And why should we read? Because it's by repeated reading that we begin to get the "big picture" of what God is saying in the Bible. We also begin to notice repeated key truths.
And most precious of all, we begin to hear the Lord speak to us through His treasured words.
As the prophet Jeremiah once said,
Your words were found and I ate them,And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart;For I have been called by Your name,O Lord God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16
Or as my sweet friend Penny once prayed,
LORD, Your words are so delicious!
During the past summer, a small group of ladies met at BellHOP Cafe in Bellbrook OH every Friday afternoon. We shared with each other the Lord's "whisperings" from our personal meditative reading in the Gospel of John from the previous week. Then we spent time in worship based on our treasured reflections. Our time with the Lord was so rich!
If you would like to explore what is traditionally called lectio divina, read this short excerpt and click here for the remainder of the article: Whisper of the Beloved (2 pages).
Lectio Divina is like the joyful reading of an ancient pile of love letters. It is a time to listen-- not to dissect, analyze, evaluate or dialogue. It is not studying to learn about the Scriptures; it is reading to listen. Come to this reading and listening as a young lover would-- eager to hear afresh the whisper of the Beloved.
Listen to the sound of each word. Read slowly. And rest as you listen.
