It’s easy to overlook the obvious, that spiritual leadership needs to be spiritual. Obviously that means we really need to be spiritual people. Personally, I do a good job of setting aside time to develop this, but I also have the tendency to get into ruts. I know some develop a “rule of life” to keep them on track with regular spiritual practices, and I know this will look different for everyone, but I would love to hear what some of you are doing that has been helpful to maintaining your personal spiritual life.  What do you do to spiritually replenish your soul?“

First, I make sure I always try to seek out God in the world around me. 

Second, I have to have people hold me accountable.  Lunches have become sacred times for me. A while back I made the choice to never hide from my friends and mentors, and these little lunches give me chances to be open and honest.  Mostly we just joke around about, but it also lets us share our hearts.  Having brutally authentic relationships are huge. 

Third, I podcast.  Their are several churches that I hugely respect, every-time I am there in person or listen online God blesses me.  Listening to their sermons lift me up and help me re-open my eyes to the message of the Gospel.

I agree with Mr. Bradon. Accountability with trusted godly friends and being transparent with them is a big key for me.
I was reading this morning in 2 Samuel about the time Joab confronted King David about his behavior. Being able to tell the truth to another person without hiding behind a facade of “looking nice” is difficult, but makes it possible to have a close, intimate walk with God. I can be in denial about the state of my own heart, but if I know I have people I can be transparent with, and know they love me enough to tell me the hard truths, I am able then to stay in close communion with the Lord and stay in reality. Thank God I have Nathans and Joabs in my life who will do that!

How do we maintain strong relationships on a daily bases?  We spend time in conversation and with doing things with the person we love.  I do the same in my spiritual practices with my Lord.  In Psalms we see David walking daily in his relationship with God.  We read how he depended on God to guide him.  As we read through the Old Testament we see how that relationship deepened and grew to the point where David is described as a man after God’s own heart.  For years it troubled me how this man could be described as one “after God’s own heart”.  Consider all that he was guilty of … Why?  Then it hit me … it was because of his daily walk with the Holy One.  We are only men like David … we too can be men after God’s own heart in our daily spiritual practice of communing with the same Holy One.  Without looking over my shoulder I am reminded daily of His guiding hand in my life every moment.  He is right there with me.  We carry on moment by moment conversations as I travel through this Life.  I have been diagnosed with Cancer … He is right there with me every moment of this walk down this path.  He is my strength, He is my very life, He is my next breath.

This year in Mission Alive we are developing a process of spiritual direction for each of our church plantings.  Tod Vogt, our Director of Planter Equipping, is going through Shalem, the ministry that has nurtured the spiritual formation ministry of Zoe.  Shalem is ecumenical but helpful in helping us sort our priorities and directions.  Note http://www.shalem.org/index.php/extension-programs/clergy-spiritual-life-and-leadership. My wife Becky and I are currently reading Marjorie Thompson’s Soul Feast:  An Invitation to Christian Spiritual Life.  We have found it to be an exceptional book defining patterns of Christian spiritual formation.

Marvin,

THIS question is right on point, and close to my heart—- and apparently a hot topic among Christian leaders.  I would call it ‘an idea whose time has RETURNED.“  It seems to be asked in several forms right here on ‘Swap Shop.‘

Great contributions gang.  Especially like Gaylon’s suggestion. In addition, here are a couple of directions that I would reach:  They are also suggested by Jimmy Adcox - and others.

• ZOE Growing Deeper Spiritually Program.  This one year program includes spiritual retreats and spiritual direction to help you go deeper in the discipline and practice of Christian spirituality. This program is led by Jackie Halstead, Randy Harris, Gary Holloway, and Rhonda Lowry.  For those who have completed this program, there is a also a year long program on Spiritual Direction to provide training to assist others in their spiritual growth.

  http://www.wineskins.org/page.asp?SID=1&Page=247

•  The Transforming Center.  Led by Ruth Haley Barton, The Transforming Center provides resources, retreats, and direction for ministers to guide them in spiritual practice, to strengthen the soul of their leadership, and to help them lead their churches to become places of spiritual transformation.

  http://www.thetransformingcenter.org

I hope this at least ‘primes the pump.‘

What are you finding helpful ?

Blessing on the journey,

Lynn

PROFILE
PM

Marvin
I too over the years have been able to do a decent job of setting aside time for personal spiritual development. Some of those times have seemed like I’ve been in a rut too. Let me share a practice that has really stretched and blessed me in the past several months. This comes straight from Lynn’s, They Smell Like Sheep Volume 2. The whole book is a powerful resource for spiritual development but the one thing that I have actually put into practice and found to richly bless me is the practice of praying and memorizing the Psalms. In my daily devotional time (5 or 6 days a week) I do two things.
1.  I read a new Psalm, try to understand it, pray it for myself, and pray it for someone else.
2.  I memorize one verse from a Psalm each day until I have the entire Psalm memorized.
Spending weeks memorizing a Psalm has been a tremendous blessing. Coming to a richer understanding of the Psalms has been powerful but the greatest blessing has been the impact on my prayer life. The Psalms have taken me to places my prayer life hasn’t gone before.
What I love about this discipline is that although I do the same thing every day it doesn’t at all feel like a ‘rut’. In the past I have neglected memorizing, not wanting to feed my ego. What I think set me on to the work of memorizing in particular has been the understanding that this is a discipline that Jesus himself practiced. In his greatest trial the Psalms were found on his lips.
Lee