud. It doesn’t have to be formal or polished, just honest.
“Lord, You know I’ve been running full speed. I sometimes have trouble being still and feel like I need to sit on my hands just to do it. Teach me how to be still before You.”
Contemplatio (Contemplate)
Finally, rest in God’s presence. This is where you stop talking and simply be with Him. No agenda, no rush, just sitting in His love. This quiet space helps His Word take root.
Consider Making Lectio Divina a Rhythm
It’s one thing to try Lectio Divina once and another to make it part of your spiritual rhythm. Like I said, I tend to cycle through various scripture study methods to keep things fresh. Here are some simple tips for using Lectio Divina in your rhythm successfully:
- Pick a consistent time. Maybe it’s with your morning coffee, during lunch, or before bed. Consistency helps.
- Choose shorter passages. This isn’t the time for long chapters. Psalms, parables, and short sections of the Gospels are perfect.
- Remove distractions. Put your phone on silent. If you have little ones, this might mean practicing during nap time.
- Be patient. Some days will feel rich, and others will feel quiet. Trust that God is at work in both.
Using Lectio Divina with Teens
Many teens today are pulled in a thousand directions, and their attention spans are shaped by quick, bite-sized content. Lectio Divina may feel painfully slow to them at first, but that’s exactly why they need it. I taught a co-op class of teen boys how to use Lectio Divina in their quiet time and was amazed at some of their insight. It took a couple weeks, for them to find a rhythm, though.
Here are some ways to help teens engage with Lectio Divina:
- Start with relatable passages. Choose stories or verses that connect to their lives like Jesus calming the storm (Mark 4:35-41), the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-18), the lost sheep (Luke 15:1–7) or Paul’s encouragement to Timothy (1 Timothy 4:12).
- Invite honest reactions. Ask what stood out and why. Let them share without correcting their answers. God can speak to them in ways you don’t expect. Ask them why they think the things they do. It’s okay to share why you think what you think, but do it in a way that isn’t overly aggressive and overly corrective. It has to be conversational, like, “Hey, this is what I discovered, and this is how I figured this out.”
- Use creative prompts. Have them draw or journal the image a verse brings to mind. Some teens process visually.
- Keep it short. A 10–15 minute practice is enough to start. You can always build from there. I started my class off with the Lectio Course by Pete Greig on 24-7 Prayer.
- Model it. Let them see you doing Lectio Divina and enjoying it. Authenticity matters.
- Conversation Prompts – Since you’re keeping Lectio short, add in fun conversation prompts, like Would You Rathers, to get them engaged.
Using Lectio Divina in Small Groups
I’ve also used Lectio Divina is women’s groups. Small groups are a perfect setting for Lectio Divina. It’s simple, doesn’t require a ton of prep, and helps people connect on a deeper level.
Here’s a sample flow:
- Open in prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your time.
- Read the passage aloud slowly. Let one person read while everyone listens.
- Pause for silence. Give a minute or two for people to notice what stands out.
- Read again. This time, invite people to listen for what God might be saying personally.
- Share. Each person can share the word or phrase that stood out, without explanation at first.
- Read a third time. Encourage people to respond in silent or spoken prayer.
- Close with quiet. Rest together in God’s presence.
You’ll be amazed at how one short passage can spark deep insight when everyone listens attentively. When using Lectio Divina in any group, whether with teens or women, or whatever, I do like to encourage them to have pen and paper to write down anything that the Lord reveals to them. While they will be sharing with the group, sometimes the Lord reveals things that is just for them, and it’s good for them to journal that.
Why This Matters
We can read Scripture for information, and we should. But Lectio Divina reminds us that the Bible isn’t just a book to be studied—it’s the living Word of God, meant to be heard and responded to.
Jesus said in John 10:27 (NLT):
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
Lectio Divina is one way of reading Scripture that trains our hearts to slow down and listen, so we can follow Him more closely.
A Few Favorite Passages for Lectio Divina
If you’re just starting out, here are some beautiful places to begin:
- Psalm 23
- Isaiah 43:1-3
- Matthew 11:28-30
- John 15:1-8
- Romans 8:31-39
- Philippians 4:4-9
Resources for Going Deeper
If you want to explore Lectio Divina more fully, using a simple printable Lectio Divina Journal Guide can be really helpful. I’ve created one for you.
These resources are also worth checking out:
- Lectio Course by Pete Greig on 24-7 Prayer
- Meeting God in Scripture: A Hands-On Guide to Lectio Divina by Jan Johnson
- The Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton
- Lectio 365 apps by 24-7 Prayer
- Pray as You Go (podcast/app)
- Lectio Divina Guides from Soul Shepherding – these guides are great for personal devotions, spiritual mentoring, retreats, and small groups. I’ve personally used them and really appreciate them.
- Keep a simple bookmark with the four steps of Lectio Divina in your Bible.
Lectio Divina is a posture. It’s one way of coming to God with an open heart while reading His Word. Some days the words will leap off the page and feel like they were written just for you. Other days will feel quieter, like sitting with a friend in comfortable silence. Both are good. Both are holy.
God’s Word is alive, and He wants to speak to you through it. When we slow down and listen, He speaks. I’ve read the entire Bible through in a year multiple times. I’ve read it through in several months even. And I’ve also sat and chewed on a single verse for days. It’s in these reflective moments that methods like Lectio Divina are really beautiful.
So maybe today, instead of rushing through a chapter, you choose one short passage. Read it slowly. Listen. Pray. Rest. And trust that the God who spoke the universe into being is still speaking to you.
