Learn to pray with any passage in scripture.

"In the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven comes lovingly to meet his children, and talks with them."

Gospel Mk 8:27-35 Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" They said in reply, "John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets." And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said to him in reply, "You are the Christ." Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him. He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it."

Lectio Divina
Prayer is always a gift. We cannot make it happen, rather God initiates and inivtes us into it. We can, however do certain things that will help us to receive the Holy Spirit. The practice of lectio divina engages thought, imagination, emotion, and desire. This mobilization of faculties is necessary in order to deepen our convictions of faith, prompt the conversion of our heart, and strengthen our will to follow Christ. Christian prayer tries above all to meditate on the mysteries of Christ, as in lectio divina or the rosary. This form of prayerful reflection is of great value, but Christian prayer should go further: to the knowledge of the love of the Lord Jesus, to union with him. (Contemplative Prayer). Lectio Divina can be a way to enter into Contempatio.

Lectio
Read the passage slowly several times Slowly and reflectively so that it sinks into us

Meditatio
Read the passage again Think about how you apply to your own life. Picture the scene or images. Uses your sense to imagine you are there in the scene. Watch, listen, speak if you are inclined, smell, touch, taste, feel. Let Jesus speak to you and reflect on the scripture passage Lord, what are you saying to me in this passage today?

Oratio
Read the scripture a third time Let your heart speak to God Trust God enough to become emotionally involved/spontaneous prayer Ask God for the grace that you are desiring. (the above three are all really preparation and should lead us into Contemplative Prayer)

Contemplatio
Read the scripture a final time Repeat slowly whatever word or phrase you feel the Lord speaking to you. Rest with the word or phrase and let it sink in to your heart. Let Jesus heart speak to your heart and your heart to Jesus. Contemplative prayer is silence, the "symbol of the world to come" or "silent love." Words in this kind of prayer are not speeches; they are like kindling that feeds the fire of love. Contemplative prayer is also the pre-eminently intense time of prayer. In it the Father strengthens our inner being with power through his Spirit "that Christ may dwell in [our] hearts through faith" and we may be "grounded in love. Contemplative prayer is hearing the Word of God. Far from being passive, such attentiveness is the obedience of faith, the unconditional acceptance of a servant, and the loving commitment of a child. Contemplation is a gaze of faith, fixed on Jesus. "I look at him and he looks at me": this is what a certain peasant of Ars in the time of his holy cur used to say while praying before the tabernacle. This focus on Jesus is a renunciation of self.