Spiritual Practices
resources for spiritual practices
“God has given us the disciplines of the spiritual life as a means of receiving his grace. These spiritual practices allow us to place ourselves before God so that he can transform us.”
opportunities to enrich the spiritual life abound
Spiritual Practices, (also called exercises or disciplines) are methods to help us focus on being present in the moment, more aware of God’s nearness to us, and more able to deflect distractions from our minds. There are many, many spiritual practices - some dating back over a thousand years and others that are new in contemporary times. Try out several until you find one or more that really work for you.
Below, you will find a few of our recommended resources. Some involve only a few minutes while others are courses of exploration that invite a longer commitment. The first ones are all self-guided. The ones near the bottom of the page are group-oriented.
online resources for self-directed practice
DAILY ONLINE DEVOTIONAL WITH PERSONAL EXERCISES
Sacred Space is a beautiful website hosted by the Jesuits in Ireland that offers daily scripture along with prompting questions to reflect on the text. Prayer and praise are gently suggested as well.
Sacred Space is also available as a smartphone app for both Apple and Android products.
LECTIO DIVINA
Lectio Divina (literally divine reading) is a way of becoming immersed in the scriptures very personally. A scripture passage is read four times in total, giving an opportunity to think deeply about it and respond thoughtfully. When we practice Lectio Divina, we can imagine we’re actually involved in the events of scripture — for example, hearing God’s words to the Israelites in the desert. It’s an intensely personal experience. It’s probably best to allow 20-30 minutes to work through this practice on each occasion.
bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/lectio-divina-beginners-guide
VISIO DIVINA
For those of us who are visual learners, there are reflective ways of meditating on art and images that may guide us into spiritual communion with God. The Upper Room provides simple suggestions for this practice with any image of your choice at: upperroom.org/resources/visio-divina
The Upper Room also offers “Sight Psalms,” a daily photo inspiration intended to help people reflect on God’s presence in the world and in their lives through the use of images. Each day, a new photograph is posted to evoke reflection and inspiration within themes connected to the Christian year, and it is usually accompanied by a few words. upperroom.org/sight_psalms
DAILY VISUAL REFLECTION
Dirk deVries has a passion for poetry and photography he shares daily on his website, "where spirit and image merge." His photos include nature, architecture, his beloved cats, and other things that catch his eye and lens. His poems are about discernment, seeking God, and finding one's place in the world.
www.the60secondsabbath.com
The founder of The Transforming Center near Chicago, Ruth Haley Barton introduces spiritual practices that help us become more open to the transforming work of God within us. You can purchase the book at Amazon by clicking HERE.
IN-DEPTH ONLINE LEARNING
Eastern University (an American Baptist school) offers a semester of 15-20 minute video lectures introducing Christian spirituality and practices. Presentations sparkle with current life stories interfaced with scriptural teachings. Each of the compelling 22 sessions is 15 minutes in length. Cost: Free.
www.renovare.org/messages/by-series/foundations
SELF-DIRECTED ONLINE LEARNING
(an e-learning course)
Are you soul-weary? Do you struggle to make time for God in the midst of a packed schedule? Or do you sometimes stay so busy doing things for God that you can't relax and just "be"? The Cycle of Grace is a rhythm that allows for rest and renewal keeping us deeply rooted in God's love even as we work hard. The Cycle of Grace is an e-learning course from the Upper Room. It is a series of lecture presentations. You register and pay $16 to receive access to the video presentations, and then respond to suggested exercises at your own pace. Self-guided means there’s no work to submit.
urelearning.upperroom.org/p/the-cycle-of-grace
GREAT FOR GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL STUDY ON SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
JAMES BRYAN SMITH’S book will help you discover the narratives
that Jesus lived by - to know the Lord he knew and the kingdom he proclaimed - and practice spiritual exercises that will help you grow in the knowledge of our good and beautiful God. It’s available through booksellers.
BRIAN McLAREN’S thoughtful book provides a full year of weekly
readings for exploring what a difference an honest, living, growing faith can make in our lives and in our world. Over 52 weeks, the reader will get an overview of the whole Bible while experiencing a fresh encounter with faith through simple spiritual practices. Available through booksellers.