Developing a Personal Spiritual Practice
Personal Spiritual Practices
Recently in a First Baptist staff meeting, I asked those present to tell about their personal spiritual practices.
Often when you get people together in church and ask that kind of question many people pretend to be as holy as possible. Not this group!
The spirituality they revealed was imperfect and genuine, like most people really are.
Their experiences included journaling, reading published devotions, meditation, gardening, walking in the park, birdwatching, and discussing scripture with others.
What is clear to me is that God is present with people in whatever way each person is open to encounter God’s presence, whether in community, in nature, or in solitude.
After all, the purpose of spiritual practice is to open ourselves to become aware of the presence of God with us. Your spiritual practice can and should be as unique as you are. God will be with you.
My Personal Spiritual Practice
Here is what my personal spiritual practice looks like. My practices vary with my mood or my schedule. They are imperfect and inconsistent, but often create an environment in which I experience God’s presence.
1. Morning Meditations
First, I usually wake early in the morning. After I have my coffee (!), I read the morning email meditations from Richard Rohr, Center for Action and Contemplation, and Henri Nouwen. These are two very different spiritual writers who each help me see God in a different way. Those contemplative, silent moments with my iPad as the sun comes up, help to center my spirit before the activity of the day.
2. Walking and Prayer
After the sun is up I walk to a neighborhood park and walk laps, crossing a gurgling creek in my pathway.
As I walk I often pray a breath prayer, such as “breathe on me, breath of God,” or “do not be afraid, I am with you,” or “be still, know God.” The breath prayer keeps my mind centered and open to hearing God’s Spirit.
A breath prayer also reduces stress when I’m driving to the office in traffic.
3. Journaling
Some days when I have more time I will journal what is going on with me, doing inner spiritual work.
4. Observation
When I’m working at home, like today, the view from my window allows me to encounter God through nature. I see trees, birds, squirrels, hawks, and deer. Today I’m watching a small, very patient black snake that climbed through the back porch gutter drain to try to catch birds on the birdfeeder.
God is near.
5. Writing
Writing is part of my ministry and is a spiritual practice. Sometimes when I begin working on a sermon I will pray a lectio divina (praying the scripture) with the text I am using. I often find worship planning to be a spiritual practice as I select hymns, prayers, and other worship elements.
6. Reading
In the evening, if my spirit is centered, I will sometimes read a book on spirituality, again, Rohr and Nouwen are two of my favorites.
If I am distracted though, I tend to read the news which usually triggers and feeds my shadow side. I like to be informed, but there is so much unhealthy information disguised as news.
I have tried to begin an evening journal habit, using an Ignatian practice called Examen, but I haven’t yet made it a habit.
Your Spiritual Practice Will Shift
My spiritual practice comes and goes in seasons, but I find that in the times I most need to be aware of God’s presence with me, I’m more consistent in my practice.
Your practice will be as unique as you are.
I encourage you to find a practice or two that best helps you to become aware of God’s presence with you.
Prayer
God who is near to us, help us to draw near to you. Remind us that it is your presence that feeds our souls, strengthens our spirits, lifts our hearts.
Our lives can be noisy and fast, full of people, needs, and responsibilities. It is good work you have called us to, but it can leave our souls empty and dry. Our souls thirst for you, for the living waters of your Spirit.
Call us to turn off the noise, to slow our pace, to go to the mountain away from the crowds, that we may know the refreshing waters of your presence. Restore our souls once again.
In your presence, we find the grace and peace in which we pray today, Amen.
Greg Smith, Director of Legacy Ministry, First Baptist Church Decatur