Rhythms for Spiritual Formation
Sundays have always been my favorite day of the week. I know, that is such a Pastor thing to say! The joy of seeing faces I haven’t seen in a while, the excitement of meeting new people and the satisfaction of remembering names, the thrill of singing at the top of our lungs and just feeling like our sanctuary might burst as every nook and cranny is filled with praise, would fill my heart for the rest of the week. Because it filled me up so much, I have felt the void so deeply these past four months. And even though I have loved our outdoor services these past two weeks, it is certainly better than nothing, the lack of hugs and hand holding, missing people’s similes under masks, and being spread out across the property, makes me long for what we had. I don’t doubt that the Holy Spirit is active and moving when we worship, no matter what it looks like, but I also feel an ache and longing for more - more community, more joy, more of God’s presence among us.
As I have been reflecting on this, I have realized that not only were Sunday morning services a place of community and connection with one another (which I miss greatly), but they were a primary place of formation and discipleship. They are a pillar each week where we proclaim what we believe together, where we are reminded of God’s presence as we see children shouting the liturgy or people praying with one another, where we are filled up in the Spirit as we worship together. Sunday worship services are a primary place that we spend time with Jesus, and allow the Spirit to form our hearts, or reform our hearts, to God’s purposes, priorities, and passions.
Obviously Sunday worship services still continue to do this whether we are worshipping at home, sitting on the lawn, or watching the service during the week, but I have found in this season that I need more. I need to be filled and centered on Christ even more. In this season of shaky foundations, uncertainties, disruption, and division, I need my heart to be rooted in Christ, the Solid Rock. The rhythm of Sunday mornings as my pillar of formation is still important, but I believe God is inviting me, inviting all of us, to establish rhythms throughout the week to remain rooted in Him. There are many ways to do this, but I want to suggest three that have been meaningful for me in this crazy season:
Begin the day with a Psalm
The psalms have been the prayer book of the people for thousands of years. They remind us of God’s character and faithfulness and give us permission to bring every emotion and every trial to God in prayer. I have engaged this daily rhythm of reading a psalm in the morning for many years, and I truly believe that this small act of starting the day with a Psalm transforms our hearts and sets our minds on God.
Engage the Weekly Liturgy in Community
The Weekly Liturgy can be found on the Wellspring App or at theweeklyliturgy.com. We developed this in light of our Sunday liturgy as a way to form our hearts throughout the week. There are five sections: gathering our hearts together and with the Lord, reflecting on God’s Word, engaging in confession and repentance, praying for one another and the needs of the world, and spurring one another on in mission. Many of our Life Groups have used this tool and we also have a section for families, but I encourage you to find a friend, a small group, or your family unit, and choose to engage this each week. This is a practical tool with helpful questions to get us thinking and talking about God’s movement in our lives.
Download and use the Daily Prayer App
My husband Jeff and his friend Pete actually developed this app a few years ago and it has been truly amazing to see how far reaching it has gone. I love it, but I have found that over time, I am less likely to open it. If I have a few extra minutes throughout my day, it’s easier to scroll through Instagram or open up my news app than to click on the Daily Prayer App and read the opening prayer or the scripture passage. Jeff and I use a budgeting tool called Daily Budget and it sits right next to my Daily Prayer App and it has been so convicting how much more willing and interested I am in my budgeting app than my prayer app. But my heart is longing for prayer and longing for more of God’s presence, so my challenge to myself and to all of us, is to press into prayer. To take the few minutes we have throughout the day to spend in God’s word, rather than to see the newest post on Facebook.
I think for most of us, we would probably say 2020 is not our favorite year. I feel unsettled, I feel heartbroken, I feel uncomfortable, and I long for God’s renewal and God’s power and presence in my own life, and in the world. And so I begin in small ways by drawing closer to Jesus - who is the source of life and refreshment that we all seek.
I’d love to hear what rhythms and practices have been meaningful for you in this season and helped you draw closer to Jesus! Please reach out to me anytime.
