The Menu: a taste of spiritual formation practices
Major Lauren Hodgson
The reservations are made, the time has arrived, and you are escorted to your seat and handed a menu. As you peruse the different dishes offered, you ask yourself, “What am I craving?” Appetite is motivated by desire or hunger, and that appetite is gratified by what we consume.
This article is a menu; you are among everyone who is invited to “come and dine.” It is an incredible invitation given to you by the Lord Almighty. He has done everything possible for your longing to be met. It is yours for the asking. Not sure what your deep desire might be? What should you ask for? There are simple practices that can help you understand your hunger and hear from God.
The following menu lists a few resources the Spiritual Life Development Department offers to guide you in deepening your relationship with God, the One who will satisfy your every longing. All these resources and many more are available at sld.saconnects.org.
A Guide to the Prayer of Examen
“When did I sense the Lord’s leading today, and when did I respond or resist?” This practice can help you become more sensitive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Reduce the inner noise and simply be with God. Centering prayer is an exercise of intention, developing a habit of surrendering to God’s increasing presence and action.
A Method for Creating Your Own Breath Prayer
Develop a straightforward sentence: God leads you to create a phrase to help you center your heart, mind, and soul on Him.
This is an active, meditative, creative prayer practice and may be helpful if you are a visual learner or easily distracted
God is always speaking to us. We must learn to refine our spiritual ears to hear His voice in myriad ways: a song, a bird chirping, a word from a friend, a breeze off the ocean.
Lectio Divina (Sacred Reading)
Engage in scripture that is more than informational but transformational. Slow down, be more reflective of God’s Word, and understand how it relates to you personally.
Imagine yourself as a disciple, a member of the multitude, a leper, a righteous Pharisee. This form of engagement in scripture urges you to pay close attention to the struggle, the emotions, the surroundings, the sights, and the smells—all leading you to a personal encounter with God.
Purposefully put God’s whispers to pen and paper to aid in encountering God. It is a tool for self-discovery, helping you concentrate, and a private space of quiet and solitude to express the uniqueness of your spiritual journey to God.
No Bible, No Breakfast! No Bible, No Bed!
A tool to help you incorporate scripture at the start and end of your day. The rhythm of daily scripture reading will deepen your soul health and equip you to meet every situation in the name of the Lord.
This discipline allows us to leave behind the competing demands of our outer world for time alone with Jesus. It offers a way of paying attention to the Spirit of God and what He brings to the surface of our souls.
Poised to Hear (Praying and Fasting for Discernment)
A guide to sacrificing something that is a regular part of life as a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice, freeing us to spend more time in Christ’s presence. People often fast so they can begin to discern God’s will.
Visio Divina (Sacred/Divine Seeing)
Use art to intentionally seek God for your spiritual focus and transformation.
Where do you begin when you can remove yourself from the daily grind to spend time with God? Find practical advice on how to experience a sacred getaway.
My Story — A Life Mapping Exercise
Create a timeline that captures moments in your life to identify and interpret God’s activity in them. With reflection, you can see God’s hand in every aspect of life.
We are wired for community. We are born into a family; attend classes, play, and work in teams; and worship in congregations. Yet, community can be messy. Here are some practices that can help maintain health and wholeness in any community.
Being out in nature lends itself to being in Christ’s presence. This resource guides you in taking a walk with God.
Scripture speaks of our “inmost being.” How do we tap into this God-created part of our true self? The practice of benevolent detachment can help us focus on having the deepest needs of our souls supplied.
“You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.”
—Matthew 5:6 (MSG)
About the Author: Major Lauren Hodgson
