Fr. John Malley, O. Carm, in a talk titled Introduction to the Use of Scripture, offers a practical approach to prayer using Scripture. It may be summed up in four words beginning with the letter “P”:

1) Place – try to find a private spot and time when you can be alone with God.

2) Passage – each day pick a passage from Scripture, on you may wish to listen to as God speaks to you.

3) Presence of God – try to respond to His presence, within you and around you.

4) Pray – the passage of Scripture, reading the words aloud slowly, listening to it in a personal way, not looking for insights or making applications, but simply letting Jesus as God and friend enter your life.

Above is quoted from Instruction Four of Lay Carmelite Formation Guide: Phase Two Initial Formation in Carmel By Thomas Zeitvogel, T.O.C. Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary, First Edition, The Carmelite Press, Darien, Illinois 1995