Spiritual direction is the ministry of helping others notice and respond to God.
It is time spent in an attitude of prayer and conversation, where one believer accompanies another in discerning the Father’s initiative in calling to us, resting in the Son’s finished and saving work, and yielding to the Spirit who works within and around us. In this protected space, we learn to recognize God’s presence in ordinary moments and respond to His leading.
The purpose of spiritual direction is to help the directee, the person receiving direction, grow in relationship with God. As they grow, they learn to walk more freely in the Father’s love and, through the Spirit’s enablement, surrender more fully to God’s will.
Spiritual direction helps a person become more aware of their own deep longings. John Calvin reminds us that true wisdom includes both knowing God and knowing ourselves, and that we do not see ourselves clearly until we have first looked upon God. The spiritual director does not bring a personal agenda or program. He listens, discerns, asks questions, and attends to the directee’s emotions, longings, and needs. His aim is always to point to Jesus rather than to himself, inviting others to come and see the Jesus he knows and to enter the joy of the Lord in both mind and experience.
The focus of spiritual direction is not merely learning ideas about God, but experiencing God personally. Familiarity with theological concepts is no substitute for knowing Him directly. Because God is love, to know Him is to love Him, and to love Him is to know Him. This knowing is not only a matter of the head, it is also a matter of the heart. Spiritual direction may overlap with other forms of soul care, but coaching, counseling, discipleship, or mentoring are not the focus.
Like a host, the director holds a protected and unhurried space where people can notice for themselves what God is doing. He does this with humility and reverence, as a companion rather than a spiritual authority.
At its heart, spiritual direction is mutual attention to God. Jesus promised that His sheep will know His voice.