One way to be intentional about your spiritual formation
Laura Longville
Spiritual formation is a universal process – everyone is being formed spiritually. It is important for people to recognize what is forming them spiritually.
We pay attention to our bodies and what is forming us physically. Some of us ask ourselves, “How am I feeling?” and “Do I like my thought life?” When we’ve taken this inventory, we then decide what we want to keep, alter or let go of. Why not ask the same questions regarding our spiritual life?
A good place to start is recognizing we are being formed spiritually, and we are able to do something about it. We can ask ourselves, “What kind of a person am I becoming? What are my experiences doing for me, and do I want to go in that direction?” These are some helpful questions, and once you ask them, we can better know what’s forming us: and it might be the things we think least of.
Let’s be curious and intentional about our spiritual formation, together.
People obviously think sitting in church chairs is a form of spiritual formation. And it is. Yet do we notice that our spiritual lives are also formed by what we read, what we watch on TV or on our phones, or our conversations? We aren’t accustomed to paying attention to how we are being shaped spiritually.
It can be unnerving even to consider the question, “How am I spiritually formed?” We don’t want to get into this issue because it can feel despairing. Can I really, really change? Is that really a possibility?
The world is full of possibilities to form our spiritual lives. We can intentionally make space for God and allow Him to transform us. It doesn’t have to be scary or overwhelming, only deliberate and purposeful.
Purposeful Spiritual Formation
One way to purposefully attend to your spiritual life is to walk through the Ignatian Exercises. The Spiritual Exercises grew out of Ignatius of Loyola’s attempts to grow in union with God and to discern God’s will. As he grew in that union, he took note of the most helpful things. Eventually, Ignatius gathered these prayers, meditations, reflections, and directions into a carefully designed spiritual journey, which he called the spiritual exercises.
Are you curious about how the spiritual exercises could support your spiritual formation?
In January of 2023, a 10-week group will be formed to go through the spiritual exercises as a small group. Read some of the testimonies of others who have traveled the Ignatian Journey here.
You can visit our website for more information, and attend a discovery meeting at 4:30 pm MT for 30 minutes on November 9th, 2022. Email me to get the Zoom link.
If you’d like to reserve a spot to participate in the Ignatian Exercises in January of 2022, email or text me, “you’re in”.