Spiritual direction is an ancient form of pastoral care. This care for the soul helps individuals discover their actual, honest relationship with God, with the intention of growing in faith, hope and love.
Spiritual direction sessions create space for silence, scripture reflection and prayer, while the director offers spiritually sensitive questions and observations.
The role of the director is not advice-giving or mentoring, but through listening and prayer, helping the directee grow in the ability not only to “see what the Father is doing” (John 5:19) but to respond to the Father in loving obedience.
What is Spiritual Direction?
Discover the way Christians have been seeking God together for centuries.
Good questions:
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Spiritual direction is for anyone who is hungry for a deeper life with God.
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Each session can differ, but often they are one hour in length and include times of silence, prayer, sharing and questions from the director.
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Unlike mentoring and coaching, there is not a specific problem to be solved in a session, and the director is not the expert. In a session, God is the true Director, we are simply creating space for directees to notice Him in their life through thoughtful questions and observations.
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All throughout scripture we see examples of spiritual companions. Joshua was spiritually guided by Moses, Elisha by Elijah, David by Nathan, Paul by Barnabas, Timothy by Paul and so on. God has always used friendship and “directors” to aid people on their journey toward a deeper life with Him. We are created as relational beings who need space to process and people to discern alongside us.
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Yes, true spiritual directors go through a rigorous (usually 2-year) school. This education includes hands on training, personal formation, and a rich, theological foundation for the work. Personally, I was trained through Sustainable Faith Europe. I also have regular supervision and engage ongoing education.
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This varies. Contact me for more information.
Reach out.
If you are curious about spiritual direction or if you are ready to set up a discovery call, don’t hesitate to reach out!
chelsey.nugteren@gmail.com