What is spiritual formation?

Spiritual Formation, in the Christian tradition, is life’s pilgrimage of becoming more Christ-like. Here, you will find a collection of resources to spark your curiosity, equip you for your journey, & accompany you as you walk the way of renewal & transformation.

  • Ever why wonder why you think, feel & act in particular ways? The enneagram is an ancient tool that provides a framework for understanding personality & undertaking the work of self-awareness, resulting in compassion for self & others.

    Check out this Enneagram Guide to start your enneagram journey.

  • For me, prayer is turning towards the One who created me in the Divine Image and loves me unconditionally.

    The heart of prayer is relationship, and Christians have prayed in a variety of ways through the centuries. We can pray with words and/or sit in silence. We can pray alone and/or with others. We can be in prayer anytime and anywhere. Most of us are familiar with petitionary and intercessory prayer - requests praying for ourselves and others. We may be less familiar with other methods so I focus on those in my compilation.

    Not all will resonate with you. I encourage you to pick a way to pray and try it for a while. Remember that initial discomfort does not mean it’s not for you. It just means you are not used to it.

    As you discover the richness of prayer, may you experience God’s abiding love for you, and may this love flow to others.

  • Forms of meditation have deep roots in Christian Spirituality. John Main (1926 - 1982), a Benedictine monk, said meditating is, “God’s mysterious and silent presence within us to become more and more not only a reality, but the reality which gives meaning, shape and purpose to everything we do, to everything we are... “ 

    Meditation takes the attention off ourselves as we become immersed in the presence of the God who created us. Over time, we will find that the fruits of the Spirit are developed in us and we become more compassionate and loving people. It is worth saying here that meditation does not replace other forms of prayer, it enriches them.

    Practicing Christian Meditation (Adapted from http://wccm.org/)

    The Process:

    • Sit comfortably with your eyes closed.

    • Choose  a single word of prayer, preferably one with 4 syllables. Then silently, slowly and rhythmically, recite it as four equal syllables.

      (Not sure what word to use? Try the ancient Christian prayer-word "maranatha," which means “come Lord.”) 

    • Pay attention to your word as you repeat it.

    • Practice this morning and evening, for about 20 minutes.

    Tips: 

    • Stay with the same word during your times of meditation.

    • Let go of all thoughts, (even good thoughts), images and other words.

    • This is hard so don’t fight your distractions. When you realize you have stopped saying your word, and your attention has wandered, come back to your word. It’s an act of faithfulness.

    • Be kind and patient with yourself.

    Deepen Your Understanding:

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