Today, we’re diving even deeper into the art of listening to God through an ancient and beautiful practice called Lectio Divina. This is one of my favorite ways to experience Scripture—because it moves from just words on a page, to a personal invitation to encounter God. It’s a way of breathing in the Scriptures.
I also have a special invitation for you to journey with me through Advent using Lectio Divina and I’ll share more on that in a moment, but first, let’s talk about what Lectio Divina is.
Lectio Divina as Prayer and Meditation
In Episode 25, we talked about how listening prayer creates space for God to speak into our lives. It’s less about us doing all the talking and more about opening our hearts to His voice.
Lectio Divina is like a cousin to listening prayer. Instead of starting with silence, we begin with Scripture. We don’t rush through it; we savor it, letting it settle into our depths. Then, as we meditate, pray, and rest, God often highlights something personal—a word, a phrase, or even a feeling—inviting us into deeper encounter with Him.
What I love about Lectio Divina is that it turns Scripture into a conversation. You bring your whole self to the text—your thoughts, your emotions, your questions—and God meets you there. It’s a beautiful reminder that His Word is living and active, speaking uniquely to each of us.
What is Lectio Divina?
Lectio Divina, which means ‘divine reading,’ is a sacred practice of reading and meditating on Scripture. Through this process, we move beyond simply reading the Bible to experiencing God’s living Word in a personal, intimate way.
Here are the steps for practicing Lectio Divina:
- Lectio (Reading): You start by reading a passage slowly and listening for a word or phrase that stands out to you.
- Meditatio (Meditation): You reflect on that word or phrase, asking, ‘Why is this speaking to me today?’ or ‘Father, what do You want to say to me through this?’
- Oratio (Prayer): You respond to God in prayer, sharing your thoughts, feelings, or questions.
- Contemplatio (Contemplation): Finally, you rest in God’s presence, letting His Word sink deeply into your heart.
Some traditions also add a fifth step called Actio, which is the application step and encourages you to live out what you’ve discovered in practical ways.
Lectio Divina isn’t about getting answers or checking a spiritual box. It’s about creating space for God to speak and move in ways that are often gentle yet profound.
Quick note– as a part of the 119 Bible Bootcamp Series, I did a whole video on this practice. In it, I spend more time on the steps and the history of this ancient practice. I’ll drop a link in the show notes in case you’d like to go a little deeper on the practice of Lectio Divina.
Why Advent is the Perfect Time to Practice Lectio Divina
December often feels like a frenzy, a whirlwind of events, and shopping, and event planning or attending. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and forget to make room for the One we’re celebrating.
Advent is such a rich time to practice Lectio Divina because the season itself invites us to slow down and reflect. Lectio Divina gives us a way to pause, to breathe, and to realign our hearts with the wonder of the season. Whether it’s reflecting on Mary’s vulnerability, the shepherds’ joy, or the promise of Emmanuel, Scripture can help us tune into what God wants to say to us right here, right now.
A Special Invitation
This Advent, I’d love for us to experience Lectio Divina together. Starting next week, I’ll be hosting live sessions in our Facebook group, where we’ll practice Lectio Divina around themes like vulnerability, anticipation, joy, and Emmanuel.
These sessions will be a space to pause, reflect, and listen to God together. No experience is necessary—I’ll guide you step by step.
My hope is that these live sessions will become a sacred pause in your week, helping you draw closer to God during this busy season.
December 7th | 10:15am December 12th | 7:30am December 17th | 7:30am December 22nd | 5:00pm
December 7th | 10:15am December 12th | 7:30am December 17th | 7:30am December 22nd | 5:00pmIf you can’t make it live, no worries. The replays will be available when you’re ready.
Encouragement to Begin Your Lectio Divina Practice
Before we go, I want to encourage you to try Lectio Divina this week. Maybe start with a short passage like Matthew 1:23—‘They will call him Emmanuel, which means God with us.’
Take a few moments to read it slowly, reflect on what stands out, pray about it, and then rest in the assurance that God is with you. It doesn’t have to be perfect or polished. Just come as you are, and let God meet you in the stillness.
Here are your cultivations
You have lots of options! Start by printing off the Scripture Cultivations Plan for free.
Prefer listening? Tune in to our podcast episodes.
If visuals are your thing, catch us on YouTube for insightful videos.
And for some community vibes, grab a cuppa and hop over to the FIGS Community Facebook Group.
What are Scripture Cultivations?
If you’re new to the Figs Community, you may be wondering why I call them Scripture Cultivations instead of a Scripture Writing Plan or Scripture Reading Plan. Hop on over to this page to find out more.
