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This Sunday we’re looking at the practice of Sacred Listening and discovering how we can read our Bibles in a way that helps us to hear Jesus speak into our everyday lives. And we’ll see that listening to Jesus is not just a skill we develop, it’s the posture of a disciple’s heart.
For centuries, Christians have used a simple practice called Lectio Divina — Latin for “Divine Reading” — as a way to slow down and listen to God’s voice in Scripture.
1. Read (Lectio) — Choose a short passage. Read it slowly, maybe out loud. Maybe read it twice. Notice if a word or phrase catches your attention.
2. Reflect (Meditatio) — Read it again. Ask: Why is this standing out today? What might God be saying to me?
3. Respond (Oratio) — Turn your reflection into a prayer. Talk to God about what you’ve heard.
4. Rest (Contemplatio) — Sit quietly in God’s presence. Not asking, not striving — just being with Him.
This is not about emptying your mind - it’s about filling your heart with God’s Word and letting it speak deeply.
1. Short, Daily Scripture Anchors
Choose a one-verse “anchor” each week that can be memorized or posted somewhere visible (mirror, fridge, phone). Consider reading at various times during the day, asking, “Lord, what do you want me to hear from this today?”
2. Journaling and Reflection
Keep a small prayer or scripture journal. After reading a passage, write down a word or phrase that stands out. How God might be speaking personally to you through it.
3. Scripture in Routine Tasks
Integrate listening into ordinary tasks. Read or listen to a verse while making coffee or commuting. Pause for a short reflection before meals or at the start of a meeting.
4. Journaling Dialogue
Turn journaling into a conversation with Jesus: “Lord, what do you want to show me today?” Respond in writing as if He were talking back. Will help you develop more relational listening.
5. Audio Scripture and Guided Prayer
Listen to audio Bibles or devotional apps during walks, chores, or workouts. Pause at a word/phrase that hits a chord with you and spend a moment in prayer over it.
6. Community Sharing
Practice a daily or weekly small group or friend check-in. Share one verse that spoke to you. Share what you sensed God saying. Listen to what others might hear God saying through scripture.
7. Prayer Walking with Scripture
Take a short walk outside with a verse in mind. Repeat the verse slowly, noticing what God might be showing you in creation and in your own heart.
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