Spiritual Formation
Pastor 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.
Take Part in Spiritual Formation
Spiritual Practices Gatherings
Sunday Evenings at Wesley Gardens Retreat
4-5:30 p.m.
Join us each Sunday afternoon for our weekly spiritual practices gathering at Wesley Gardens Retreat. This is for anyone interested in engaging their hearts in deeper transformation and those looking for tools to walk out their faith. We focus on and learn more about a particular spiritual practice each week. All are welcome, and feel free to bring a friend!
Spiritual practices are not about information, they’re about transformation. For this reason, we practice experiencing the presence of God by actively engaging in ways that Jesus experienced God. This time is deeply experiential.
Long ago we traded wisdom for knowledge. Today, we’ve traded knowledge for information. We are inundated with information. Spiritual practices is a time to return to experiential wisdom by practicing together in community the spiritual practices in the way of Jesus. Every Sunday at WEsley Gardens, we meet together and engage one of these spiritual practices such as silence and solitude, centering prayer, lectio divina, journaling, connection to nature, group spiritual direction, and many more. THis is a way to continue your time of sabbath and actually experience the presence of God. THis is not just learning about God, but it is learning to be with God.
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 Gardens Retreat Center’s on-staff Spiritual Director, Christian Swails, is available for appointments.
Click here to book an appointment online …
What People Are Saying About Spiritual Direction
“For me, Spiritual Direction has given validation to years of sensing a desire for something more, and deeper, in my spiritual life. I’m starting to see a connection between various thoughts, images, and feelings that I’ve experienced throughout my life. And looking back on quotations and passages from readings that I’ve saved, I see not only a pattern, but a path forward. I am more at peace and lighter in spirit (and excited!) as I continue this journey.”
“Spiritual Direction for me has been a wonderful experience. It allows me the space to get mentally unstuck. I wasn’t sure what it was all about at first but was intrigued when I read about it in the church bulletin. At the same time, I had been praying about some personal things in my life and just didn’t seem to be making much progress on my own. With that said, I felt the Lord pulling me toward making an appointment for spiritual guidance. I’m so glad I did! It is therapeutic but with sensitivity and awareness of the Holy Spirit.”
“I believe that to know God, one needs to inquire, reflect, and question. I wrestle with the suffering and injustice in the world. I have not attended seminary and am woefully lacking in my study of theology. I appreciate my time with my Spiritual Director, who is a knowledgeable coach and guide. The answers are mine to discover. My Spiritual Director helps to point me in the right direction.”
FAQs about Spiritual Formation
What is spiritual formation?
Robert Mulholland Jr. says Christian spiritual formation is the process of being transformed into the image of Christ for the sake of others. Spiritual formation in and of itself is not necessarily a Christian thing. It is a human thing. 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.
What are spiritual practices or spiritual disciplines?
Spiritual practices are a means to an end. THey are not the end in and of themselves. Spiritual practices are rhythms where we do what we can to allow God to do what we can’t. They are a means of grace. They are a means to an end. We don’t do spiritual practices just to do them. We do spiritual practices to encounter Christ. THey exist for us to encounter the LIving God. THere are many spiritual practices historically in the church. All spiritual practices fall into categories of prayer, rest, scripture, and community. HEre is a nonexhaustive list:
silence and solitude
sabbath
centering prayer
breath prayer
fasting
feasting
lectio divina
How is spiritual direction different from counseling? Is Christian a licensed therapist?
Christian is not a licensed therapist. Spiritual direction is similar to therapy in that it is a one-on-one, confidential nonjugmental space for you to explore and self-discover what is actually going on in your heart, mind, and body. Therapy uses specific models for these kind of conversations which tend to be more cognitive. Spiritual direction makes space for you to listen together for the movement of the Holy SPirit in your life, past, present, and future. It is an ancient practice that has been part of Christian tradition since the desert mothers and fathers of 3rd century AD.
Is spiritual formation biblical?
Romans 12:2
2 COrinthians 3:18
John 14:26
Spiritual formation is an attempt to model your life after the life of JEsus. When you look at the life of Jesus you see someone who lives by rhtyms of particular spiritual practices that allow amazing external experiences with people to flow from an incredible internal experience of communion with the father. For instance, we often see Jesus withdrawing to places for prayer, fasting, feasting, memorizing scripture, etc. THese rhythms created a wordlview and lifestyle that allowed the power and presence of God to flow through him into his every day life and his human interactions. This is what we mean by spiritual formation: modeling our lives after the life of Jesus. The question is, in the 21st century, is what would JEsus do if he were me now in this place? In my life, work, family.