by Dr. Jeff Mathis
In an effort to get his young son to eat his vegetables at supper one evening, a father told the boy that he had put chocolate in the steamed carrots.
The skeptical 5-year old sampled the carrots and said, “Dad, I don’t taste any chocolate.”
“Oh, you don’t?” the father replied. “Try chewing on the other side of your mouth.”
The boy obliged and remarked with relief, “Yes! I taste it now. Thanks, dad!”
For those of us who grew up in the church and are familiar with the stories and memory verses we’ve been telling for years, it can be challenging to hear God’s Word in a fresh way.
The ancient spiritual practice of Lectio Divina, or Divine Reading, is a way to chew on the other side of our mouths. Lectio Divina is a different way to read scripture that invites us to hear God's Word in a very personal way. The process of reflecting and meditating scripture, that is described here, can be used on any scripture passage that we choose and can enliven our times of study and devotion.
Consider this passage from Psalm 27:
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?…Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
With this scripture passage in-hand, and with a few minutes to read and reflect upon it, we can begin the process of listening for God’s voice.
First, prepare to encounter God in scripture.
-Find a place of quiet and solitude.
-Have the scripture passage ready to read.
Second, focus on hearing the Word with a spirit of openness.
-Read the passage twice, aloud.
-As you do, listen for the word or phrase from the passage that grabs your attention, or to which you are drawn.
-Personally, the phrase from Psalm 27 that grabs my attention today is, “The Lord is the stronghold of my life.”
-There’s no need to do anything else with the phrase. Don’t try and explain or defend it. Simply say the word or phrase aloud without elaboration.
Third, turn your attention to how your life is touched by the passage.
-Read the passage again, aloud.
-Listen to discover how this passage touches your life today. In other words, how is the passage relevant for you right now?
-Say, aloud, how the passage touches your life today.
-As I consider this step in the process, myself, I am comforted to know that God is a fortress that protects me against future uncertainty.
Then, listen for an invitation.
-Read the passage one more time, aloud.
-Listen to discover an invitation that may be relevant to the next few days. In other words, what is God asking
you to do?
-Say, aloud, what God is asking you to do.
-For me, I hear God inviting me to settle into the assurance and provision that His presence provides me each day.
Lastly, pray.
-Pray for God to give you the strength to respond to the invitation you received.
- “God, may I feel your strong foundation and walls of security around me as I take Christ-like risks today and forevermore. Amen.”
As you can see, this process can be done with a friend, with your family, in a small group, or as a journaling activity.
Scripture is ancient and familiar, but also very much alive. We hear God’s Word for us when we believe that God has a particular message for us. Put another way, the practice of Lectio Divina helps us chew on the other side of our mouths.