Spiritual
Development
Spiritual development is individualized guidance and training for strengthening
one's personal relationship with God. The practices that support this
development include journaling, meditation, and prayer. Spiritual directors
work with clients as they seek to discern God's will for their lives.
The spiritual director is an experienced Christian who shares his or her
life of prayer and acts as a companion and guide who is familiar with
the pain, the pitfalls and the promise.
Spiritual development differs from counseling in that the person seeking
direction may not be experiencing a psychological crisis. A Christian
seeks a spiritual director when he or she feels a call to grow spiritually
and is not sure how to proceed. Sometimes the need for direction manifests
itself as restlessness or dissatisfaction with the usual devotional practice.
Sometimes, the person feels that God is calling for a deeper or different
kind of commitment and is not sure what the Spirit is saying or how to
respond. At these times of uncertainty, a director can reduce the sense
of
confusion and provide guidance.
In some cases, the spiritual director may suggest a period of psychological
therapy if there are deep hurts from broken relationships that impede
progress with God. This therapy provides insight which is needed for growth
in the spiritual walk of the individual. The holistic therapist will not
ignore the importance of spiritual growth in the life of a committed Christian
client. The therapist will help the client understand how the insights
he or she gains from therapy relate to his or her relationship with God.
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