What are the possible benefits of receiving spiritual direction?

Offering spiritual direction can sometimes feel like a long, slow, patient work.  Ponder these often hidden benefits from Jeannette Bakke, who also reminds us to not grow weary in your well doing!  Click for more information about Christos’s Tending the Holy Spiritual Direction program, including free upcoming online Come and See information sessions.

Excerpts are from Holy Invitations by Jeannette Bakke, Chap. 6. Click here for more about Jeannette.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Gal 6:9

• Many notice a development of their awareness, appreciation, and trust, and that they seem to respond more frequently out of their connection to God, Scripture, and prayer.

• After participating in spiritual direction for a while, we may be surprised at how often we notice God’s presence.

• More of life finds its way into conscious prayer, and more choices are rooted in prayer.

• The still, small voice of the Holy Spirit becomes easier to hear and separate from other voices.

• Our growing awareness helps us recognize when and why we become uncomfortable, anxious, or unsettled.

• We grow in our willingness to be uncomfortable for God’s sake in order that we might become more like Christ

• We grow more attuned to the true self God has created and called us to be, and receptive to grace

• Through spiritual direction we may become more aware of the comforting, sustaining love and presence of God.

• We may feel closer to God because we see evidence of our trust of and eagerness, desire, and love for God through our conversations with a spiritual director.

• As we participate in spiritual direction, we often let go of our need to pretend we are perfect, as our flawed humanity and God’s generous love and continuing care are revealed.

• God’s invitations become more obvious when we listen intentionally in spiritual direction.

• As we participate in spiritual direction, we grow in willingness- willingness to listen to the Spirit, willingness to surrender our ways in favor of God’s ways, and willingness to wait when we are unsure what God is saying.

• It becomes easier to recognize truth when we pay attention to information in a prayerful context that encourages discernment.

• Speaking to a spiritual director about our experience with God and our perceptions of life in general helps us remember and consider how God is with us.

• As we develop spiritually through participation in spiritual direction, we notice that God’s desires for us do not go unchallenged.

• God uses spiritual direction to develop our awareness, which in turn affects our ability to recognize God in ourselves, others, and the world.

• Through spiritual direction, we focus our attention less on our own concerns and become more attuned to God’s loving presence.

• We may notice we are expressing kinder attitudes toward ourselves.

• It may seem as though we move through transitions more rapidly or easily when we are taking part in spiritual direction.

Jeannette Bakke is author of Holy Invitations, educator and faculty member for Christos’ Tending the Holy Spiritual Direction program.