First evangelical church association

Spiritual Direction Training Program (SDTP)                                          Back

 

What is Spiritual Direction?

 

Luke 24:13-35 gives us a glimpse of spiritual direction: "Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. He said to them, "Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scripture concerning himself. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem." (NIV)

 

This passage tells us that the two believers were at first confused, disappointed and without hope. They did not understand what had happened. Jesus came and walked with them, listened to them and discussed with them. He offered explanation and interpretation of their experience from the perspective of the Scripture and God's will. As a result, their eyes were opened and they finally saw God. Their hearts were rekindled with fire and passion for God and life. They went and told everyone what had happened to them.

 

The two believers' experience resembles many of our own experiences in the present age. Life is a journey, full of uncertainty, crisis, confusion, and disappointment. Sometimes the future seems unclear. Doubts about God and life are not unusual. Like the two believers, we need someone to walk alongside us to help us to see life from the perspective of the Scripture and God's will, to be aware of the presence of God and to discern the work of God in our lives. At other times, we simply want to know how to grow more intimately with Christ in our relationship with Him. These are occasions where spiritual direction can play significant roles.