QUESTION: What is spiritual formation?
ANSWER: It is the forming of our spirits. Everything we experience shapes our spirits—family, job, movies, music, health, environment, and more. Everything. By doing spiritual disciplines such as worship, prayer, study, celebration, solitude, etc. our spirits are shaped for the good. Things that are bad—dissension, violence, greed, lust, and jealousy to name a few—lose their attraction as our spirits are formed, conformed, and transformed into the image of Christ.

QUESTION: Which spiritual disciplines should I practice? All of them all at once? The ones I'm good at? The ones I'm not good at?
ANSWER: You should practice the ones you need. Remember, you are an athlete of God and like any good athlete you are going to train in the areas of your true need. Now, this takes some prayerful inventory of where you stand before God. But Christ is with you as your ever-present Teacher and he will guide you into what you need for your own growth. In addition, you may want to seek out the counsel of someone whom you trust for his or her wisdom and spiritual maturity. And don't be afraid to make a mistake or two; most athletes do, you know. You will learn as you go, and if you have a teachable heart, you will learn even from your mistakes . . . especially from your mistakes.

QUESTION: I'm a pastor and I hear what you are saying about spiritual formation. Yet I feel so spiritually numb. What should I do?
ANSWER: Seek out a few people who are wild about God and hang out with them for awhile.

QUESTION: I have heard it said we are to seek God long enough so that when we find him we will be able to stand it. Are you, Richard Foster, there?
ANSWER: Only in a measure. I can take more of God's love today than was true a few years ago. But there is still a long way to go. God withholds portions of his love for our good because if we were to enter into it as we are now it would simply do us in. God, however, is committed to enlarging our capacity to contain his love so that when we get to heaven we will indeed be able to stand it!

QUESTION: I'm interested in going to a spiritual director. How do I find one?
ANSWER: Consider contacting local Roman Catholic groups or Anglican/Episcopal churches and/or inquiring among Christians you know. Many Roman Catholic and Anglican priests and religious are trained in spiritual direction so their churches, retreat centers, and diocesan offices are good sources of information. Unfortunately, however, for liability reasons, most churches and church bodies do not publish lists of available spiritual directors. So word of mouth referral will likely be the only way to find a director.

QUESTION: I feel I'm being led to enter a formal spiritual formation program or to become a spiritual director. Do you know of any programs?
ANSWER: Over the years RENOVARÉ has compiled a list of spiritual formation, spiritual direction, and spirituality programs that will help you find one that fits your need. This list is provided as a resource only and is not an endorsement of any specific program. RENOVARÉ is not legally affiliated with any of these organizations nor has any formal or informal partnership.