There is a way to bring together silence and solitude, bible reading, and prayer. It is called, Lectio Divina. This is an ancient practice that blends all of these disciplines. Here is a brief description.

Reading/ Listening
This is what St. Benedict called, “Hearing with the ear of our heart.” Take a brief passage of the Bible and read it slowly. Listen carefully as if God is speaking this word alone to you today.

Meditation
Repeat the passage, a phrase, and then a word from the passage in silence. Meditate on it. Memorize it. Connect it to other thoughts and memories you have. Spend time slowly taking it in.

Prayer
Pray the word to God. Spend time lifting it up and changing you from the inside. Give back to God what you are “hearing” from the word.

Contemplation
Different than meditation, this is a time when we just quietly rest in God without words. A clearing of the mind and enjoying God.

Lectio Divina is not a technique. It is a gift. Why not open this gift and discover what Christians have for centuries? Insight, rest, and refreshment.