Today’s Reflection
SPIRITUAL FORMATION is not an instantaneous process, although there may well be instantaneous experiences at certain points along the journey. Spiritual formation is a lifelong process of growth into the image of Christ. This gradual aspect of spiritual formation moves against the grain of our instant gratification culture. We have been conditioned to expect almost immediate returns on our investments of time, energy, or resources. For this reason, you may find it difficult at points to accept the necessity of undergoing a lengthy period of spiritual discipline before experiencing any substantive change in your life. …
Spiritual formation is not an option. Spiritual formation is not a discipline just for “dedicated disciples.” It is not a pursuit only for the pious. Spiritual formation is not an activity for the committed alone. …
Every event of life is an experience of spiritual formation. Every action taken, every response made, every dynamic of relationship, every thought held, every emotion allowed: these are the miniscule areneas where, bit by bit, infinitesimal piece by infinitesimal piece, we are shaped into some kind of being.
We are being shaped either toward the wholeness of the image of Christ or toward a horribly destructive caricature of that image. This is why Paul urges Christians, “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 3:17, NRSV, italics added). The Christians spiritual journey is a life lived in, through, and for God.
- M. Robert Mulholland Jr.
Shaped by the Word
From pages 25-26 of Shaped by the Word: The Power of Scripture in Spiritual Formation, revised edition, by M. Robert Mulholland Jr. Copyright © 2000 by M. Robert Mulholland Jr. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question
How does the definition above challenge your understanding of spiritual formation? Share your thoughts.
Today’s Scripture
84:2 My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.
Psalm 82:2, NRSV
This Week: pray for returning students and teachers. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section below.
Did You Know?
Heart Whispers offers accessible insights from Benedictine spirituality to help us explore the need for faithful living in today’s often stress-filled world.
Saints, Inc.:
This week we remember John the Baptist (August 29).
Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I believe all of the statement above. Nothing is random, nothing incidental. And – nothing is neutral. A thought, a tiny action – each iotic bit either moves me to or away from God.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer Blessed Lord – to Thy precious, bleeding side.
SPIRITUAL FORMATION is not an instantaneous process, although there may well be instantaneous experiences at certain points along the journey. Spiritual formation is a lifelong process of growth into the image of Christ. YES -I believe this is true. We are either headed in the right direction or not. There are some U turns in there as well.
Lord, enable the education process in all its aspects as school resumes. So much depends on education, it needs to happen in a safe place, all involved need a positive, constructive attitude, resources need to be present, sound tried and true methods are needed, and cooperation between all involved: student, teacher, parents primarily but also administrators and support staff. With your wisdom and guidance true education will occur. Thank you Lord, Amen
As an educator, AMEN!
The only bit missing from this definition is that spiritual formation at times moves at a pace that can seem positively glacial.
Lord God, as we offer our prayers for those returning soon to classrooms, help us be aware that others are always learning from us, from our words and our lives. May the lesson we teach be the one YOU would have the world learn, a lesson of compassion and grace. Amen
Planning on using this article to introduce new RCIA candidates to our classes this year. It is often difficult to explain “why” the Catholic Church requires these classes for membership into the parish. This article sums it up very well. Had to go through the process myself before I realized that salvation is a lifelong journey and cannot be a spur of the moment, instant occurence. Loved it! Beautifully written.
Well, I am going through a tranformation process and I guess it is part of the spiritual formation. At times I look forward to the process or which it would hurry up although I know that is not how it works. That is just the way I feel. It is long but a short process in GODs eyes. You sure don’t get that nice warm and fuzzy feeling that’s for sure.
Heidi & Robert, you are absolutely right about spiritual formation being a long process. Robert Mulholland points out on p. 27 of “Shaped by the Word”: “Genuine spiritual formation reverses our role as the controllers (who act to bring about the desired results in our lives) to beings who allow the spirit of God to act in our lives to bring about God’s purposes.” Jenny: Glad this brief excerpt can help you. I encourage you to look at “Shaped by the Word” as well as some of our other spiritual formation resources, particularly Companions in Christ. For more info, see bookstore.upperroom.org. God bless all of you as you surrender to God’s shaping of your life. Remember that our God is a loving God who wants the best for us. Sometimes our desires go against God’s desires, and it is painful to undergo some shaping that we might not choose for ourselves. But God works it all together for good (Rom. 8:28).