What is Spiritual Direction?
“The purpose of spiritual direction is to assist persons in the process of discerning God’s presence in their lives.” -Howard Rice, The Pastor as Spiritual Guide
“Spiritual direction is a prayer process in which a person seeking help in cultivating a deeper personal relationship with God meets with another for prayer and conversation that is focused on increasing awareness of God in the midst of life experiences.” -David Benner, Sacred Companions: The Gift of Spiritual Friendship & Direction
Spiritual direction “is cultivated awareness that God has already seized the initiative. God has been working diligently, redemptively, and strategically before I appeared on the scene, before I was aware there was something here for me to do.” -Eugene Peterson, The Contemplative Pastor
“As a spiritual director, I see myself as a companion to people on their journeys. As a companion, I accompany others who become more fully who they have been created to be, sinking their roots deep into the living waters of God’s grace and bearing fruit in the world.” -Susan S. Phillips, Candlelight: Illuminating the Art of Spiritual Direction
“What is the purpose of a spiritual director?… His direction is simply and clearly to lead us to our real director. He is the means of God to open the path to the inward teaching of the Holy Spirit.” -Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline
Who is spiritual direction for?
Spiritual direction is not mentoring, discipleship, or counseling. Those interactions establish one person as the resource or the expert and the other person as the learner/receiver. Spiritual Direction is different because the director, while trained to listen closely and ask questions, partners with the directee in discerning God’s movement in the life of the directee.
- Do you feel like you’ve hit a wall in your faith journey?
- Does your faith rhythm seem to be losing effectiveness?
- Are you sensing a big decision on the horizon but struggle to know what to do?
- Are you experiencing doubt or uncertainty in your faith that doesn’t go away by attending church?
If you answered yes to any (or all!) of these questions, you may be a good fit for spiritual direction. Please contact me!