Lectio Divina

We conclude this Lenten series on forms of prayer with a pice on Lectio Divina. Orginally written for Cornersone Magazine by Cameron Abernethy...

The art of lectio divina, or divine reading, has a long history with the Christian tradition, and has long been practised by monastics as a way of deepening their prayer lives. There are traditionally four stages of lectio divina, namely lectio, meditatio, oratio and contemplatio.

Lectio involves reading or listening to the passage of scripture being read slowly and gently, allowing time to stop and notice anything that stands out or catches one’s attention.

Meditatio gives time for one to mull over the word, phrase, image or thought that arose during lectio; to unravel its importance or meaning as one sits in the presence of God. Through meditatio we allow God's word to become His word for us, a word that touches us and affects us at our deepest levels.

Oratio is an opportunity to have a conversation with God about the content of one’s meditations, to listen to God’s spirit and so allow our deepest selves to be healed and transformed.

Contemplatio is a time to rest in the presence of God in silence, and so savour one’s relationship with a loving and personal God. Out of such contemplation can also arise the impulse to respond in a more active way within the world in your life. 

A suggested way of lectio divina:

1) Choose a text of the Scriptures that you wish to pray. Many Christians use in their daily lectio divina one of the readings from the daily office; others prefer to work slowly through a particular book of the Bible.

2) Place yourself in a comfortable position and allow yourself to become silent. Use whatever method is best for you and allow yourself to enjoy silence for a few moments.

3) Then turn to the text and read or listen to it slowly two or three times. Savour each portion of the reading, constantly listening for the "still, small voice" of a word or phrase that somehow says, "I am for you today."

4) Next take the word or phrase into yourself. Memorize it and slowly repeat it to yourself, allowing it to interact with your inner world of concerns, memories and ideas. Do not be afraid of "distractions." Memories or thoughts are simply parts of yourself which, when they rise up during lectio divina, are asking to be given to God along with the rest of your inner self. Allow this inner pondering, this rumination, to invite you into dialogue with God.

5) Then, speak to God. Whether you use words or ideas or images or all three is not important. Interact with God as you would with one who you know loves and accepts you.

6) Finally, simply rest in God's embrace silently and passively. Consider if there is an action that God is leading you to from this time of prayer.

7) When you wish to draw your time of prayer to and end you might find it useful to say an ‘Our Father’ or the Grace.

Praying with Art

Cameron Abernethy continues his series of articles for Lent, originally published in Cornerstone magazine.

I wonder when was the last time you allowed yourself the opportunity to create a new work of art, a painting, a doodle, a sculpture or a collage. As adults, we can all too easily become caught up in a world solely occupied by serious words, and forget our God-given capacity to play and create. Whenever I raise the possibility of using art as a way of praying, I can see the look of fear that drifts over some people’s faces. For them, like myself, art was something for those individuals with talent rather than a way of expressing our own unique creativity. But using art as a form of prayer is not about demonstrating our artistic skills or talents but instead it is a way of expressing our relationship with God. For we know that art can offer a new perspective and fresh insights as well as an opportunity to release our emotions.


Image from prayerwindows.com

How to use art as prayer?

1) I take a moment to be quiet and still in the presence of God, allowing my mind to notice how I am feeling in this moment. I decide on the passage of scripture I wish to use as the inspiration or starting point for my prayer today. I might read it over several times or play it on an mp3 player as I create.

2) I take time to gather the materials and tools I wish to use for my art today. I let myself just hold them in my hand. I might feel the paper I am going to draw / paint on or allow the clay / collage materials to move between my fingers.

3) When I feel ready, I might begin to draw, paint, mould or cut out shapes, patterns or images. I don’t begin with the intention to create something specific in this time, but rather allow the Spirit of God to direct my thoughts. It is not about getting it right but letting my mind just wander as I create my art.

4) I give myself the time I need to create my art, probably in silence to allow myself to be fully aware of God’s presence with me. I might drift back to the scripture passage during this time to revisit thoughts or ideas.

5) When my art feels finished, I just stop and look at it for a few minutes. I might notice what feelings are present within me as I look or touch it. I might think about how this speaks to me of my relationship with my Creator. I might wonder if I need to ask God for forgiveness or healing in this moment of my life. I close by giving thanks to God for this time.

Useful link http://www.prayerwindows.com/ and http://consecratetheday.com/creativity/creativity-home/

Nurtured by Nature

This week Cameron Abernethy considers how nature can nurture our prayer lives, and suggests some simple actions to help you reflect on words from the Psalms

I wonder how many of us have sat or knelt down to pray and found our minds overwhelmed by distractions. It can be all too easy for our desire to pray to become lost within the demands of life. When I find myself in such a circumstance I go out from my flat and spend time in God’s creation. This can involve sitting in the Botanic Gardens, walking around Holyrood Park or gazing out over Newhaven Harbour. The change in place enables me to leave behind my many distractions and let my awareness settle on the present moment. Such direct experiences of nature reveal something of God’s goodness and grace expressed through the beauty of creation.

The psalms celebrate the wonder of God’s creation repeatedly and often employ powerful imagery from nature itself to explore our relationship with God. One useful technique is to take a psalm and spend time pondering its words within nature. Below are some suggestions for praying with the psalms, inspired by the surrounding creation.

Psalm 1: The righteous person is like a tree planted by streams of water.

Find a tree and take time to truly see this wonder of creation expressed in trunk, branch, stem, leaf, flower and fruit. Notice the areas of growth within your own life and consider what fruit might you be bearing.

Psalm 16: You have made known to me the path of life.

As you walk along a path bring to mind your own journey with God over the past few days, weeks, months or years. Allow yourself to notice those times of closeness with God and give thanks for them. Allow yourself to notice when God felt distant, or even completely absent, and be aware of what was going on for you then. Where are you on the journey with God at this moment?

Psalm 19: The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of God’s hands.

Take a few moments to enjoy the sky, the clouds as they drift by, perhaps even the sun as it rises or sets. Let your mind wander as you drink in the very glory of God revealed in creation. Notice the feelings within your heart, the sensations within your body as well as the thoughts in your mind.

Psalm 42: Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.

Sit beside a waterfall or the sea and listen to the movement of the Spirit within God’s creation. What do you need to flow into your life from God? What is the grace you would ask for from God to pour into your life today?

Psalm 62: God alone is my rock and my salvation.

Take a moment to pick up a stone or a pebble and hold it in your hand. Let yourself become aware of its shape and how it feels in your palm. So often David found rest, security, shelter and safety within a rocky cave. Perhaps there is an area in your life where you need God to be your rock, to offer shelter and sanctuary to you. Talk to God about this as you hold onto the stone or pebble.