Spiritual Direction: A Ministry for Spiritual Formation
“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”—Romans 8:29 (ESV)
At OakHaven, one of the services we offer is spiritual direction. In a sense, we like to think of it as proactive soul care. Our biblical counseling services offer soul care in areas of hardship or suffering. Spiritual direction may look similar but is generally taking place before crisis hits.
Spiritual direction is a ministry of compassionate presence and deep listening, in which together we seek to discern the Spirit’s invitations and see God’s hand at work in the life of a Christian. Ministry leaders might request spiritual direction in seasons of wrestling with decisions or transition, or they might simply desire a safe space to process whatever is happening in their life or ministry.
Historically, spiritual direction has often been connected with the Roman Catholic tradition, and as such has sometimes emphasized subjective, even mystical, practices that diverge from an evangelical or Reformed understanding. For that reason, we thought it might be helpful to explain how OakHaven is viewing the practice of spiritual direction from a distinctively Reformed perspective.
To do so, we’ll first take a step back and consider the bigger picture of spiritual formation, and then consider how spiritual direction can connect as a part of a Christian’s journey of being formed into the image of Christ.
Some Definitions
A couple brief definitions at the outset:
Spiritual formation, at its simplest, is the process by which Christians cooperate with the Spirit’s work of forming us into Christ’s likeness (Rom. 8:29). In his book, A Heart Aflame for God: A Reformed Approach to Spiritual Formation, Matthew Bingham defines it as the “conscious process by which we seek to heighten and satisfy our Spirit-given thirst for God” through the means God has provided (namely Scripture, prayer, and meditation), as we grow into maturity in Christ (Col. 1:28).
Spiritual direction is a ministry that helps believers become more aware of the Spirit’s work in them, so that they can more actively cooperate in that larger process of their spiritual formation.
Just as in biblical counseling we believe that Christ is the Wonderful Counselor (Is. 9:6) and our primary job as counselors is to point those we care for toward Christ, so also in spiritual direction the Spirit of God is the Director (Rom. 8:26-27) and we are simply seeking to listen well to the Spirit as we listen and gently minister to the person in front of us. The term “spiritual director” might be a bit of a misnomer, then, because we are doing very little directing, but primarily are listening prayerfully and asking questions to help a person notice and respond to the Spirit’s work in them.
Scriptural Foundation
Even if the ministry of spiritual direction is unfamiliar to you, we hope you consider Scripture’s repeated admonitions (especially in Proverbs) to invite counsel from others for our next steps (Prov. 11:14, 15:22, 19:20, 20:18, 24:6) as well as for correction and insight (Prov. 12:15, 13:10, 27:6). Ecclesiastes tells us that two are better than one because we can pick each other up when we fall (4:9-10).
The New Testament likewise encourages faithful believers to teach and admonish one another in all wisdom (Col. 3:16), exhorting one another as a protection against sin (Heb. 3:12-13). And when sin or suffering inevitably intrudes, we come alongside to address that sin and bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:1-2). Spiritual direction is one way that these kinds of one-another care can happen in our journey of spiritual formation.
OakHaven’s Approach
We all—ministry leaders included—are in the process of sanctification. The Spirit is doing His formative work in each of us, regardless of our role in the body of Christ, transforming us from one degree of glory to another (2 Cor. 3:18). Leadership roles in ministry do not sanctify us or make us more holy than our brothers and sisters in Christ who work in secular fields. All of us as believers are both saved and sanctified by the same grace of Christ.
While most ministry leaders recognize these realities, many do not know where they can go to find the kind of care for their soul that they need. That is where OakHaven hopes to come alongside and provide the care that might otherwise be lacking, whether that is spiritual direction or biblical counseling.
The difference may just be the starting point. For some, it is the pain of suffering or the struggle with sin that brings them in to seek biblical counseling. For others, it may simply be the desire to have a more seasoned ministry leader walk alongside them as they process their life and relationship with Christ through spiritual direction. Both are concentrated seasons of spiritual growth for a period of time with the help of another.
Our approach will, as Bingham describes in the book referenced above, focus on the “Reformation triangle” of Scripture, prayer, and meditation as we come alongside to listen and care for a leader’s soul. Our primary aim will always be to point ministry leaders to Christ and the Gospel through the riches of Scripture, as we depend on God through prayer. In this way we hope that we can help leaders deepen their faith as the Spirit forms Christ in them one increment at a time.
Our Resources
Maybe God has given you a sabbatical, a time to step back and take a fresh look at what’s happening in life and ministry. Perhaps you’re in an especially intense season of ministry and you feel like your relationship with Christ is eroding through the grueling work and long hours. Or maybe you just feel “stuck” in your faith and are not sure why.
Any of these could be good reasons to enter a season of spiritual direction. So if you are interested in learning more, please head over to our Soul Care page where you can fill out an interest form and request a complementary discovery call.