Leadership 2: Healthy Spirituality
Introduction:
To be a Holy-Spirit led leader, we must learn the rhythms and disciplines of pausing for solitude and silence. It is not easy to pause, because we often feel the pressure of all we need to do and all the people we need to connect with. Jesus clearly tells us in Luke 15: apart from me, you can do nothing. We must stay connected to Him for the health of our own souls, and for the health of our ministries.
In this session you will create space in your schedule for a 6-hour block of time that you spend with the Lord. This is not a time to review your schedule for the year or plan ministry, but to focus your heart and soul on your first work - staying connected to the Vine. After spending these hours with Jesus you will review your Soul Care plan for this upcoming year. How does caring for your soul impact your schedule and calendar this year?
Evidence of staff demonstrating this objective looks like:
- Personal daily times with the Lord
- A weekly rhythm of sabbath
- A regular rhythm of solitude in the montly/bi-monthly calendar
- Participates in their local church community
- Has a Spiritual mentor or accountability group who they share with regularly
A Guide into Solitude and Silence
by Donna Hatasaki (best if printed and read in hard copy)
There is a sacred silence deep within our very souls where God himself dwells (John 14:16-18; 1 Corinthians 6:19). That silence is full of God’s voice, and as we listen, our souls expand and are filled with his glory (Isaiah 6:3; Romans 8:18; Isaiah 55:2).
Listening, however, takes effort. That effort usually involves physically removing ourselves from the external noise of life to a physical space marked by silence and solitude (Mark 1:35).
Once we have removed ourselves physically from external noise, we begin to hear all the internal noise that rises up from within us. Finding our way through this noise to the sacred silence within can seem difficult or almost impossible at times. Be encouraged. The more you practice sitting in silence and solitude, the more you will be able to detach from those distracting and sometimes destructive voices and come to rest in the loving presence of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, deep within.
In the meantime, here are a few suggestions for beginning to ignore the internal noise:
- Often when we get silent, all that we need “to do” in our lives will begin to rise to the surface. Do not engage with this emerging “to do” list. Instead, keep a notepad nearby and write down (briefly) any tasks that come to mind, then set the notepad aside. Rest in the knowledge that the notepad will “hold” your list for you while you take time to rest in the presence of Jesus.
- As other thoughts or distractions come to mind, again, do not engage with them. Notice them, but then let them pass from your awareness, like clouds floating by in the sky. Or, you might think of them as cars passing by on a road. Notice the cars, then let them pass. Do not attempt to climb inside them.
- Each time you become distracted, gently turn your attention inward toward the living God again. You might simply say the name “Jesus” to turn your attention inward and downward to the sacred space in your own soul. Or you might say within your soul, “Here I am Lord. I am turning again toward you.”
- Avoid getting too discouraged by your distracted nature. Jesus is filled with compassion. He isn’t going anywhere. He delights in you, even when you are distracted. Simply keep letting your thoughts go and gently turning your attention inward toward him. Every distraction is one more opportunity to turn again to Jesus and discover him beholding you and smiling.
As you enter into silence and solitude today, take time to unwind, to decompress. You may need to go for a walk and notice the beauty of God’s creation around you. You may need to sit in a favorite chair with a warm drink for 10 or 15 minutes. You may choose to listen to some worship music in the beginning of your time. Eventually, however, you will need to silence even the music. It is ultimately an external distraction that can keep you from becoming completely settled in the silence, connected only to Jesus and his still, small voice.
Take at least 10 minutes and no more than 20 minutes to decompress and become settled into the silence.
Once you are settled, move through the guide below as the Spirit himself leads.
A Guide to Connecting More Deeply with Jesus
Move through this guide slowly. Take time to pause and reflect. Listen for the gentle prompting of the Lord from within to move you along.
This is your time with the Lord Jesus. The most important things you hear today will not be from outside sources, including from these pages. The most important things you hear will be from the secret places of your own soul from him.
As you begin to get silent, you may hear voices from within that are harsh, demanding, critical or accusing. You are free to disregard those voices. They don’t belong to Jesus. The voice of the Good Shepherd is kind and gentle. Begin to listen only to him.
Take a few deep breaths. Get comfortable, and move through this guide as he leads you. If you are reading this electronically, you will need to scroll down. There are six pages to this guide, each with space for you to reflect and write.
The kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:1)
Jesus has taken the initiative to create a sacred space in the depths of your being. It is a spacious and sacred space that is filled with his presence and glory. That’s where He is right now.
In fact, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit wait to greet you with grace and peace. They wait to receive you gladly. The Father’s face is shining upon you. His arms are open wide to receive you. He waits to kiss you on the forehead and hold you close. The Son is rising to put a towel around his waist and gently wash your feet. The Spirit is moving quietly and gracefully to prepare soul-satisfying food for your enjoyment.
Take a few moments to become aware of this sacred space deep within you.
Take a moment to reflect upon this phrase:
Behold the One beholding you and smiling.
Linger here as long as you sense the comfort and encouragement of the Lord Jesus. When you are ready, move to the next page.
You must become like a child to enter (Matthew 18:3).
From “Invitation to Solitude and Silence,” by Ruth Haley Barton:
“(Young children) do not yet know how to put on airs. They don’t try to make things look better than they are. They haven’t yet learned how to hold back their squeals of delight, their expressions of need or desire, their tears of sadness or pain. Children seem to be uninhibited about expressing whatever is true of them in the moment.
“The point of solitude is to be with God with what is true about me right now—whatever that is. Silence, then, allows me to simply give God access to the reality of myself.”
What is true about you right now? Of what are you most aware? Use these words to help you begin to become present with Jesus, to express whatever is true about you in this moment:
LORD JESUS, I AM...
Bring yourself, your needs, and your desires to Jesus.
Jesus came upon a blind man who was sitting by the roadside begging. When the man heard that it was Jesus walking by, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and called the man to come. Then Jesus asked the man a question, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51)
The man gave an honest answer. He said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” Then Jesus gladly gave him what he wanted.
What are you wanting from Jesus today? Are you willing to become present and transparent with him regarding your deepest longings? He longs to connect with us at the point of our deepest desires.
Lord Jesus, here is what I’m longing for today…
Closing reflections
In your remaining moments of solitude and silence this morning, linger over the words from Jesus below. You have completed the statement, “I am…” And now he will do likewise for you. Listen as he unveils himself to you. Linger where you most sense his encouragement or comfort. The purpose is not to get to the bottom of the page. The purpose is to allow the Living Word to quietly reveal himself to you in the depths of your soul. Linger with him and allow him to touch you with his loving presence. Hear these words with your “inner ear”.
- I am the Good Shepherd. Come to me. I am gentle and humble of heart. I will give you rest. (John 10:11-18; Matthew 11:29)
- I am the Suffering Servant, well-acquainted with grief. I weep with those who weep. Pour out your heart to me. (Isaiah 53:3; John 11:32-35; Psalm 62:8)
- I am the Father of Compassion and the God of All Comfort. I came to heal the broken-hearted. I will linger over your broken heart and heal it with my loving presence. I am filled with compassion. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4; Psalm 34:18; Psalm 147:3; Luke 15:20)
- I am the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. If I am for you, who can be against you? No purpose of mine can be thwarted. Whatever you are facing, do not be afraid, little one. I myself will help you. (Revelation 19:16; Romans 8:31; Isaiah 41:14)
- I am your Counselor. I will generously give you wisdom. I will lead you along the path that leads to life. You will hear me whispering from behind you when to turn to the left or to the right. You can count on me. (John 14:26; Psalm 16:11; Isaiah 30:21)
- I am Mighty God and your Everlasting Father. I know what you need before you even ask. But I still invite you to cast your cares upon me, because I care about you. I am able to do immeasurably more than you ask or imagine. So, ask away! Imagine freely! Imagine how good I am and how capable to take care of all that concerns you. (Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 6:8; 1 Peter 5:7; Ephesians 3:20)
ACCOUNTABILITY:
- Do you have a plan for daily, weekly and monthly rhythms to spend time with the Lord? Have
- Are you organizing your schedule, work days and bedtime to allow you to spend time with the Lord according to your plan? Active
- Have you shared your habits with your team and key mentors in your life to help hold you accountable and share how God is working? Shared
- How do you see evidence of the Holy Spirit working in your life and changing you? Growing
ACTION STEPS:
- Review your Soul Care Plan from last year. Where do you see growth in your life over the past year? What are the challenges you are facing now? Update your Soul Care Plan for this year and bring it to your training to discuss with your trainer.
- You blocked your schedule today to spend time with the Lord and hopefully connect with him simply as His dearly loved child. Looking ahead at the ministry year, how are you creating space to help your leaders spend time with the Lord and focus on their spiritual health?
