Spiritual Practices
Spiritual Direction
Spiritual direction is when one person, the director, comes alongside another, the directee, to help them notice and pay attention to the presence, conversation and work of God in their lives. As the directee is sharing, the spiritual director practices double listening in which they listen to the directee but also to the Holy Spirit.…
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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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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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Preparing for a Day with God
Preparing for Silence and Solitude We seek silence and solitude so that we can quiet our souls and be attentive to God. Silence and solitude give God time and space away from the competition of social interaction, noise and stimulation. It is a formative place that brings us face to face with our hidden motives…
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Meditation
Meditation involves ruminating, pausing, wondering, contemplating, and reflecting on an idea or subject. In Christian meditation we focus on an aspect of God, his work and/or his Word allowing ourselves to profoundly taste and see the goodness of God. Through meditation our understanding deepens and strengthens within our soul. Although it’s not essential you might…
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