Listening to God Begins with Having a Spiritual Plan
BECKY ELDREDGE
As ministry leaders, we deeply desire to hear God’s voice so we can do what God is asking of us individually and communally. To listen to God, it is important that we create a spiritual plan that anchors our lives, including our ministries, in our relationship with God.
VITAL ELEMENTS OF A SPIRITUAL PLAN:
- Daily Personal Prayer Time
Spending time every day in prayer grows our intimacy with God. It helps us come to know God personally and to share the totality of our life with God. Prayer opens our hearts, ears, eyes, and minds to listen for God throughout the rest of our day. - Immersion in the Living Word of God
Coming to know God’s voice starts with praying with God’s Word. Scripture is called the Living Word of God because it is alive. It reads our lives and our hearts. Knowing God in the Word helps tune our ears and hearts to the way God moves throughout salvation history, to what God sounds like, and to how God acts. - Active Participation in the Communal Life of the Church
Listening to God happens not only in our personal prayer but also in our prayers as communities of faith. The sacraments gift us with special graces that nourish us and keep us open and free to hear God’s voice and follow it. God speaks not only to us in our personal prayer but also through the Church. - Living and Leading a Life of Discernment
Our Catholic Tradition holds discernment wisdom on how to hear God’s voice. Listening for the movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives can be done both individually and communally. Discernment also invites us to be aware of the movements of the false spirit so we are able to reject his temptations. As ministry leaders, it is important for our spiritual lives to include an expanding understanding of discernment of spirits and how to hear God’s call for us individually and as a community.
Each of these elements of a spiritual plan prepare our hearts as ministry leaders to be able to hear God’s voice and to respond to God’s invitations. A spiritual plan helps us listen to God in our own lives and in our ministries.
SPIRITUAL DIRECTION: GIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF ACCOMPANIMENT!
Spiritual direction deepens your interior life, tunes your ear to God’s voice, and invigorates your ministry by helping you discern how you are being called to know, to love, to follow and to serve Christ. Giving yourself this gift of monthly accompaniment will keep your ministry vibrant as the Holy Spirit always invites us into a deeper imitation of Christ. To find the right spiritual director for you:
PRAY to find the right holy listener to accompany you.
GATHER possible names from people and organizations you trust, such as your diocese, parish, religious orders, or retreat houses in your area.
SEEK spiritual directors who have Catholic theology formation, who went through a formal spiritual direction training program, who are people of prayer and discernment, and who actively participate in the life of the Church.
CONNECT with two to three spiritual directors to find a good fit for your faith life and ministry.
COMMIT to meeting once a month to grow deeper in your faith.
About the writer:
Becky Eldredge is an Ignatian-trained spiritual director, retreat facilitator, author of two award-winning books, and founder of Ignatian Ministries.
