Christianity

Praying Scripture for a Change: An Introductin to Lectio Divina

Praying Scripture for a Change: An Introductin to Lectio Divina

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  • Create Date：2021-04-24 11:56:07
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Tim Gray
  • ISBN：1934217484
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Summary

Many Christians find prayer difficult - and， as a result， do not do much of it。 The fact is， many simply do not know how to pray。 Even St Paul notes this sad fact when， in Romans 8:26， he says， We do not know how to pray as we ought。 In this short book， written for a popular audience by well-known Catholic biblical scholar Dr。 Tim Gray， we discover the secret of the saints which can enable us to enter into a lively dialogue with God。 Their secret: the ancient art of Lectio Divina （divine， or sacred reading）， which is reading， meditating on， and praying the Scriptures。 As St。 Cyprian notes， Diligently practice prayer and lectio divina。 When you pray， you speak with God; when you read [the Scriptures]， God speaks to you。 Here， we discover that we don't need a mystic gene or divine epiphany to hear God; we simply need to take up the Bible and read。

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Reviews

Jackie ，

Such an important bookI found this book to be the best I've read on Lectio divina。 I just I have already been putting the first two into practice without realizing it， and sometimes the 3rd step， but I haven't gotten to the fourth step。 This book was helpful to me in understanding contemplation better。 Such an important bookI found this book to be the best I've read on Lectio divina。 I just I have already been putting the first two into practice without realizing it， and sometimes the 3rd step， but I haven't gotten to the fourth step。 This book was helpful to me in understanding contemplation better。 。。。more

Kim Zimmerman ，

Loved this book。 I’ve valued the practice for several years and highly recommended

Mike McGuire ，

Of the half-dozen books I have on lectio divina， this one is the best because of Dr。 Gray’s personal testimony and inviting writing style。

Barbara ，

Best introduction to the practice of Lectio Divina

Corey ，

This is an excellent introduction to Lectio Divina。 It is very straightforward and helpful。 It was not really mystical at all and very much read like a how-to-read-your-Bible book。 I finished the book feeling encouraged and wanting to get into the Word。 The emphasis for consistency in Bible reading and for patience when not feeling joyful afterwards was very helpful。

Lillie ，

The priest teaching a Lectio Divina class at my church recommended this book， and I'm glad he did。 It was an excellent accompaniment to the class。 I pray a lot， but I'm afraid I do more talking than listening to God。 Lectio divina， "divine reading，" is a disciplined way of reading， meditating， and contemplating Scripture to be open to God。 The first step， or rung on the ladder as the author describes it， is to silence yourself--often easier said than done。 The book is written from a Catholic vie The priest teaching a Lectio Divina class at my church recommended this book， and I'm glad he did。 It was an excellent accompaniment to the class。 I pray a lot， but I'm afraid I do more talking than listening to God。 Lectio divina， "divine reading，" is a disciplined way of reading， meditating， and contemplating Scripture to be open to God。 The first step， or rung on the ladder as the author describes it， is to silence yourself--often easier said than done。 The book is written from a Catholic viewpoint， but it could be helpful to Christians of any denomination。 。。。more

James ，

A decent introduction to lectio divina， but I wasn't really convinced that Gray understood， or had real experience with the contemplative part of the process。 I never felt that I was learning something from a master or that Gray was really up to the challenge of describing lectio divina。 A decent introduction to lectio divina， but I wasn't really convinced that Gray understood， or had real experience with the contemplative part of the process。 I never felt that I was learning something from a master or that Gray was really up to the challenge of describing lectio divina。 。。。more

Maria Claudia ，

Excelent book for anyone who is looking for lectio divina。 Simple to understand and practical。 It helped me greatly

Maxine ，

This is a very accessible book on the steps of lectio divina。 Gives clear and concise instructions on how and why to practice this form of prayer。 It's also full of encouragement， pointing out that this is something that takes work and practice， but that the fruits are so great and anyone can do this。 I highly recommend starting with this book if you want to take up the practice of praying lectio divina。 It is a gem。 This is a very accessible book on the steps of lectio divina。 Gives clear and concise instructions on how and why to practice this form of prayer。 It's also full of encouragement， pointing out that this is something that takes work and practice， but that the fruits are so great and anyone can do this。 I highly recommend starting with this book if you want to take up the practice of praying lectio divina。 It is a gem。 。。。more

AJ Nolan ，

Excellent introduction to Lectio Divina - a much more practical， hands on approach than the other excellent books by M。 Basil Pennington and Michael Casey。 Lectio is a interesting prayer practice involving the intense reading of small pieces of scripture。 I highly recommend it as a book and a spiritual practice。

Philip ，

Excellent introduction to Lectio Divina by a lay Catholic who is a scripture scholar。 His accessible writing style makes this topic， which seems to intimidate many people， easy to understand and enjoyable。 This book is a gem。

JJ Cylk ，

This is a very easy to read， understand， and follow book。 I enjoyed reading it。I hope to be able to implement some of his ideasI choose this book because I was studying the v Book of Psalms。 Gray's writings were suggested by; Jeff Cavins。 Gray does a wonderful job of explaining the process of Lectio Divina。 This book was very easy to read。， understand， and follow。 I hope to implement some of his suggestions into my prayer life。 This is a very easy to read， understand， and follow book。 I enjoyed reading it。I hope to be able to implement some of his ideasI choose this book because I was studying the v Book of Psalms。 Gray's writings were suggested by; Jeff Cavins。 Gray does a wonderful job of explaining the process of Lectio Divina。 This book was very easy to read。， understand， and follow。 I hope to implement some of his suggestions into my prayer life。 。。。more

Annie ，

This book is a great introduction into HOW to meditate using scripture。 Awesome book。

Andrea ，

I bought this book in a coffee shop not knowing it would be a treasure。 I also got it while I was in seminary taking a spiritual direction class。 Reading Praying Scripture for a Change added so much to my prayer life and although I've done Lectio before it gave me more direction or influenced me to pause， mediate， and digest scripture in a more fulfilling manner。 I can't wait to read another book from Tim Gray。 I bought this book in a coffee shop not knowing it would be a treasure。 I also got it while I was in seminary taking a spiritual direction class。 Reading Praying Scripture for a Change added so much to my prayer life and although I've done Lectio before it gave me more direction or influenced me to pause， mediate， and digest scripture in a more fulfilling manner。 I can't wait to read another book from Tim Gray。 。。。more

Amanda Secrest ，

excellent introduction to lectio divinaThis book is concise and a quick read for those just starting the practice of lectio divina。 Dr。 Gray is insightful and gives excellent examples throughout the text to help improve understanding of the process。

G。 Pierre ，

Excellent intro to the practice of lectio divinaI've read much more detailed approaches to lectio， but this is the one I would recommend as the most readable， straightforward point of entry into the subject。 I appreciated Gray's direct style and his use of concrete examples。 Excellent intro to the practice of lectio divinaI've read much more detailed approaches to lectio， but this is the one I would recommend as the most readable， straightforward point of entry into the subject。 I appreciated Gray's direct style and his use of concrete examples。 。。。more

Suzette ，

Don't be scared of the title。 Lectio simply means reading scripture in a careful and focused way。 This book was chock full of pearls of wisdom。。。。here are some I want to remember:1。 The disciples recognized Jesus through the WORD of God in union with the EUCHARIST。2。 Public revelation ended with the death of the last apostle but this doesn't mean that God doesn't want to communicate with each and every one of us at the deep and intimate level of the heart。3。 Reading is like putting whole food in Don't be scared of the title。 Lectio simply means reading scripture in a careful and focused way。 This book was chock full of pearls of wisdom。。。。here are some I want to remember:1。 The disciples recognized Jesus through the WORD of God in union with the EUCHARIST。2。 Public revelation ended with the death of the last apostle but this doesn't mean that God doesn't want to communicate with each and every one of us at the deep and intimate level of the heart。3。 Reading is like putting whole food into the mouth， meditation is the chewing， prayer is extracting the flavor， and contemplation gives us the delight in the sweetness。4。 In the Eucharist God does not say "Take and understand" but "take and eat。"I loved this book。 Really inspiring to read the holy scriptures。 。。。more

Sandy ，

This is a helpful， inspiring guide for getting more out of scripture。

Lindsay Wilcox ，

Read my full review at Austin CNM。 Read my full review at Austin CNM。 。。。more

Elise ，

If you are someone who is interested in lectio divina and wants to be introduced to this beautiful method of prayer， then this is a great read。 Again， let me emphasize this is more of an introduction or a how to。 If you're looking for an in depth read on lectio divina， you will have to find another book。 For me， it fulfilled its purpose in explaining the Catholic tradition of using scripture for meditation and prayer。 It also does a good job in telling how you can apply this method in your own l If you are someone who is interested in lectio divina and wants to be introduced to this beautiful method of prayer， then this is a great read。 Again， let me emphasize this is more of an introduction or a how to。 If you're looking for an in depth read on lectio divina， you will have to find another book。 For me， it fulfilled its purpose in explaining the Catholic tradition of using scripture for meditation and prayer。 It also does a good job in telling how you can apply this method in your own life。 However， I also would have liked more about where the tradition came from and maybe some history on it。 All in all， a good introductory read to the topic。 It's also a quick read。 。。。more

Roberto ，

Excellent and insightful book on lectio divina。 Dr。 Gray describes both the practical methods and spiritual benefits of prayerfully reading scripture with amazing clarity。 I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to enhance their prayer life and grow their knowledge of the Bible。

Donna ，

Perfect for understanding Lectio Devina。 We just started a study group using this technique of praying the scriptures。 This book goes through each step to make the process clearly understood。 I highly recommend this book。

Michael Donlan ，

I have heard Dr。 Gray speak in person & watched some of his shows on EWTN & talks on YouTube。 I was impressed then as I am now。 He is easy to read & while some of the people with whom I read this book thought that he was a bit long-winded in his examples， I thought they really made scripture come alive。

Stitchywoman ，

A good introduction， overview， and guide to start learning how to use Lectio Divina as a form of prayer。

Stuart ，

I read another one of Tim Gray's books this year， Walking With God: A Journey Through the Bible， so I knew I was going to get another gem， and I was not disappointed。 Hopefully， you're not like me and you have a great prayer life。 If you are like me though， then you need all the help you can get！ Like others before me， and probably after me， I felt that I always talk to God， but never hear Him answer。 Sure I can see answers to prayers （be they yes or no）， but I never felt like I was getting a o I read another one of Tim Gray's books this year， Walking With God: A Journey Through the Bible， so I knew I was going to get another gem， and I was not disappointed。 Hopefully， you're not like me and you have a great prayer life。 If you are like me though， then you need all the help you can get！ Like others before me， and probably after me， I felt that I always talk to God， but never hear Him answer。 Sure I can see answers to prayers （be they yes or no）， but I never felt like I was getting a one-on-one response。 Arrogant to expect that， I know。 Well， this book changed my whole way of thinking about prayer！Lectio Divina is a ladder traditionally involving four steps， but a fifth step was added in this book。 The steps are Lectio （Reading）， Meditatio （Meditation）， Oratio （Prayer）， Contemplatio （Contemplation）， and in this book Operatio （Operation or Application in real life）。 Dr。 Gray uses the example of a vineyard and making wine （like ancient monks used to do） as a comparison for Lectio Divina。 Like winemaking， prayer requires many steps to produce a beautiful end result。 He also repeatedly says in the book， "When you pray， you speak with God; when you read， God speaks to you。" This was a game-changer for me。 It seems so obvious， but we expect to hear the voice of God， like the voice of a person。 In reality， we always hear the voice of God when we read the Bible。Reading this book has left me thirsting for more （fitting analogy since he compares Lectio Divina to making wine）。 I know I will have to take baby steps in this beautiful practice， but I am eager to try it in this Year of Faith。 I'm debating ordering the workbook that goes along with this book or finding other books that offer specifics passages and exercises in Lectio Divina。 Despite not having a chapter at the end to get you started with， I still give this book 5 out of 5 stars as it explained a powerful prayer practice in language anyone can understand。 So if you want a deeper prayer life and not just a one-sided monologue with God， go out and buy this book and you too can be on the path to a deeper prayer life。 Check out my other reviews at stuartsstudy。blogspot。com 。。。more

Kathy ，

I've read several books on Lectio Divina and this is the one that I would recommend。 The book gives a clear description of each of the four rungs of Guigio's ladder。 I've come across great descriptions of meditatio and oratio， but this book has hand down the best description of lectio， how to really read the Bible。 Tim Gray works at describing contemplatio as well。 Many authors are content to say that contemplation is something that God does and we have to let it happen。 While that is certainly I've read several books on Lectio Divina and this is the one that I would recommend。 The book gives a clear description of each of the four rungs of Guigio's ladder。 I've come across great descriptions of meditatio and oratio， but this book has hand down the best description of lectio， how to really read the Bible。 Tim Gray works at describing contemplatio as well。 Many authors are content to say that contemplation is something that God does and we have to let it happen。 While that is certainly true， Gray fleshes out the experience， and how we can be receptive to it， more than I have seen with other books。 He even adds a fifth rung: actio。 In this final chapter the author quotes Francis DeSales。 I haven't come across his name in a book on lectio divina， but as a member of the laity， DeSales' primary audience， I find his thoughts on prayer comforting and realistic。 I read this with a group of friends and we all found the first couple chapters a bit daunting。 They were easy to understand but we wondered if we would ever be able to read and pray as Gray described。 He mentions towards the middle of the book that he has been doing Lectio Divina for years and years and that it is something he has grown into。 I can see this book redirecting me onto the path of prayer growth。 It is so easy to veer by little bits over time。 This is a good read for those already deep into contemplative prayer as well as those just starting out。 。。。more

Mike ，

Dr。 Gray promised an introduction and he delivered a good one。 He gives the reader enough to get started and enjoy the journey。I view Lectio Divina as similar to swimming。 Learn a few basics and then get into the pool as quickly as possible。

Michelle ，

A good introduction to lectio divina， but mostly that -- an introduction。 The analogy comparing the steps of lectio to the rungs of a ladder was helpful， especially considering the tendency to try to pray （the third step） without something to feed one's prayer （the first two steps）， which is just as difficult as trying to climb a ladder and skipping some of the rungs。 A good introduction to lectio divina， but mostly that -- an introduction。 The analogy comparing the steps of lectio to the rungs of a ladder was helpful， especially considering the tendency to try to pray （the third step） without something to feed one's prayer （the first two steps）， which is just as difficult as trying to climb a ladder and skipping some of the rungs。 。。。more

Renee ，

The books I read and review for The Catholic Company tend to be deeper and more spiritual than those I review for others。 Praying Scripture for a Change was no exception。 I was drawn in by the introduction entitled "The Problem of Prayer" and then relieved to find that I am not the only person to find prayer difficult。 Although not an easy read， I persevered to learn more about lectio divina （divine reading）。 The vineyard analogy used by Dr。 Gray helped me to better understand the steps of lecti The books I read and review for The Catholic Company tend to be deeper and more spiritual than those I review for others。 Praying Scripture for a Change was no exception。 I was drawn in by the introduction entitled "The Problem of Prayer" and then relieved to find that I am not the only person to find prayer difficult。 Although not an easy read， I persevered to learn more about lectio divina （divine reading）。 The vineyard analogy used by Dr。 Gray helped me to better understand the steps of lectio divina: lectio （reading）， meditatio （meditating）， oratio （prayer）， contemplatio （contemplation） and operatio （practice/work）。 One of my favorite quotes from the book is "The Fathers of the Church are blunt: 'When you pray， you speak with God; when you read， God speaks to you。'" No wonder I don't hear God often; I don't spend enough time with 'divine reading' of Scripture。 I missed out on developing this habit during Lent but I have an entire Easter season to get started。A suggestion to those wanting to incorporate lectio divina into their life using this superb resource - after reading the first chapter or two， skip ahead and read the second to last sections 'Where to Start in Scripture" and 'Practical Suggestions'。 Those were questions I kept asking as I was reading the book and would have liked this information sooner。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Praying Scripture for a Change: An Introductin to Lectio Divina

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