What is lectio divina?
Quick answer
Lectio divina ("divine reading") is an ancient Christian practice of slow, prayerful Bible reading in four movements: read, meditate, pray, and contemplate. It treats Scripture as a love letter from God to be savored, not a textbook to be skimmed.
Read (lectio): a short passage, slowly, aloud if possible.
Meditate (meditatio): ponder a phrase that strikes you. Pray (oratio): turn the text into honest prayer. Contemplate (contemplatio): rest quietly in God’s presence.
It complements (not replaces) regular Bible study. Some Christians worry it can drift into subjective mysticism; done with attention to context, it deepens worship.
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Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.