Lectio divina is a practice of Scripture reading that treats the Bible not only as a text to be examined, but also as the living Word of God spoken anew to us. Traditionally, Lectio Divina has four separate steps: read; meditate; pray; contemplate. Experienced Bible teacher Jan Johnson presents forty Scripture meditations organised topically, giving us the tools we need to practice Lectio Divina on our own. Each meditation can be used both individually and in group settings, and includes: An introduction to the meditation encouraging a time of quiet preparatory exercise; the complete passage from Scripture with explanations, context, and background to the text, help to enter and absorb the text; space to contemplate the passage, respond to God in prayer and rest in his presence; and an exercise to implement the ideas of the passage in our daily lives. Meeting God in Scripture moves us beyond merely understanding what the text meant in its original context to a direct spiritual encounter with Christ.
Jan Johnson is a US writer, speaker and spiritual director with degrees in Christian education and spirituality. She has written seventeen books, including Enjoying the Presence of God, When the Soul Listens, and many magazine articles. She is also a frequent retreat and conference speaker.
ContentsIntroduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Why Meditate on Scripture? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Part One: What Does God Think of Me?1 Knowing God as Love 212 Sought After, No Matter What 263 Knowing I Am Loved . 304 God’s Compassion for the Rebellious 345 God’s Compassion for the Outwardly Compliant . . . . 38Meditation Is Different from Application. . . . . . . . . . . . . 42Part Two: Who Am I and How Do I Fit In?6 Blessed with Every Blessing . . . . . 437 One in Whom Christ Dwells . . . 48The “Sanctified” Imagination. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 528 An Identity Completely Changed . . . . 539 Life in the Spirit . . . . . . . . . 5810 Blessed to Be a Blessing . . . 63Scripture Study and Meditation Work Together . . . . . . . . . . 68Part Three: Living in the Reality of God’s Kingdom11 Relying on the Kingdom of God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6912 Relying on the Kingdom, Illustrated . . . . 74Openness to the Spirit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8013 The Hidden Yet Powerful Kingdom of God . . . . . . . . .8214 The Hidden Yet Powerful Kingdom of God, Illustrated . . . . . . . 8715 The Good and Peaceable Kingdom of God . . . . . . . . . 93Am I Hearing God or Making Things Up?. . . . . . . . . . . . 98Part Four: Being Transformed into Christ’s Likeness16 Abiding in Christ . . . . . . . . . 9917 From Gangster to Giver (. . . . . . . 105When Your Mind Wanders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10918 Letting Go of the Old Self . . . . . 11119 Embracing the New Self . . . . 11620 Dying to Self . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121A Huge Maturity Gap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127Part Five: Facing Fears, Frustrations and Discouragement21 Finding Courage in the Storm . . . . 128Diving Board Lectio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13322 Moving Through a Fearful Journey . . . . . 13423 Seeing Jesus in Anger, Grief and Mercy . 14024 Moving from Cynicism to Hope . . . . . 145What If Nothing Comes to Me?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15025 Hearing God in the Midst of Discouragement . . . . . . . 151Part Six: Healing Life’s Wounds26 Being Freed from Infirmities . . . . . 15827 Knowing That God Hears Me . . . . . 16328 Are You Willing to Be Healed? . . . . 169Writing Your Prayers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17329 Moving from Mourning to Dancing . . . . 17430 Receiving Jesus’ Words to Caregivers . . 180Part Seven: Having the Heart of Christ for Others31 Loving Others in Truth and Action . . 18532 Moving from Self-Absorption to Humility . . . . . . . . . . 190Meditation Leads to Transformation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19633 Loving the “Stranger” . . . . . . . . 19734 Choosing Relationship over Judgment . . . . . 20335 Stepping Out in Compassion . . . . . . . . . . 209Part Eight: Partnering with God in Ministry36 Cooperating with the Power of God. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21437 Responding to the Passion God Puts in Our Hearts . . . .. . . . 22038 Relating to God in Failure . . . . 22639 Drinking the Cup of Suffering . 23240 Doing Nothing on My Own . . . . . 237How to Meditate on Your Own. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242Acknowledgments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245