Spiritual Formation
Professor and author Dallas Willard said, “Spiritual formation in the tradition of Jesus Christ is the process of transformation of the inmost dimension of the human being, the heart, which is the same as the spirit or will.”
At WMUMC, we desire to become more like Christ each day. This includes intentional participation in the transformation of our hearts through spiritual practices.
Meet Christian Swails, Spiritual Director
Christian Swails, M.A. is deeply invested in spiritual growth and the inward journey. As a Spiritual Director, he enjoys helping others take part in the spiritual disciplines, offers a non-judgmental listening ear, and encourages us to slow down and become more aware of the beauty and mystery of life.
Spiritual Formation on Sunday Evenings
Wesley Gardens Retreat
4-5:30 p.m. every Sunday
First Sunday of Every Month
Focus: Christian Meditation
Christian meditation, sometimes called “centering prayer,” is a helpful tool when faced with the challenge of quieting our inner noise, anxieties, and frustrations. On the first Sunday of the month, join in to learn how to …
- quiet your restless mind
- experience the presence and peace of God
- become a non-anxious presence to the people around you
Second Sunday of Every Month
Focus: Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina is Latin for “divine reading.” This practice allows you encounter the presence of God through your imagination as we slowly read a small passage of Scripture together. You will learn more about …
- engaging with the Bible in a fresh, contemplative way
- encountering God in Scripture
- hearing invitations from God
Third Sunday of Every Month
Focus: God in Nature/Reflective Writing
God often speaks through creation. This practice gives you the space and time to hear from God in a new, or a perhaps familiar, way. Surrounded by the beauty of Wesley Gardens, you may begin to …
- see your life in the context of something bigger
- learn the rhythms and tendencies of the natural world
- hear from God through the creation around you
Fourth Sunday of Every Month
Focus: Book Club
Currently Reading: The Practice of the Presence of God
by Brother Lawrence
Book Club will introduce you to …
- classic spiritual literature that is often referenced but rarely read
- wisdom passed down through the centuries
- spiritual practices and experiences in our faith tradition
Spiritual Direction
By Appointment
Spiritual Direction is an ancient practice of the church whereby a trained director meets with an individual to listen, pray, and watch for ways the Spirit may be at work in one’s life. Wesley Monumental UMC’s on-staff Spiritual Director, Christian Swails, is available for appointments.
FAQs about Spiritual Formation
What is spiritual formation?
We are all being formed every moment of every day by our environment, our culture, and our decisions. Intentional formation is choosing what you allow to shape you into what or who you want to be shaped. For us as Christians, spiritual formation is the process of being transformed into the image of Christ for the sake of others, as former Asbury Theological Seminary professor Robert Mulholland Jr. said.
What are spiritual practices or spiritual disciplines?
Spiritual practices are rhythms and activities we personally engage in to encounter the Living God for ourselves. They are not accomplishments to collect, another thing to add to our to-do lists, or a way to gain favor with God. Throughout church history, there have been a wide variety of spiritual practices; all of these fit into the categories of prayer, rest, Scripture, and community.
Specific practices may include …
- Silence and Solitude
- Sabbath
- Centering Prayer
- Fasting
- Feasting
- Lectio Divina
- And more
Is Christian Swails a licensed therapist? How is spiritual direction different from counseling?
Christian Swails is not a licensed therapist.
While spiritual direction is also a one-on-one, confidential non-judgmental space for self-discovery, it does not utilize models or techniques often used in therapy with licensed therapists.
The focus of spiritual direction is your spiritual life. It gives you the opportunity to listen for the movement of the Holy Spirit in your life alongside another person who is willing and able to listen with you. It is an ancient practice that has been part of Christian tradition since at least the third century A.D.
Is spiritual formation biblical?
Christian spiritual formation is an attempt to model your life after the life of Jesus.
We often see Jesus in prayer, fasting, feasting, and memorizing Scripture. These practices paved the way for the power and presence of God to flow through him and saturate his day-to-day life and interactions.
This is what we mean by spiritual formation. It is intentionally engaging in practices which prime your heart, mind, and spirit to experience the power and presence of God so that others will then experience him when they encounter you. Today, it is important to ask ourselves: what would Jesus do if he were me, now, where I am today in my life, in my work, and in my relationships?
For more about Christian spiritual formation, consider Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 3:18, and John 14:26.