Spiritual Direction
What is Spiritual Direction?
Spiritual direction is a way of prayer, one of many approaches to talking and listening with God. But in this prayer practice another person—a spiritual director—assists you in releasing your stories and questions to God and then helps you to hear God’s responses more clearly.
A spiritual director, with questions and with silence, in complete confidentiality helps us to perceive the new thing God yearns to bring forth in our lives. And with this awareness we may envision what we are invited to do and who we are invited to become to cooperate with God’s desires.
Spiritual Direction May Be For You If You . . .
. . . long to feel closer to God
. . . thirst for a more fulfilling prayer life
. . . desire to explore the meaning of perplexing spiritual experiences
. . . search for fresh ways to pray, meditate, or practice spiritual disciplines
. . . seek to understand God seems silence or absence
Finding a Spiritual Director
Certified Spiritual directors can serve as your prayer partners, mentors, confidants, soul friends, teachers, and encouragers. They have developed ears to hear both you and God. They have studied spirituality, theology, and writings on the spiritual life, both ancient and contemporary. Their own passion for the Holy One leads them to engage in spiritual practices as well as explore their faith with their own spiritual directors.
The Center for Ministry maintains a registry of spiritual directors certified through our two-year Journey Partners program as well as other trained directors. For more information about Spiritual Direction or assistance in connecting with a Spiritual Director, please email Jane Watts, spiritual formation consultant of the Center for Ministry.
Another helpful resource is the Seek and Find Guide published by Spiritual Directors International.