Spiritual Practices

In many ways, each of us is being reminded in present days that we are God’s children, greatly in need of our Heavenly Father’s love and assurance. This practice invites all of us to become children and rest in our Father’s arms during this season of change and uncertainty, no matter what our age. In this exercise, we will focus on Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God.” For many of us, our world is being turned upside down. The Psalm begins with the reminder, “God is our place of safety”—when routines fall apart, plans change, and storms enter our lives. And though this exercise is pertinent for our time, we will all face challenges and changes throughout life. “Be still, and know that I am God,” will ALWAYS be relevant. God never changes. Our need for him never changes.

To prepare for a journey to a place I have never been before, I find it helpful to consult an expert, one who knows the way, one who can tell me what to leave behind and what to carry with me. To prepare for where God is leading you, it may be helpful to invite him to look carefully at your life and your heart, to show you what to leave behind and what to carry forward. Experience this practice for yourself, and then, if you have children, walk with them through it.

In this practice, you will be comforted by God's presence and intimate knowledge of you. And in that comfort, you'll rely on him to reveal your sins--the barriers between you and him--and allow his kindness to lead you to repentance.

For more than 2000 years, God has been using an amazing plan to grow his kingdom—to spread his message to every part of the world and from one generation to the next and to the next and to the next. The plan is amazing because God invites us to be part of it, everyday people sharing our story with others.

Who are the people in your life who have been instrumental in planting seeds of faith in you? Who are the people you want to see connected to Jesus? This Roots and Fruits practice will help you identify those people with humility and gratitude.

In this season of disease, unemployment, change, and uncertainty, we want to be there for our family, friends, and co-workers. To be at our best for them, we need to allow God to care well for us. The familiar words of flight attendants before takeoff may be applicable, “Should the cabin lose pressure, oxygen masks will drop from the overhead area. Please place the mask over your own mouth and nose before assisting others.” Does it feel like your cabin has lost pressure? Do you lack energy, focus, or feel out of sorts?

Listening prayer turns us away from those elaborate internal dialogues and inner chaos we experience. This spiritual practice invites us to let go of our own voice and listen to a better one—God’s loving voice.

In this season, worry and anxiety are at an all-time high. Even if you don’t normally find yourself struggling with anxiety, it’s probably making its way into your mind, heart, and especially your body.

When we remember who God is, it alters our perspective.

Take time at the end of the day, perhaps at dinnertime or bedtime, to share the ways you have seen God move throughout the day.

One of the gifts God has given us is our imagination. The Bible is filled with stories that were real. Stories with real people who had real emotions and responses. Through Imaginative Prayer, we can enter into those stories, allowing our imaginations to paint a picture that brings the Bible to life in a new way. This practice can be such a wonderful way to hear from God and see new things in Scripture.

Being a good neighbor isn’t just checking one another’s mail or smiling in passing. Most importantly, it’s one of Jesus’ greatest commandments in Matthew 22, and therefore, a part of The Creek’s vision statement as a church. While social distancing, many of us have been out on walks enjoying fresh air and sunshine. We've put together a neighborhood prayer walk for you to use as you are out and about in your neighborhood.

We're continuing our anchoring rhythms by looking at the practice of Sabbath. Last week when we reviewed the creation account, we saw how God created the earth and all that is in it in six days. On the seventh day, He rested. When God created Sabbath, it was not for him. God is complete without rest. But he knew we are not. We are finite. We have limits that are very real and cannot be ignored. We grow tired and weary. We desperately need to be refreshed, renewed, revived.

Life rhythms are the daily and weekly patterns and routines that help us function. These patterns are important because our bodies, minds, and emotions are all interconnected. The spiritual practice of creating a rule of life is a simple exercise you can complete with your family or just for yourself to help settle in a bit. It will help provide guardrails that keep you in rhythm.