It took me a long time to answer this question when I finally realized that my answer was in the trying it. So, I took the plunge and located an outstanding Spiritual Director. I walked away from our first appointment in amazement of how the time tapped into my very soul. I was hooked.
What is Christian Spiritual Direction?
“Christian Spiritual Direction is a ministry of prayerful listening of discernment in a confidential setting of encouragement and compassion.
In direction, a spiritual companion holds you and your relationship with God in prayer while listening-to God, and to you.
The intent of spiritual direction is to attend to the presence and the voice of God in your life, being formed by God into Christ’s image, and, to “know that love that surpasses all knowing” (Ephesians 3:19).
From this three-way dialogue flows helpful questions to aid you in noticing God’s presence, work, movement, and invitations in your life.” Julie Messiner
Yahweh, for at daybreak you listen for my voice. and at dawn I hold myself in readiness for you, I watch for you. Psalm 5:3 (Jerusalem Bible)
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. (8) By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life. Psalm 42:2,7-8
We see spiritual direction throughout scripture in the lives of Moses and Joshua, Naomi and Ruth, Nathan and David, Elizabeth and Mary, and Paul and Timothy, to name a few. God used these men and women to provide direction for those who sought to know and follow God. Soul care flows from our relationship and connectedness to God and others.
Why do I need spiritual direction?
Spiritual Companionship~
"They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:32
Listening to the Voice of Jesus together~
"The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. …we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2:12-13,16)
Spiritual Formation~
As you walk with Christ, how are you being formed? How are you allowing Jesus’ love to shape you as you grow in Him? Although there are times when we would rather go it alone, being formed into Christ’s image does not take place in isolation. We need companions for the journey to nurture our faith, and discern God’s movement in our lives.
Awakens us to God's presence and activity in the midst of suffering.
Many of us are experiencing sufferings of all kinds, from anxiety to depression, physical illness, relational strain, financial stressors, to name a few! These maladies often contribute to an "unwelcome spiritual fog and the perceived absence of God." (Beth Booram)
Although spiritual direction doesn't promise a cure all, it does offer a loving and compassionate space for seeking God.
Is it for you??!!
Do you desire to know God’s love, hear Christ’s voice, and trust the Spirit’s presence and work in your life? Then you may benefit from the listening presence a Spiritual Director can offer.
A taste of group spiritual direction.
RESOURCES:
Books~
Sacred Companions, David Benner
Candlelight: Illuminating the Art of Spiritual Direction, Susan Phillips
Holy Listening: The Art of Spiritual Direction, Margaret Guenther
The Gift of Being Yourself, David Benner
Seeking God Together: An Invitation to Group Spiritual Direction, Alice Fryling
What’s Your Decision? Sparough, Manney & Hipskind
The Critical Journey: Stages in the Life of Faith, 2nd ed., Janet Hagberg & Robert Guelich
The Practice of Spiritual Direction, William A. Barry & William J. Connolly
Sacred Rhythms, Ruth Haley Barton
Organizations~
Spiritual Directors of Color Network (sdcnetwork.org)
The Agape Center for Spiritual Formation (theagapecenter.org)
InterVarsity Spiritual Director network (see info on Teams-BCM2023)
Dwell Formation (dwellformation.org).
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