Reflections on the Journey

REFLECTIONS ON THE JOURNEY
An option for the journey of Christian spiritual formation

Season One: Synthesis

So where do i go from here?

You have spent the last five weeks looking at the image of God you have and how that image came to be. Why?

Because this is where the journey of spiritual formation begins. Your spirit has been formed by many things in this life. So has the image of God you carry around inside. Many Christians authentically want to manifest the love, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control, and so on that Jesus did. Most Christians know that God doesn’t instantly zap you into being like Jesus. There is some sort of process…some sort of journey we embark on. And this journey forms our spirits into something similar to Jesus’.

What most people don’t take the time to do, though, is to examine the image of God they really have. This image is what dictates how we approach God, how we approach formation, etc. This image subtly guides our entire spiritual journey.

What happens if you have this image of God?:

God is angry and out to get me because I make so many mistakes.

Do you think you will embark on a journey to become more like this God? To surrender your will to this God? Most likely not. Your journey is instantly stalled by this image.

What happens if you have this image of God?

God is so loving and forgiving. He is like a big cuddly Grandpa just waiting to hug me.

Do you think you will get up off the couch and participate in God’s work on this planet? Why bother when he will forgive you for wasting your life away shopping, playing video games, entertaining yourself, etc.?
Most likely you will never engage in the journey.

Can you see why it is so important to know what your image of God is? This image drives and motivates your every action. So, what is driving you?

Time for reflection….

Again, write out what comes to mind when you hear the word God?
As you look at this answer, is it supported by scripture? Which scriptures?
Is this answer intriguing enough for you to want to dedicate your life to the service of this God? Explain.
As you look at your life ahead of you, why would you even want to engage in some sort of journey of Christian spiritual formation? In other words, what motivates you to engage in anything that would shape your spirit into the image of this God?

For most people who answer…”Yes, I do want to be shaped or formed into the likeness of Jesus.” They often then ask, but how? How becomes the primary focus. And how, is the focus of the rest of this website.

For me, I believe we do nothing to change ourselves into the likeness of Jesus. Instead, we do everything in our power to OPEN ourselves to God, so God can change us, shape us,…form our spirits. So then, how does one OPEN themselves to God? Great question! The answer will unfold the more you engage in practices outlined on this site.

With your group/community this week….

This is totally juvenile, but it helps…begin by summarizing why you have been examining the image of God you have. Why has this been so vital to do for 6 weeks?
Chat with one another if the image of God you now have is gripping, engaging, motivating enough for you to devote your life to this God.
If it’s not, what are you still thinking about God that is stirring resistance in your soul?
Is there anything that can help calm the resistance?
Reflect on what it has been like to share a portion of your spiritual journey with one another over the last 6 weeks.
If enough people in your community desire to engage in the journey of spiritual formation together, begin the discussion…so what do we do next?

Here are some suggestions:
- Take a break from the Seasons of Questions on this site. Do something else for a time. (Thinking and analyzing and reflecting gets a bit dry)
- If your community wants a fuller picture of Jesus, read The Secret Message of Jesus by Brian McLaren or Portraits of Jesus by Michael Cosby. Discuss their pictures of Jesus and what it would mean to be like him.
- If your community wants to understand ways to open oneself to God,
  read Disciplines of the Holy Spirit by Tan & Gregg OR
  read Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster OR
  read The Sacred Way by Tony Jones (this is one of my personal favorites) OR read Soul Feast by Marjorie Thompson (my other personal favorite)
  And TRY the things talked about.
- If your community wants to become a bit active for a time, find a place to volunteer together and do it. Reflect with one another on what stirs in your soul as you serve others.
- If your community wants to get to know one another better, EAT with one another. Share life stories, pray for one another, eat each other’s food and see what happens in the midst of life together.
- When the other spiritual practices are up and running on this site, try a few of them out and debrief them together.
Come back to the Seasons of Questions in a few months. The next series is on how our spirit is formed in the midst of community.

End in prayer for one another and for direction for your community.

Blessings on your journey.

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