Spiritual Disciplines Handbook Analysis

About a year ago, I began to find genuine interest in spiritual knowledge and learning, and its value and many applications outside of formal education and studies. I began researching philosophers and reading their works regarding spiritualism, new ways of thinking and perceiving things, as well as how our lives as human work in conjunction with the universe around us. I find this kind of thinking, and discovering some of the infinite wealth of knowledge around me, to be both personal and liberating.

The book is divided into seven parts. The book focuses spiritual growth and it is a manual for building a Spirit-filled life in a world where perfection can only be found in God’s loving vision. Ortberg helps us gauge your spiritual health and measure the gap between where you are now and where God intends you to be. As the author emphasizes on

What is a bias and why is it such a relevant topic. A bias is an ignorance of a fact, perspective, topic, or cause that’s usually followed by arrogance or closed-mindedness. Throughout history, especially America’s history, women and people of the black race have been mistreated or misunderstood in some way due to biases. In fact, we know this from “An Address by Elizabeth Cady Stanton” and “The Souls of Black Folk: Of Our Spiritual Strivings”.

Upon reading through “Celebration of Discipline” I had felt the novel was like a diary from Richard Foster or entirely a spiritual guidebook. What I mean by of spiritual guidebook is that Foster fully created the book in explaining spiritual disciplines, that in reality would assist someone in wanting to become a person that wants to be closer to the Lord, while at the same time treating it as a book by dividing the disciplines into three descriptive groups. Foster has done an excellent job in his use of scripture and incorporating personal experiences, just as Dr. Wilson has in “Father Cry”, in better explaining the disciplines. Upon providing explanations for the disciplines I had felt he has treated each of them[disciplines] equally, not

The Spirituality Scavenger Hunt gave me a different, unique perspective of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, my new school. When going to IUPUI I was not surrounded by spirituality like I am here. I never took time to tour my beautiful school, let alone understand the meaning behind it. As my group went around and gave their definition of spirituality, it broadened the way I think about God and why things happen the way they do. The most important take-away from this great experience, is not to judge someone on their beliefs and values. Everyone sees and thinks about things differently, and I really learned a breathtaking lesson from my fellow classmates. I learned new ways of practicing spirituality during our scavenger hunt. I learned that I can practice

Being a spiritual person is someone whose highest priority is to be loving to yourself and others. A spiritual person cares about people, animals and the planet and continually tries to honor this. A research institute at UCLA conducted a longitudinal study to evaluate the spirituality of college students during their under graduate years. The study found, that most students between their freshman and junior years overall level of spirituality increased. The non-for-profit business, Hannah’s House, is “a maternity home that provides a safe environment, programming and support for the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of pregnant young women.”(HH) This organization not only can help pregnant women, but also can encourage college students

Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline, was first published in 1978. It presented sets of Disciplines that, if followed, would serve as vehicles for a deeper relationship with Christ as well as preparation for service. These disciplines are divided into three broad categories: the Inward Disciplines, the Outward Disciplines, and the Corporate Disciplines (Foster, 2003). Each category contains four Disciplines, which indicated by their titles, moves the disciple from the very personal to the larger congregational community (Foster, 2003). Recognizing humanity’s trend to make any process a law or regulation to follow, Foster warned against this by reminding the disciple that to do so would turn

To be detached from the hustle and noise of our lives, yet find peace within ourselves while we inhabit this world. Perhaps the most surprising yet fulfilling spiritual discipline I have learnt this year, whilst partaking in this course is that of finding the time to sit silently of all distractions in solitude and focus only on God.

In my own experiences, I find I’ve barely tapped the sufferance of their true depth. Each of these requires spending time with God increasingly throughout your week. In this way we grow deeper in our relationship with him. I have grown vastly this last semester with the devotional readings and personal worship time. Over break and into next semester, I intend to take back my mornings and spend them with God. I want to spend them in meditation before the general noise and confusion of daily life at school slips in and yanks us away from peace many days. I will peruse these so that, as I grow in these disciplines, I begin to show more of Christ and his love in my life. I want to hear The Lord’s voice clearly and be more confident in answering when he calls me to move and make a change in my

There are several past and present factors that have influenced may approach to spiritual discernment. My family has always been very supportive of my goals, but they were also realistic in terms of what I was actually able of doing. When I was younger, my chronic allergies and ear infections lead to hearing issues that affected my ability to read and function well in my classes. They were able to strike a good balance of being supportive of my goals and keeping me aware of what I had to do, learn, and change to reach those goals. This is where my psychologist and/or researcher nature started. I needed to do my research earlier on in the process to see what I had to do for the goal and still give me time to see if it was even possible and still

I agree with all of the skill sets that were presented by Dunbar (2010). I feel that they are all important skills that are needed in order to be successful at coaching. The skill set that I was most excited to read about was intuitive skills and the exercises that Dunbar (2010) provided: 1) developing sensory acuity, 2) noticing your inner senses, 3) developing a greater understanding of your intuition, 4) mediation (p.115-126). I practice intuitive skills on a regular basis by meditating and quieting the mind. This skill set and exercises is not just a practice for coaching; I feel it should be a part of daily life. It is a wellness practice for everyone in any situation. Developing your inner senses can connect you with a higher power; not just

I rated my spiritual wellness as a five , because I truly believe I am that I have a great foundation with my Christianity. It has helped me to grow into a better person and overcome some hardships in my life . Next was my physical wellness as a four . My physical wellness is pretty average , I do a lot to stay in shape and maintain a healthy , well balanced diet. For number 3 , it was my emotional/mental wellness . I am overall a happy-go lucky young women but I do struggle with anxiety from time to time and would truly like to work on that. Second was my social wellness , I am pretty outgoing when it comes to work, friends, and family . I need to work on become more comfortable being in those environments , even though I am outgoing , I still

In his book, Whitney discusses spiritual disciplines that are vital to the health of the believer. These things are very challenging when someone tries to incorporate them into their lives. Bible intake and Prayer are things that are often over looked in the lives of believers, they are however super important when one is seeking to know God. Bible intake is where you take the Bible and develop disciplines in your life, studying the bible, whether it be in quiet times, or personal Bible study, or scripture memory. Prayer is another discipline that needs to be incorporated, Prayer being incorporated in every aspect of our lives. I want to take many of these disciplines and use them in my life as something that can truly cause me to grow in my

I. Prior to this interim, I did not realize or understand what my personality type meant or that it had anything to do with my spiritual formation. I am an ENTJ and after reading Invitation to a Journey I understand that as a strong intuitive type I will continue to be strongly tempted and inclined to primitive sensual ways unless I balance it with my sensing side. To do this I think my practices need to be two-fold. I need to relinquish my false-self to God in intentional Solitude and pursue God’s voice through Lectio Divina. My time prior to this interim has not been intentionally planned to set aside time for being with God and having that quality time, that is a love language, to grow my relationship with Him. My

Spiritual foundation goes back to God's principle of headship and leadership, God is an organized God, He has set principles in all things. In a family He God set a system where a man who is known the father and head of the family, a woman who is the mother. If this headship is missing there will be a lack of order or direction.