Lectio Divina

In Christianity, Lectio Divina (Latin for divine reading) is a traditional Benedictine practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God's Word. It does not treat Scripture as texts to be studied, but as the Living Word.

Lectio Divina has 4 separate steps: read, meditate, pray and contemplate. First a passage of Scripture is read, then its meaning is reflected upon. This is followed by prayer and contemplation on the Word of God.

For example, given Jesus' statement in John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you" in Lectio Divina rather than "dissecting peace", the practitioner "enters peace" and shares in the peace of Christ.

 

Bernard of Clairvaux, O.Cist (1090 – August 20, 1153) was a French abbot and the primary builder of the reforming Cistercian order. Bernard was instrumental in re-emphasizing the importance of Lectio Divina and contemplation on Scripture within the Cistercian order. Bernard had observed that when Lectio Divina was neglected monasticism suffered. Bernard considered Lectio Divina and contemplation guided by the Holy Spirit the keys to nourishing Christian spirituality.

Peace is the goal.
Peace is what Lillian DeWaters, H. Emilie Cady, William Samuel, Neville Goddard, Jane Woodward and others found. And Byron Katie, Morty Lefkoe, ACIM, Marshall Rosenberg and others provide the tools to remove the blockages.