Vizio Divina: A Christian Contemplative Practice
Visio Divina (Latin for "divine seeing") is a form of contemplative prayer that involves focusing on an image or a work of art to deepen one's connection with God. It's similar to Lectio Divina (divine reading), which involves meditating on Scripture, but instead, Visio Divina uses visual images as a way to get out of your head and into your heart.
It has a few basic steps:
Get Ready: You will get more by finding a quiet place where you can focus and concentrate without distraction. Take a few breaths and ask God to open your spiritual eyes as you begin to relax.
Gaze: While you can do this with virtually any image, I have chosen an image for you to observe carefully. Don’t rush—take time to notice the details of the image.
Reflect: Ask God to help you see what He wants to show you this day. What emotions, memories, questions, or thoughts arise as you reflect on it? Why do you think God has chosen this day of all days to reveal this to you?
Respond: Spend time to respond to what you’ve seen and felt. Don’t waste the revelation by rushing on. Whether it is a prayer of praise, a question, a confession, it is your way to get into an important conversation with the God who visited you through a manger and a cross.
Breathe: Before returning to your day, give your heart the gift of letting what you have received to settle down deep into your heart.
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Here is the image for this vizio divina exercise:
I would love to hear about your vizio divina experience.
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