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WHAT IS SPIRITUAL COACHING?

by Pastor John Piippo

Spiritual coaching is different than what is usually called counseling.  For example, a lot of counseling comes during times of crisis.  Spiritual coaching has more to do with discipleship than crisis.  Spiritual coaching can help persons when crises come because who we really are is revealed during times of crisis.  My method is to get you consistently into the presence of God.  Once you are in God's presence, then all kinds of very good things happen to you. As well as challenging things.Your spiritual journal then becomes a record of what God says to you and does in your life as a result
of you getting into His presence.  Does this make sense to you?  It's really pretty simple; the results can be profound.  This is because God is the Agent of personal spiritual transformation. In order to experience this you've got to get yourself into God's presence.  My Psalm 23 exercise is one example of this.  (One very good book about this is by Dallas Willard, and is called Renovation of the Heart.)

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HOW TO KEEP A SPIRITUAL JOURNAL - Q & A

What is a spiritual journal?

A spiritual journal is a record of the voice and activity of God in your life.  A spiritual journal is primarily about what God tells you about your life. It's not to be a thing that's about other people.

What should I write in my spiritual journal?

When God speaks to you, write it down. When God reveals Himself to you, write it down.  When God uses you in the life of another person, write it down.

Do I have to write something in my spiritual journal every day?

No!  When God speaks to you, reveals Himself to you, or works through you - write those kind of things down.  Then you will have a record of the voice and activity of God in your life.

A Starting Place for Beginners

PSALM 23 & BIBLICAL MEDITATION Here's the basic, initial exercise I use when I teach pastors and Christian leaders.  I want you to try this.  I believe God will speak to you as you do it.
1. Copy Psalm 23 and carry it around with you for a week.
2. Meditate on the 23rd Psalm.  To meditate, biblically, is to ponder something.  Go slowly.  It's like a cow chewing its cud.  To meditate is definitely not a "fast food" kind of thing.
3. A suggestion: Take Ps. 23 with you for an hour's walk, or go alone to a quiet place, sit, and meditate on the words.  When God speaks to you, write it down.
4. Here's a challenge: memorize Ps. 23.  Say it over and over and over.  This is a way of getting God's Word into your heart.  Psalm 119:11 says, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin
against you."
5. When God speaks to you, write it down.  (For a very good book on hearing the voice of God, read
Henry Blackaby's Experiencing God.)
6. What does God say to you? I'd like to know.  So, you can - if you like - send me a message telling me what God is saying to you.  I will then personally respond to you and share with you what I think God is saying to you.  A word of encouragement: almost everything you need to live a godly life is found in Psalm 23.