Since the fall of 2020, I have been on a steep learning curve in spiritual formation. That is, I have intentionally engaged in the process of learning from the Desert Fathers, Mothers, and influential Jesus followers—ancient practices that have survived the crucible of time. Part of that journey has been engaging in the Ignatian Exercises with a spiritual director.
The purpose of the Ignatian Exercises is for spiritual discernment in making decisions.
Aren’t The Exercises outdated?
Though Ignatius lived over 470 years ago, his life and the spiritual insights he gained have stood the test of time. They have been critiqued, criticized, and discounted; however, they have been passed down through the generations. My experience is that this is a tool that has helped me engage in my spiritual formation, so I want to share it with you!
But I’ve heard they’re problematic…
You’re right, there are some things to consider:
It’s a bit “old school”: Ignatius was a soldier, so his orientation to spirituality is coming from a male perspective and specifically from the view of a young man who was seriously injured in battle, convalescing, and reflecting on his life. During that time he read two influential books: Ludolph the Carthusian’s Life of Christ and Jacobus de Voragine’s The Book of the Lives of the Saints. If you would like more background on Ignatius, I recommend reading the brief biography of Journey with Jesus by Larry Warner.
It has a Catholic vibe: Ignatius was Catholic, so there are references to saints and certain Catholic beliefs, but you can adapt it to your own faith journey. Think of it as using a framework that you personalize and adapt to evangelical theology.
It’s structured: Some people find that too rigid, but let’s be honest, most of us could use a little more structure in our spiritual lives. It’s like having a map when you’re lost.
It uses imagination: Yes, you’ll be asked to imagine scenes from the Bible or your own life. Some worry that this is dangerous, but when done in the context of scripture, it can be a powerful tool to connect with your faith.
Why is this helpful?
When making decisions, it is helpful to have a process that has a strong discernment component embedded in it to engage the mind and the soul. You are probably familiar with secular decision-making processes such as the decision-making tree, writing a list of pros vs. cons, or various prioritization exercises. I have discovered that when I only use my mind, I run the risk of missing out on other aspects God wants me to engage to gain the greatest benefit.
I wrote a blog entitled How to Make a Prayerful Decision that outlines the process I adapted, with the help of my spiritual director.
7 Benefits of Spiritual Discernment When Making Decisions
It helps you stay curious. Instead of thinking you know everything, you’re open to new ideas.
It helps you consider all your options. You don’t just jump at the first thing that comes to mind.
It helps you stay focused. You don’t get sidetracked by distractions.
It encourages you to ask for help. You don’t have to do it alone.
It helps you seek what’s truly best. Not just what’s easy or convenient.
It helps you stay humble. You remember that you’re not in control.
Lent Challenge – Week 3 of Lent!
As we journey through the weeks leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion and eventual resurrection, I will draw from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. The exercises have helped me and many, many others throughout church history to listen to and discern the voice of the Holy Spirit, especially when discerning direction.
I invite you to consider the “grace” (or “prayer of intent”) for this week:
“The grace you are seeking is to sorrow with Christ in sorrow, anguish with Christ in anguish, with tears and interior suffering because of the suffering Christ endured for you.”
St. Ignatius (1491-1556)
May I suggest you read through the following passages on this schedule beginning next Monday:
Day 1 – Matthew 26:57-68
Day 2 – Matthew 26:69-75
Day 3 – Luke 23:1-7
Day 4 – Review the past three days.
Day 5 – Luke 23:8-12
Day 6 – Luke 23:13-25
Day 7 – Review the past week.
* Journey with Jesus by Larry Warner
The invitation the Lord presents is to simply carve out time for Him. That is really the essence of spiritual formation. Being intentional. It is up to you to take the next step.
“Interestingly, by intentionally practicing spiritual disciplines, my relationship with Jesus has become more spontaneous.”
Dallas Willard
Sounds like an oxymoron!
Can you relate? The more you do a certain thing, the better you can respond in the moment. Especially through regular, disciplined practice.
For example, I ride mountain bikes. 30+ years ago when I first started riding, I learned the importance of looking forward vs. looking down, leaning into turns instead of slowing down, and the keys to good balance. Now I am much more able to remain in the moment, anticipate obstacles ahead, and leverage my momentum. The discipline of riding over 8,000 miles and climbing over 100,000 feet since 2016 (which is when I began logging miles on Strava) has contributed to my ability to become more agile, responsive, and spontaneous on the trails.
Practicing spiritual disciplines works in a similar manner. The more hours you put in, the more familiar you become to the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit – until His voice becomes the dominant voice you hear, listen to, and obey. This is the goal of Christian spiritual formation.
At the bottom of this blog is a challenge for Week 2 of Lent!
Before you go there, let’s focus on three common disciplines during Lent:
Sabbath Rest: Take time to disconnect and recharge.
Silence: Find moments of quiet to listen to God.
Fasting: Explore how less can lead to more.
What are the benefits?
Sabbath Rest: You feel more alive.
Silence: You will discover new opportunities to engage with Jesus throughout the day.
Fasting: You will cleanse your body of impurities that clutter your heart and mind.
How does discipline lead to spontaneity?
Great question! Discipline feeds new habits. New habits feed new behaviors. New behaviors feed creative responses. Spiritual formation works the same way.
What difference does it make?
Another great question! I believe there is a correlation between spiritual formation and ministry fruit. The disciplines I have engaged with and practiced alongside my ministry development gives me the ability to discover creative solutions, inspired by the Holy Spirit.
What does that look like?
I have a project that I am working on with a team that involves a disciple-making and leader development process. We have clarified the vision of when we know we have been successful, then worked backwards, breaking down the problem into manageable pieces. Now that we have the manageable pieces, we can address each one, one-by-one, making adjustments as necessary.
Lent Challenge – Week 2 of Lent!
As we journey through the weeks leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion and eventual resurrection, I will draw from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. The exercises have helped me and many, many others throughout church history to listen to and discern the voice of the Holy Spirit, especially when discerning direction.
I invite you to consider the “grace” (or “prayer of intent”) for this week:
“The grace you are seeking is to sorrow with Christ in sorrow, anguish with Christ in anguish, with tears and interior suffering because of the suffering Christ endured for you.”
St. Ignatius (1491-1556)
Perhaps you read through the following passages on this schedule beginning next Monday:
Day 1 – Matthew 26:36-41
Day 2 – Luke 22: 39-44
Day 3 – Matthew 26:47-54
Day 4 – Review the past three days.
Day 5 – Matthew 26:55-56
Day 6 – John 18:12-27
Day 7 – Review the past week.
* Journey with Jesus by Larry Warner
The invitation the Lord presents to you, is unique to you. If you are reading this blog, chances are you are searching. Chances are you want a change. Chances are you are desiring a different outcome. If so, the Lord’s invitation might be for you to engage differently than you have in the past. Take courage! He desires more and more of you. He is not passively waiting; He desires to connect with you. He is urging you to take the next step.
Think of Lent like a spiritual reset button; it’s a time to hit pause on the everyday busy-ness and focus on what really matters – your faith and getting closer to God.
We start Lent with a very special service: Ash Wednesday. On Ash Wednesday, the Body of Christ gathers to enter this time of devotion corporately. During the service, we look at our mortality and the consequences of our sins. Traditionally, in the Bible, times of penitence were marked by the wearing of sackcloth and ashes. At the Ash Wednesday service, the forehead of each believer is marked with ashes in the sign of the cross, and we are reminded through these ashes that we are “but dust and to dust we shall return” (Genesis 3:19). These are the very words God spoke to Adam and Eve after they committed the first sin in the garden of Eden and they remind us that we too have “sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Adapted from The Liturgical Home: Lent by Ashley Tumlin Wallace
Ever feel like life is just too busy? Lent is a chance to slow down and breathe. It’s like a training period for our souls, helping us get stronger and more connected to Jesus.
Who do you need to engage in the season of Lent?
*Use this as a “personal guide” to engage others during Lent.
Let’s get ready! Think about these questions:
What has been your experience with Lent in the past?
What does this season mean to you?
How can getting closer to Jesus help you be a better disciple? …a better leader?
Lent is also about doing stuff, not just thinking. So, ask yourself:
Is there something in your life that you want to focus on?
What’s something you could give up to help you focus? (It doesn’t have to be food! Maybe it’s screen time or complaining.)
What’s one thing you can do to get closer to Jesus during Lent?
Lent isn’t a race! It’s more like a long walk. I’ll be sharing some thoughts each week to help us along the way, but you can totally make this journey your own.
This Lent, open your heart and slow down! Like Elizabeth Barrett Browning famously said, “Earth’s crammed with heaven.” We have to open our eyes to see it! Make this Lent meaningful!
3 Strategies to Make Lent Significant:
Share your Lent goals with each other!
Check out relevant resources like devotionals, prayer guides, and fasting tips.
Get together for prayer or reflection.
I’ll share my own journey too, so we can all learn together.
As we journey through the weeks leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion and eventual resurrection. I will draw from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius (1491-1556). Don’t worry, it’s not just about what happened a long time ago. You’ll find stuff in there that helps you be a better disciple and more effective leader – and how to help others follow Jesus, build meaningful relationships, and grow their faith.
My initial impression of the Spiritual Exercises is that there are a lot of moving parts:
There are four “weeks” (not a literal week but a period of time)
Each “week” is broken down into sections.
Each section is broken down into days (numbers 1-7)
The exercises were designed to be done in a retreat setting over 30 consecutive days with a listener, who would listen to the ponderings of the retreatant. As time went on, the number of retreatants outnumbered the number of available listeners, so now there exist variations. For example, one iteration is the 19th Annotation, which can be done at a more comfortable pace, on a flexible schedule to accommodate people’s lives that are not in full-time vocational ministry.
My point for mentioning this is that, at the beginning of each section, a “grace” (or in my plain interpretation – a prayer of intent) is introduced or emphasized. The “grace” is a guiding prayer that serves as a backdrop for the daily exercise. Here is the “grace” for the first week of Lent:
“The grace you are seeking is to sorrow with Christ in sorrow, anguish with Christ in anguish, with tears and interior suffering because of the suffering Christ endured for you.”
Try this during Lent!
Perhaps you read through the following passages on this schedule beginning on Ash Wednesday or the following Monday:
Day 1 – II Cor 5:21
Day 2 – John 13:1
Day 3 – John 13: 2-12
Day 4 – Review the past three days.
Day 5 – Matthew 26:20-30
Day 6 – Matthew 26:31-35
Day 7 – Review the past three days.
Journey with Jesus by Larry Warner
What to do with the “grace”?
Use the “grace” as a point of reflection.
Engage in prayer.
Recall it throughout your day.
One of the practices that Ignatian introduced was the Prayer of Examen. There are lots of ways to do a Prayer of Examen. I would suggest that you set aside time (morning-noon-night) and reflect on the following:
How did you recall the grace?
How did this play out in the way you treated people?
How did you die to yourself today?
Or come up with an activity of your own.
You will find yourself slowing down. Discovering new insights. Creating new rhythms to your daily routine. Most of all, my prayer is that you fall more and more in love with Jesus as you journey with Him.
The question of spiritual maturity can feel daunting. We often default to measuring outward behaviors, creating checklists of “good Christian” actions. But true spiritual formation, the ongoing deepening of our relationship with Jesus, is a far more nuanced and internal process. It’s less about ticking boxes, and more about a quiet transformation of the heart.
Think of Jesus’ own journey: from boyhood to adult, ministry maturing, culminating in the profound shift of his final weeks. This wasn’t just a change in outward activity, but a deep inner reshaping. Throughout history, mystics and theologians—from Teresa of Avila with “The Four Waters” and “The Interior Castle” motifs, St. John of the Cross’ stages of spiritual development to contemporary thinkers like Ruth Haley Barton and Dallas Willard—have attempted to articulate this often-ineffable process. They offer glimpses into the spiritual shifts that occur as we grow in Christ.
One helpful lens for understanding this growth is the movement from a more expressive to a more contemplative spirituality. It’s important to emphasize that neither is “better” or a definitive marker of maturity. They are simply different facets of a deepening relationship with God. The journey isn’t linear, and we may experience both aspects at different times.
Expressive Spirituality: This is the vibrant outpouring of faith. It’s the joy that bursts into song, the awe that lifts hands in worship, the grief that cries out in lament. It’s often communal, fueled by shared emotion and outward action. Many churches excel in fostering this expressive dimension, creating spaces for passionate worship and vibrant fellowship.
Contemplative Spirituality: This is the quiet work of inner transformation. It’s the still, small voice that whispers in the silence, the yearning for deeper connection that drives us to prayer and reflection. It’s the process of surrendering our will, letting go of ego, and cultivating virtues like humility and compassion. It’s not about withdrawing from the world, but about deepening our connection with God so that our outward actions flow from a place of inner peace and love.
The Shift: As we mature spiritually, we often see a natural movement towards a more contemplative approach. This doesn’t mean abandoning the joy and passion of expressive worship. Instead, it means that our outward expressions become rooted in a deeper, more profound inner life. It’s like the difference between a fire that blazes brightly and a steady, glowing ember that warms from within.
How to make the shifts to a more Contemplative Spirituality:
The paths to a more contemplative spirituality are unlimited. But there are three themes that I have experienced, observed, and learned from the pioneers that have gone before us. They are not principles but tend to be common traits of contemplatives.
Person
Someone who you have a relationship with who is an effective listener to hear your insights about your formation, a spiritual friend, or spiritual director.
Place
A sacred place, a park, or retreat center where you are far from distraction so that you can hear the still small voice of the Holy Spirit.
People
Doing life in community with others moving in a similar direction where you can join in the daily rhythms of work, play, and spiritual practices.
Nurturing Your Contemplative Side:
There’s no single path to contemplative spirituality, but three common themes often emerge:
Person: Having a trusted companion – a spiritual friend, mentor, or director – who listens deeply and reflects back your own insights about your spiritual formation.
Place: Finding a sacred space, whether it’s a quiet park, a peaceful retreat center, monastery, or even a corner in your home, where you can minimize distractions and listen for the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit.
People: Connecting with others on a similar journey, sharing life in community, and participating in the rhythms of work, play, and spiritual practices together.
Are You Drawn to Contemplative Spirituality?
The following questions are designed to help you discern if you’re experiencing this shift. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers. This is simply a tool for self-reflection. Use the scale from 1 (None) to 5 (Always) to rate yourself.
How engaged are you in a relationship with a listener, spiritual friend or, under direction?
How excited do you feel about a personal spiritual retreat?
How regularly do you connect with others who are on the journey with you?
(Add up all the column scores and divide by 3) AGGREGATE SCORE
A higher score may suggest a leaning towards contemplative spirituality. However, this is just one piece of the puzzle. Spiritual maturity isn’t about achieving a certain score or fitting into a specific category. It’s about the ongoing journey of surrendering to God’s love and allowing Him to transform us from the inside out. It’s about embracing both the expressive and contemplative dimensions of faith, allowing them to inform and enrich one another.
This journey is deeply personal and often difficult to articulate. That’s why the wisdom of those who have walked this path before us—the mystics, the theologians, the spiritual guides—is so invaluable. They offer us language and frameworks for understanding the mysterious and beautiful work of spiritual formation.
Mentoring for Coach Certification:
Having journeyed through the three levels of coach certification with the International Coach Federation (ICF) over 13 years (2007-2020), I understand the power of mentorship. The 10 hours of mentoring required for each level were transformative for me. Having a trained assessor provide feedback, create awareness, and introduce new ways of engaging was a game-changer!
To maintain my Master Certified Coach (MCC) credential, I recently completed 40 hours of coach assessor training (Continuing Coach Education Units or CCEUs). This allows me to mentor other coaches and assess their coaching competency. My extensive work with Bob Logan researching and developing world-class Christian coaches gives me a unique perspective, blending the best of both worlds. (Check out our resources HERE).
Whether working one-on-one or in a cohort, I come alongside coaches to help them reach the next level of certification or simply improve their coaching skills. If you’re interested in exploring coach certification with ICF or enhancing your coaching, I’d love to connect.
Schedule a free discovery call with my assistant, Samantha (admin@inforcusnet.org), to discuss how we can partner together in 2025 to cultivate your coaching effectiveness!
This is a risky exercise. I know I’ll inevitably leave out some truly important names. Several years ago, I faced a daunting task: curating my overflowing library. I aimed to distill the books that truly mattered, ruthlessly reducing my collection by 80%. The idea was simple: keep the essentials, digitize the maybes, and reclaim precious shelf space. But the execution? Painful. Nights were spent agonizing over decisions, stress gnawed at me, but I persevered. I got it done.
My initial reflections on this process are below. But first, let’s explore why curating your library—in the truest sense of the word—is so vital.
What does it mean to curate a library?
In this context, “curate” means more than just organizing shelves; it’s about intentionally selecting, organizing, and caring for the authors and books that have profoundly influenced you. It’s about recognizing the power of the written word to shape your soul. Think of the original meaning of someone who “curates”: a person entrusted with the care of souls. That’s the spirit we’re aiming for here.
Why is this so important?
What you read reveals who you are and who you are becoming. It’s a mirror reflecting your inner life. We could preach a sermon on this! How do you spend your time? Who forms your inner circle? Tell me what you read. These questions are inextricably linked.
Curating your library allows you to:
Dig a deep reservoir of knowledge: Information overload is a modern plague. We can’t possibly keep up with the daily deluge of content, but we can cultivate depth. Focus on the topics that resonate with your soul and foster your leadership vision, guided by the Holy Spirit, and immerse yourself in the wisdom of those who have gone before. This focused reading builds a deep well of understanding you can draw from for years to come.
Pass on wisdom to others: Leaders are constantly challenged to stay informed, to be conversant on a wide range of subjects, to have the right answers. Knowing which authors to read, which voices to heed, is crucial for empowering those you lead. Your curated library becomes a resource for their growth as well.
A Reflection Exercise:
Consider your faith journey. Which authors have had the greatest impact on you? The Bible, of course, tops the list. But beyond Scripture, which books have shaped your character, influenced your discipleship, impacted you theologically, motivated you missionally, expanded your leadership, challenged your assumptions, or simply blessed your soul?
These reflection questions are designed to spark your memory: Who has God used to…
…shape your character?
…influence your discipleship?
…impact you theologically?
…motivate you missionally?
…expand your leadership?
…challenge you?
…bless you?
This list is just a starting point. Answer each question individually, brainstorm a list of names, or find your own way to reflect. The important thing is to give this process the careful consideration it deserves.
Some of my touchstones:
Life Together – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Master Plan of Evangelism – Robert Coleman
The Coming Church Revolution – Carl George
Organic Church – Neil Cole
As You Go…Make Disciples – Colin Noyes
How to Curate Your Library:
Reflect: Identify the authors who have profoundly impacted you and your ministry.
Narrow: From that list, select the books you truly need to keep on your shelf. These are the works you return to again and again.
Box it up: Pack the remaining books into boxes.
The Year of Testing: For the next year, mark which books you pull from the boxes and which remain untouched.
The Great Cull: At the end of the year, make the necessary changes. Donate the unused books to a deserving emerging leader.
Mentoring for Coach Certification:
Over 13 years (2007-2020) and three levels of certification with the International Coach Federation (ICF), I discovered the power of mentorship. The required 10 hours of mentor coaching for each level (Associate, Professional, and Master) were transformative. Feedback, awareness, and new perspectives were game-changers.
To maintain my Master certification, I recently completed 40 hours of coach assessor training (Continuing Coach Education Units or CCEUs). This allows me to mentor other coaches and assess their competencies. My extensive work with Bob Logan researching and developing world-class Christian coaches adds another dimension to my mentoring. (You can find our resources here: CLICK HERE).
Whether you’re pursuing ICF certification or simply seeking to refine your coaching skills, I offer one-on-one and cohort mentoring. If you’re interested in exploring how we can cultivate your coaching effectiveness in 2025, schedule a free discovery call with my assistant, Samantha (admin@infocusnet.org). Let’s work together to unlock your full potential as a coach.
Look for a new resource to equip coach mentors to guide coaches through their Journey of Ongoing Growth later this year!
We use cookies to optimize our website and our service.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
It helps you stay curious. Instead of thinking you know everything, you’re open to new ideas.
It helps you consider all your options. You don’t just jump at the first thing that comes to mind.
It helps you stay focused. You don’t get sidetracked by distractions.
It encourages you to ask for help. You don’t have to do it alone.
It helps you seek what’s truly best. Not just what’s easy or convenient.
It helps you stay humble. You remember that you’re not in control.
