Help Discern my Journey: Draw Me Closer to God By: Amelia Danielik Campbell
Table of Contents Introduction i Session 1: God Speaks Do I Listen?...3 Session 2: Who am I? Whose am I?...7 Session 3: God Speaks, I answer, Here I Am! 11 Session 4: Spiritual Gifts: Do I Have Any?...15 Session 5: Making Life Decisions and Choices 19 Session 6: Moving Forward with God..23 Conclusions
Introduction This guide is a companion to: www. http://discernthejourney.weebly.com/ The next six sessions of this guide and journal are intended to assist you in developing daily spiritual practices that connect your life with the divine living God. These sessions are designed to walk participants through a period of becoming aware. God speaks in all manner of forms. Some of the questions I often ask revolve around the concept of listening intently. Are we listening and are we able to hear God speaking into our daily lives? These are not new concepts, just ones that we who call ourselves Christians must continue to ask. By using the technique of studying scripture combined with spiritual practice and journaling it is my hope that you will gain some sense of self- awareness and connection to God on a more personal level. That you will be filled with awe, fascination and wonder in your daily life, and that this will draw you ever closer to a savior named Jesus, making each of your days more purpose filled and satisfying. The basic thought behind each of these group sessions, is to allow young people an opportunity for Christian community, where they are supported and encouraged to seek out God. The sessions are designed to be done over a six- week period, where the group meets once a week. A facilitator or group coordinator can be assigned, or the group can decide to take responsibility for oversight of the community themselves. The sessions are designed to assist in the development of regular spiritual practice that connects the individual with the Living God, as well as community. In addition, it is hoped that these sessions will help the participants understand themselves, their gifts, talents, passions and yearnings more deeply. The end goal of these sessions is not to have completed the task, but to continue along the journey and find ways to mesh our faith and spiritual lives with the life of our work and community.
Each session will consist of: (1) A spiritual practice (2) Journal time (3) Check in time (4) Bible Reading and discussion (5) Take home
Session 1 God Speaks Do I Listen? Listen as though your life depended on it. It does. The Art of Pilgrimage Today we will explore the Practice of Presence. Often times we are preoccupied with all that is going on around us that we are not truly present to the moments as they pass by. The practice of presence is one that helps us to see inside each moment and enjoy the here and now. In order to practice being present, sit (or stand) with an awareness of your surroundings. Feel the chair supporting you from underneath. Feel the floor under your feet pressing against you. Close your eyes and be present to your arms, legs, fingers and toes. Fell the surrounding air against your skin. Breathe deeply and allow yourself to just be. This practice can be used throughout your day and the places that your activities take you. Practice being present when you are speaking with and interacting with others. Use all of your senses to be present to the world around you. Make moments for being present throughout your day and invite God into these small little retreats with you. Journal: 1. Write down one question that you would like God to speak to in your life. 2. Write about a time when you heard (or thought you heard) God speak to you.
Check in time: Share with the group how you are feeling about asking God to speak into your life Read 1 Samuel 3:1-10 Discussion Questions: (1) Why do you think Samuel didn'ʹt automatically know that it was God that was calling him? (2) Have you ever experienced a time when others were pointing you in God'ʹs direction? (3) What if Samuel had not responded to God to the third time? Do you think God would have called a 4th, 40th or 400th time? (4) What does Samuel mean when he responds, "ʺI am here"ʺ? Take home: Try to plan at least 10 minutes each day to practice being present. Ask God to speak to you.
Session 2 Who am I? Whose am I? We may be little, insignificant servants in the eyes of a world motivated by efficiency, control and success. But when we realize that God has chosen us from all eternity, sent us into the world as the blessed ones, handed us over to suffering, can'ʹt we, then, also trust that our little lives will multiply themselves and be able to fulfill the needs of countless people? Henri J.M. Nouwen, Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World Today we will explore the Practice of Silence. The practice of silence may seem very simple, but is often challenging to be immersed within. In order to practice silence, find yourself in a comfortable place and position where there is little or no distraction and outside noise. Offer a prayer and invite the Holy Spirit to strengthen you towards the end of silence. Quiet your mind and body and allow your thoughts to melt away. Be still, be silent and just be. Journal: Write a love note to yourself from God. What would God say to you? How much does God love you?
Check in time: Share about using the spiritual practice of being present. Have you felt closer or farther from God? Read Psalm 139 Discussion Questions: (1) What are your impressions as to how much David felt that God valued him? (2) How much does God value you? (3) Considering the immeasurable love God has for us, why do we try to
hide from God? (4) What are we afraid of? (5) What are ways we can meet and commune with God? Take home: Pray Psalm 139 each day
Session 3 Gods Speaks, I answer, Here I Am! I know God will not give me anything I can'ʹt handle. I just wish that He didn'ʹt trust me so much. ~Mother Teresa Today we will explore the Practice of Centering Prayer. The practice of centering prayer is fairly simple and yet can be very challenging and beneficial. Once again you find yourself in a comfortable spot, which is as free as possible from distraction. Choose a word or phrase that is sacred to you. The word doesn'ʹt necessarily need to be a "ʺchurchy"ʺ word; if it helps you may close your eyes. Repeat the sacred word or phrase mentally and allow yourself to drift to a state of being that is inviting to the divine presence. When your thoughts drift from being in unity with the divine, use your sacred word or phrase to bring you back to consciousness of the divine. Journal: Over the last few weeks have you noticed God nudging or speaking to you? What do you hear God saying? If you haven'ʹt heard God, what would you like to hear?
Check in time: Share a moment from the week when you felt treasured by God
Read Luke 1:26-38 Discussion Questions: (1) How quickly are you to respond to someone when asked to do something? (2) In this reading, Mary responds similarly to Samuel. She says, "ʺHere am I."ʺ What would it mean for you to respond to God in this way? (3) What do you fear that God will ask you to do if your only response was Here I am? (4) Is there anything you should be saying yes to in your life? What about no to? Take home: Use the spiritual practice from this week'ʹs group session.
Session 4 Spiritual Gifts. Do I have any? God enters by a private door into each individual. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson Today we will explore the practice of Lectio Divina using Ephesians 4:11-16 Lectio Devina is a way to pray using the scriptures to speak to yourself. It can be done individually or as a group. For the purpose of group session 4, it will be done in a group setting. When using the scripture, one may use different versions of the scripture passage during each new reading, or use the same version. A prayer is offered to invite the Holy Spirit to use the scripture and the space to speak to those who are participating One person from the group read the scripture through once. As you listen to the reading, make a mental note of any word or phrase that seems to stick out. Following the first reading of the scripture there is a moment of silence and then the group is allowed to share their word or phrase without discussion. A second reader reads the scripture, allowing members to take note of any word or phrase that speaks to them, a moment of silence is held and then members are invited to speak aloud the word or phrase they heard God speak to them. A third reader reads the scripture and then silence and then sharing. The time is closed with The Lord'ʹs Prayer
If the group wishes they are invited to share their feeling or thoughts about the process Journal: Write about what you heard God saying to you in the scripture.
Check in time: If you had to name only one thing that you are good at what would it be and why? Read 1 Corinthians 12 Discussion Questions: (1) Has any ever told you that you were talented in a specific area, or do you feel like you were made to do something in particular? (2) What activities do you enjoy most? What makes your heart sing? (3) Have you ever worked as part of a group? What gift did you bring to the team or group? (4) How might you be able to be a part of the greater body of Christ? Take home: Take the spiritual gifts identification test found at http://www.spiritualgiftstest.com/test/youth
Session 5 Making Life Decisions and Choices People see God every day, they just don'ʹt recognize him. ~Pearl Bailey Today we will explore the practice of using Icons. Pick an icon to use for reflection. In this form of spiritual practice, we will want to use our sense of vision. Praying with icons is a way to quiet our minds and focus our attention on the divine. When we use icons to pray, we are not praying to the picture, we are praying to the Living God who has saved and redeemed us. Using icons can allow us to see God in the faces of everyday people whom we live, work and play with. To begin, settle yourself and bring your icon with you, or sit in a spot where you are able to see your icon. Before beginning you may want to light a candle, however, this is not necessary. Begin to focus on the icon and offer a prayer to begin your practice. As you sit in thought focus on the icon and search for the divine. Notice the nuances in the colors and ask God what he is saying to you through the icon. Journal: Write about what you saw in the icons. Did God speak to you during this time of prayer. Would you use icons in you daily practice, why or why not?
Check in time: Which one of the spiritual practices have you enjoyed most? Least? Read: Proverbs 3:1-12 Discussion Questions: (1) When you make decisions, whose insight are you likely to ask? (2) What does it mean for you to honor God? What do you do in your life that honors God? (3) Where have you paths been straight? Where have then been crooked? Take home: Find a picture or icon that inspires you and use it each day during a time of silence and talking to God.
Session 6 Moving Forward with God Try to keep your soul always in peace and quiet, always ready for whatever our Lord may wish to work in you. It is certainly a higher virtue of the soul, and a greater grace, to be able to enjoy the Lord in different times and different places than in only one. Saint Ignatius Today we will explore the practice of clearness. We will not be able to hold what is called a Clearness Committee in its actual framework, due to time and possibly the group'ʹs knowledge of the process. What we will do is to call on our inner wisdom as we pray for the question that was written down during the first session in our journals. The group may pair off or group off, or may remain as one large group depending upon the time allotted and the number of people who will want to speak. This session is voluntary, only those who wish to offer their initial questions will be asked to do so. No one will be forced or urged to share if they are not ready. The group may want to set a time frame for the practice, and ask one member to keep them aware of when the time is coming to a close. The group begins in silence The silence is broken when one person shares their question and any background information that may be required Open- ended questions may be asked for clarity. Questions should not be leading or give advice. Allow space for silence. Journal: Write about some issue that you are having that you need direction or guidance on.
Check in time: Share what you may have gained by taking the spiritual gifts identification. Read: Philippians 3:12-21 Discussion Questions: (1) What does the phrase call of God mean to you? (2) What is your next big goal or hurdle? (3) How has it felt when you have completed a big project or goal? (4) How has it felt when you have failed to reach some goal you or others may have set for you? (5) What would it look like to imitate Christ in your life? Take home: Find someone whom you trust and ask them to walk with you along your spiritual journey for the next year. This person would be someone you look up to and who is grounded in his or her Christian faith. Check in with this person at least monthly. Try keeping a prayer journal and using some of the spiritual practices that you have experienced during these sessions. Search out additional spiritual practices that may be of interest to you.