A Listening Heart

“Morning by morning he wakens—wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught”
(Isaiah 50:4).

We Reformed folk are people of the book. Sola scriptura (scripture alone) was the historic rallying cry that solidified into an enduring commitment to God’s word. Our Reformed tribe cherishes scripture and so we read the Bible in worship, have pastors learn Hebrew and Greek and carefully exegete it, we gather in groups to study it, memorize it and analyze it in order to understand it.

All this activity is good but has a shadow lurking behind it. What if all our study and attention to the text never leads to listening, to hearing the God who speaks? Then scripture is subverted because behind the book is a living voice to be heard. Our focus on the pages of scripture, its grammar and syntax, can blind us to the simple reality that the word, written and read, was first a word of God, spoken and heard. The aim in reading the book is hearing the voice.

For centuries, Christians have read scripture with awakened ears, listening for the voice of the living God. The practice the church used to listen to God’s voice, digest the word and inhabit the story was called lectio divina (divine reading), and is making a welcome comeback.

Lectio divina is a fancy Latin term for the age – old Christian practice of reading God’s word meditatively for the purpose of attending to the living voice of God in scripture. Think of sucking a candy, savouring it over time, or lingering over a meal, relishing the flavours and the company—those are good images for this practice. It is a slow, contemplative reading of the scriptures which enables you to have a conversation with Jesus by hearing and responding to the word of God.

Lectio divina assumes that God speaks and intends to be in conversation with you. The goal is not to figure out a passage but rather to let God speak through the words and phrases, to grow in companionship with God. Through this practice, you give space and time for silence, allowing the scripture to settle into your heart, listening for God’s particular, loving word for you. It allows God’s word to “get inside” as you spend time inside the text.

To practise this, first select a passage of scripture (let’s take Isaiah 40:21 – 31 and do this right now). Then there are five phases or steps to engage with God’s word:
Quietness (silencio): Take a minute or two to begin with quiet, stilling your mind and heart, intentionally releasing the chaos and noise of life in order to attend to God.

Reading the word (lectio): Read through the passage slowly and out loud, lingering over the words so they resonate in your heart. During this first reading, listen for the word God has for you. Perhaps it is a phrase, a word, word – picture, an image or insight that is brought to your attention, that jumps out or grabs you. Don’t analyze it or judge it, just listen and wait. This is the Holy Spirit addressing you through God’s word.

Meditate (meditatio): Read the same passage a second time and listen for the way this word, phrase or image you heard in the first reading connects with your life right now. Reflect on the words, phrases or truth that light up for you. What in your life needs to hear this word? Explore thoughts, perceptions and feelings you have.  

Pondering and prayerful conversation (oratio): Enter into a personal conversation with God. There’s no right or wrong way to do this, simply respond truthfully and honestly. Reflect on the word or phrase that caught your attention. What feelings has the text aroused in you? Ask God: “What are you saying to me in this passage?” Name areas where you might be resistant to or want to push back against God. Sense where God is inviting you deeper into His presence. Speak to God about what you are feeling. Ask Jesus: “Why did you give me this truth today?”

Rest and respond (contemplatio): Take time to be quiet again, resting and waiting in God’s presence. Let the word take its time to sink deeply into your soul. Now respond to God, yielding to His word. Is Jesus telling you to do or be something in response? What difference will this make in your life today?

The goal is to cultivate a listening heart. We have to read in order to hear and how we read is critically important. The practice of lectio divina helps us to take in all the fullness and beauty of God’s life – giving word, to “guzzle with outstretched ears” (Ezra Pound, Hugh Selwyn Mauberley).