“This is what the Lord says:
Stop at the crossroads and look around.
Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it.
Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.”
– Jeremiah 6:16a NLT
The words “discipleship” or “formation” can feel a bit abstract. What do they really mean? Spiritual Disciplines are things that Christians have been practicing since Jesus walked among us with the twelve. Being spiritually formed is shaping and educating your spirit and mind to be like Jesus. It’s Sanctification. Conforming your life to the image of Christ.
Spiritual formation will look different for everyone and that’s okay. We have different personalities and learning styles. Mindy Caliquire leads a ministry called SoulCare. She is a key partner with Wheaton College Billy Graham Center’s Resilient Church Leadership initiative. Mindy’s worked with a lot of get-it-done personalities and she refers to them as jet fuel drinkers. These types of people are usually burning the candle at both ends. On the flip side, to use her words, are the candle lighters. This group might not have things happen as quickly, but they might happen more deliberately. Mindy works to help both groups realize that spiritual practices and disciplines are vital to healthy productive life.
“Spiritual practices lead us experientially and habitually toward greater awareness of our life with God, ordinary habits that fit into daily life. Sometimes in the church, we’re looking for a silver bullet, something that will work in every context and with every person. But there is no secret sauce for formation, these are things we take up… so that we grow in love and actually desire God’s coming kingdom.” Tuck Bartholomew, City Church Philadelphia
Some examples:
Reflective reading and study. Bible reading is key. There are a couple of different ways to engage in scripture reading for growth. Despite your natural tendencies, both are important.
John R. Throop at Trinity Episcopal Church says a more “left-brained”, factual method is what we traditionally call bible study. We reflect on the factual dimensions: context, language, links to other passages. A more “right brained” approach is to read a text and hear how it resonates with our personal experience, using reflection tools that ask questions to help us open to experience the Spirit of God in scripture.
In your practice of daily scripture reading there are many wonderful devotional books to help set a reading plan or you could choose to follow the scriptures of the liturgical calendar.
Active repentance. Reading helps us become more aware of how unlike Jesus we can be. Acknowledging our sin is an act of humility and reliance on God’s grace.
Stewardship. An honest inventory of how we use our time and resources can provide clues to what ability we have that can be offered to glorify God. How do we think about our life as a stewardship?
Sabbath or Rest/Retreat. Counter-cultural as it may be, rest is necessary to physical health as well as spiritual health. A weekly day of rest was exampled to us by God in Genesis. Retreat affords us space to reflect, deepen, restore, and reinvigorate.
Prayer. Personal prayer is of highest importance. We present our entire self to God.
Many tools are available online if you are looking to incorporate different methods of prayer besides the conversational prayer.
· St. Ignatius’ daily examen: a prayerful reflection of your day and where you noticed God.
· The ‘practice of listening prayer’ may help you hear God more clearly.
· Give thanks in everything, giving God honor for who He is, separate from what He has done.
· Pray scripture
· Make a list of petitions to ask for family, friends, church, government, etc.
Community Accountability and Common Worship. Worship together not just in service on Sunday but anytime you gather even just two or three. Exalt the name of the Lord by speaking his praises to each other and singing it with songs. Learn to belong to the family of God. Get to know one another, help with needs, share burdens, celebrate together. Consider meeting with a spiritual director.
Spiritual formation often enables us to discover spiritual gifts that allow us to participate more fully in the ministry of the church. We become dynamic disciples who impact a world through welcoming the Holy Spirit to manifest in us.
What does it mean in practical and personal terms to “strive for the Kingdom of God”?
Can you recall times when God’s faithfulness and presence were particularly clear to you?
Are you facing difficult situations where God is asking you to remain faithful?
“Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 25:5
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