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Lectio Divina – “divine reading”
The ancient art of sacred reading — where you listen for what God is saying to you, not just what the verse says.
First Reading | Romans 5:8 NLT
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
Read this verse once, all the way through. Don’t analyze it. Don’t try to learn something. Just let the words pass through you like a gentle stream. Notice what you notice.
Second Reading | Romans 5:8 NLT
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
Now read it again — a little slower this time. Is there a word or phrase that tugs at your heart? Something that catches you? Stay there for a moment. Don’t move past it. Just notice.
Third Reading | Romans 5:8 NLT
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
One more time. But this time, read it as if God is speaking these words directly to you. Not to the world. Not to a crowd. To you, right here, right now. What do you hear Him saying?
Romans 5:8 NLT
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
Here’s what stops me every time I sit with this verse: the word “while.”
While we were still sinners. Not after we cleaned up. Not once we got it together. Not when we finally started doing the right things.
While.
God didn’t wait for you to earn it. He didn’t wait for you to be enough. He looked at you in your mess, your shame, your worst moment — and He moved toward you. Not away.
That’s the kind of love we’re talking about. Not love based on performance. Not love you have to maintain. Love that was already decided before you did a single thing to deserve it.
Romans 5:8 NLT
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
Where in your life have you been trying to earn love — from God, from others, or even from yourself?
Take your time, be honest with yourself, and then ask God to show you what it looks like to simply receive.
Romans 5:8 NLT
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
Close your eyes and breathe deeply. As you inhale, silently say: “I am loved.” As you exhale: “Nothing can change that.” Sit here for as long as you need.
First Reading | Romans 5:8 NLT
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
Read this verse once, all the way through. Don’t analyze it. Don’t try to learn something. Just let the words pass through you like a gentle stream. Notice what you notice.
Second Reading | Romans 5:8 NLT
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
Now read it again — a little slower this time. Is there a word or phrase that tugs at your heart? Something that catches you? Stay there for a moment. Don’t move past it. Just notice.
Third Reading | Romans 5:8 NLT
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
One more time. But this time, read it as if God is speaking these words directly to you. Not to the world. Not to a crowd. To you, right here, right now. What do you hear Him saying?
Romans 5:8 NLT
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
Here’s what stops me every time I sit with this verse: the word “while.”
While we were still sinners. Not after we cleaned up. Not once we got it together. Not when we finally started doing the right things.
While.
God didn’t wait for you to earn it. He didn’t wait for you to be enough. He looked at you in your mess, your shame, your worst moment — and He moved toward you. Not away.
That’s the kind of love we’re talking about. Not love based on performance. Not love you have to maintain. Love that was already decided before you did a single thing to deserve it.
Romans 5:8 NLT
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
Where in your life have you been trying to earn love — from God, from others, or even from yourself?
Take your time, be honest with yourself, and then ask God to show you what it looks like to simply receive.
Romans 5:8 NLT
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
Close your eyes and breathe deeply. As you inhale, silently say: “I am loved.” As you exhale: “Nothing can change that.” Sit here for as long as you need.