Today was a very spiritually enlightening day, at least for me. We talked about the different spiritual pathways and did little prompt exercises with each one. Out of the ones we discussed, I felt like I fell into three of them in an extreme manner.
Activist Pathway:
Characteristics- In serving God you experience him, Evangelism, Service and sacrifice, Desire to do more.
Potential Downfall- Feeling the need to do good works to earn God’s approval.
Prompt Exercise- Write a letter to someone who empowered you to grow closer to God. I wrote a letter (more specifically a ‘Thank You’ letter) to someone who hurt me very deeply but the way they hurt my pushed me and set a spark in my heart to just fall into The Lords arms and weep with him and beg him to guide my broken and weary heart.
Being able to just write out this letter and then sit back and examine it, I found myself taking a deep (and much needed) breath and felt a flood of peace and growth fall over me. It was like the weight fell off my shoulders and the grudge I had been holding for these past few months completely disappeared. After all that I was put through, it ultimately brought me closer to Christ. My heart opened up and was able to accept his love and comfort.
Experiential Pathway:
Characteristics- Feeling God’s presence in a place of encounter, God is our contemporary, Readiness to worship, Intimacy and experience.
Potential Downfall- Idolizing emotional encounters and always going to the next exciting thing.
Prompt Exercise- Turn on a worship song and praise His name.
I listened to “Cornerstone” by Hillsong
“My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus’ name”
– This is just such a true statement for me. My hope is built on Christ and his story, his blood that he shed on the cross, and the rightness he gives to the world.
“When Darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
My anchor holds within the veil”
-When the Devil comes sneaking up on us and tries to put a shadow in our lives that keeps us from looking to Jesus, we are called to fall on him and trust him even in the darkest off times.
“Christ alone; cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Savior’s love
Through the storm, He is Lord
Lord of all”
-This is just such an amazingly breathtaking reminder for everyone. No matter how low and weak we may feel, He is always there to pick is up. His love saves!
Naturalistic Pathway:
Characteristics- Finding God outside buildings, Experiencing God through nature.
Potential Downfall: None
Prompt Exercise- Walk around in God’s creation.
I was able to walk around the woods, smelling the fresh air, listening to the birds and the wind and the bugs. It was so refreshing and nice to just relax and enjoy what God has gifted us with.
I feel so blessed to be here with all these amazing people, learning these amazing people, and serving my AMAZING God!
