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Digging Deeper in God’s Word

Probably you read the Bible often, but you may not know how to draw life from it. Most people who read the Bible, just read it like any other book.

“The Bible is the book of your life,” Ray Ortlund, Sr. said to me. “You need to find yourself and your calling in God’s Word.” Every week in his discipleship group for young pastors we read the Bible —  together.

I’ll never forget the way Ray read his Bible…

Just watching him hold it open, I can tell it’s not just an ordinary book. It’s like he’s holding a precious treasure or a newborn grandchild. His face is glowing with sheer delight and wonder!

He reads a passage out loud and then says, “Let’s quietly listen to the Lord.”

After a couple of minutes or so he continues, “Let’s hear the passage in another translation. If you notice any words that jump out, say them out loud so we all can meditate with you.”

Meditate.

We’re not just reading the Bible, we’re meditating on it — feeling, absorbing, pondering, reflecting, responding, and praying. (Like Isaac in the fields; Genesis 24:63) It’s as if we’re huddling by a holy fire. I’m feeling the warmth of God’s presence.

The process repeats three or four times. We listen for how God’s Spirit is tugging on our hearts. We listen for how the Lord is addressing a need or struggle in our life. Then, we personally share and pray for one another.

With the Psalmist, we’re looking to God: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” (19:14)

The best way to learn how to meditate on Scripture is to do it with an experienced Soul Shepherd.

When someone has a conversational, intimate relationship with God, they have a vibe you can pick up. It’s not just what they have to say, it’s how they operate. How.

How to read the Bible.

How to pray.

How to share your heart.

How to apply the Word to your life.

How to meditate on Scripture together is one of the features of the Soul Shepherding Institute Kristi and I lead. But the Institute requires a big commitment. So we created a Lectio Divina online course called “Growing Deeper in God’s Word.”

In this professionally-produced program of videos, we invite you into our home for seven meetings of about 10 to 20 minutes. We share our heart for God and his Word and we lead you in Scripture meditation experiences. It’s easy to access and low-cost.

Let’s grow deeper in God’s Word together to:

  • Experience “Lectio Divina” (a “Divine Reading” of Scripture) on Jesus’ easy yoke in Matthew 11:25-30.
  • Discover how to use a “Breath Prayer From the Bible” and engage in soul talk.
  • Learn St Benedict’s ancient wisdom for quieting your mind and calming your body to hear God’s Word with your heart.
  • Get in touch with deeper emotions and new thoughts about your life with Jesus.

We’ve also created the Lectio Divina Guides, which includes over 70+ meditations for personal devotions, spiritual mentoring, retreats, and small groups. These field-tested guides use Benedict’s classic approach to meditation so you can better hear the Lord’s voice and grow spiritually.

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