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Aerial Shot of Seashore

Lectio Divina

"For the Word of God is living and active."
Hebrews 4:12

The second practice for attending to our desire is Lectio Divina (divine reading).

Lectio Divina is a contemplative practice of reading scripture that encourages a slow, reflective engagement with the text to deepen one's relationship with God. As one reads and invites the word to become a transforming lens—bringing daily events into focus—one can live more deeply and find God's presence more readily in each day's events, experiencing a personal and transformative encounter with the divine word.

Lectio Divina can also be a valuable practice for exploring and understanding our desires as we open ourselves to the possibility that God’s word will reveal our deepest desires. Meditating on scripture passages may bring certain desires or longings to the surface, helping us discern the deeper layers of our desires. As the heart of our longings are revealed, we cultivate deeper insight into God's desires for us; as we cultivate deeper insight into God's desires for us through scripture, the heart of our desires are clarified through divine love.

Scripture also includes stories of individuals wrestling with their longings. In Psalm 63, David expresses his intense desire for God's presence, comparing his yearning to hunger and thirst. Meditating on such passages helps us gain insight into how biblical figures understood and wrestled with their desires.

The practice instructs you to select a brief passage of scripture to meditation on. You can also ask God to help you choose a passage of scripture that may speak to the desire or longing you prayed about in the "Sacred Longings" Prayer of Confession.

(Use the arrows on either side to navigate to the next page of the practice.)

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