Biblical Perspectives in Spiritual Direction: What is an Experience of God?
Lifestyle, spiritual direction, Spirituality
In spiritual direction, we explore a person’s experience of God. What we discover is that God loves showing up in really diverse ways! Don’t ever let anyone tell you that an experience of the Spirit always or only happens in a way they find acceptable. Just look at all these ways we find people in the Bible encountering God.
Jacob’s dream at Bethel. Genesis 28: 10-17. This is Jacob’s first experience of God, and it includes a promise. God makes no request of Jacob, and simply promises to be with him. Are your dreams a source of information from God? What has God promised you?
Hebrew midwives feared God.Exodus 1: 8-22. Shiphrah and Puah are ordered, by the King of Egypt, to kill all the Hebrew baby boys at their births. But the two women trusted God and not the king, and cleverly lied their way out of a horrific situation. This is not an example of God speaking directly to a human, but of a human response to evil based on great faith in God. How does your faith determine your loyalties?
Moses’ Call and Conversation with God. Exodus Chapters 3 and 4. God hears the misery of the Hebrew people and visits Moses, commanding him to lead his people out of slavery. Moses resists God in many ways, and at each turn, God provides what Moses needs — even when God gets peeved at Moses for saying “Please — send someone else.” How has God provided you with what you need to do what God asks of you?
Spiritual director with over 20 years of experience helping people explore their spiritual path. Received Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction in 2000 from San Francisco Theological Seminary. Currently running the Apprentice Training Program in Spiritual Direction for the Phoenix Center for Spiritual Direction.
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