Posts by GEM Spiritual Life
Solitude
When we practice solitude, we temporarily pull away from life with others in order to give our full attention to God. Alone with God, we put aside human expectations and our desire to please others, and we experience what it means in Acts 17:28 when it says, “in him we live and move and have…
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Silence
Silence is the spiritual discipline of withdrawing or abstaining from noise, words, and activity for a time to become more attuned to the voice of God. In silence we allow the noise of our own thoughts, human strivings, and inner compulsions to settle down so we can hear and respond to the presence of God…
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Rule of Life
A personal Rule of Life is a Spirit-led written description of how we want to order our life as a follower of Christ. To create a rule of life, we first envision the Christian life we want to live. How is God calling us to live? What kind of character qualities is the Holy Spirit…
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Retreat vs. Day with God
“A day away with God” or “spiritual renewal day” are the terms that we use most often in GEM (Greater Europe Mission) to denote a personal retreat day. This is a day in which we pull away from our everyday routines and responsibilities to be undividedly present with God. We might find a place in…
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Resistance
Resistance is an underlying and often unconscious response in which we avoid or push back on an issue, experience, or insight. It is a normal part of all growth and is caused by the struggle or tension we feel toward change in others or ourselves.[1] God’s holiness, his unpredictability, even his tenderness can feel threatening,…
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Prayer
Prayer is fundamentally talking to God about what He and I are doing together. – paraphrased from Dallas Willard Prayer then includes conversation, talking, silence, listening and interaction around God’s desires (hence, what He and I are doing together). Prayer can be request, worship, meditation, listening, talking, etc. Generally, prayer is paying attention and responding…
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Listening Prayer
When we engage in listening prayer, we are taking the time to be quiet in God’s presence in a posture of open readiness to receive His words and respond. God is in the driver seat, and we acknowledge that we can’t force him to saying something. We surrender to His terms and His timing. We…
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Prayer of Examen
The Prayer of Examen is a time of regular self-examination with God. Under God’s leading in prayer and listening we discern our faithfulness in following Christ throughout our daily activity. This is not a time for self-condemnation but for discernment of where one was in step or not in step with the Holy Spirit. The movements…
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Centering Prayer
Centering prayer can also be identified as “silent prayer” or “prayer without words.” It is the practice of gazing on God who gazes on us in love. The word “centering” is used to emphasize focusing one’s attention and senses on the presence of God. It grants us permission to detach from thoughts and emotions that…
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Awareness
“Practicing the presence” has become a catchy phrase in the Christian world, but what does it actually mean when someone uses it? At the core, practicing the presence involves cultivating a way of life that enables us to become aware of and be present to the God who calls himself “Immanuel, God with us.” God…
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