What is Spiritual Direction?
Spiritual directors are essentially co-listeners. They help another person listen for the movement of God’s Spirit. In spiritual direction, there is:
-Noticing
-Exploration
-Discovery
-No judgment
-No agendas/fixing
-Gentleness
-Reverence
-Confidence
-Shedding of the old self and embracing of one’s new self in Christ
-Finding of freedom in Christ Jesus
-Focus is on your relationship with God, who is THE DIRECTOR
– Soul care
In its simplest form, a spiritual director is a person who holds prayerful space for someone else. The task of the spiritual director is not to literally direct a person, which is often a misconception about spiritual direction, but to remain attentive to the spirit of God on behalf of someone else. God is the director, and the process of spiritual direction is a practice of helping people become aware of what God is up to in their lives. ~Emily P. Freeman, in episode 167 of The Next Right Thing podcast explains more about what spiritual direction is. Listen here.
Spiritual directors point you toward the Trinity. For example:
-Moses helping the Israelites to the freedom God was giving them
-Eli teaching Samuel how to listen to God speaking
-John the Baptist pointing his followers to Jesus. Note John the Baptist’s words in John 3:29. Spiritual directors are “friends of the Bridegroom,” as it is a joy to help others draw close to Christ.
Spiritual direction has always been part of the Christian Church, however, it has become more desired in the Western Evangelical Church in the last twenty years.
How is spiritual direction different from spiritual formation?
While both are related to deepening one’s relationship with God, “spiritual direction” is a specific practice where a trained individual acts as a listening companion to help someone discern God’s movement in their life, while “spiritual formation” is the broader process of growing closer to God through various practices and experiences, including spiritual direction; essentially, spiritual direction is a helpful component of spiritual formation, not a separate entity from it.
What is spiritual direction walking?
Spiritual direction combined with walking is for those who find that movement aids reflection. While not ideal in distracting environments, a leisurely walk in a quiet space can offer a sacred setting. Walking sessions must be planned in advance, considering location and weather conditions.
How does spiritual direction work, practically?
Most people meet with a spiritual director once a month, though more frequent meetings may be helpful initially. Sessions typically last about an hour. There are no specific goals or administrative tasks. In-person and online appointments are available throughout the week in North Metro Atlanta. Spiritual direction is a flexible practice that can be pursued for years or a shorter period, as needed. To learn more, explore the “What do we discuss in spiritual direction” page. Or check out our Getting Started page.