Journey to Stillness: Embracing Spiritual Growth

 

Summary

During the sermon, I reflected on my recent pilgrimage experience, the Camino de Santiago, and how it has influenced my spiritual journey. I drew from Psalm 84, an ancient poem about the longing of the human heart to live in the presence of God, and used it as a guide throughout my pilgrimage. I emphasized the importance of setting our hearts on pilgrimage, declaring our desire for a fresh encounter with God, and moving away from spiritual mediocrity. I also discussed the power of intention and the soul's thirst for stillness, which are both lessons I learned during my pilgrimage.

In the second part of the sermon, I delved deeper into the concept of stillness and how it is essential for spiritual growth. I referenced Saint Isaac the Syrian's belief that the love of God proceeds from our conversation with Him, which comes through stillness. I also talked about the need to strip away the layers of our false self, our ego, and our desire to control things and other people. I shared my personal experiences and struggles during my pilgrimage, emphasizing that it takes time for our souls to come to rest and enter into a deep conversation with God.

Key Takeaways:
- The power of intention is a crucial aspect of spiritual growth and can be harnessed through practices like pilgrimage. #!!13:31!!#
- The soul's thirst for stillness is essential for it to come alive and flourish. This stillness can be achieved by creating adequate space and rest in our lives. #!!14:10!!#
- Stripping away the layers of our false self, our ego, and our desire to control things and other people is a necessary part of spiritual growth. #!!14:54!!#
- It takes time for our souls to come to rest and enter into a deep conversation with God. This process can be facilitated by creating more space in our lives. #!!16:20!!#

Study Guide

Main Points from the Sermon:

1. The soul needs stillness to flourish and come alive. We need to limit our inputs and clear away the clutter to give our soul adequate space. This is one of the gifts of pilgrimage. [17:00]

2. Embracing suffering is a part of the spiritual journey. Seeking God does not promise an easy life, but it does promise that God will meet us in our suffering. We need to open our eyes in the midst of our suffering and ask, "God, where are you in my suffering?" [17:45]

3. The power of intention is a key lesson from pilgrimage. We need to set our hearts on a fresh encounter with God, rather than living in mediocrity. [13:31]

4. The joy of companionship is a renewing gift of pilgrimage. We need to honor the gift of deep spiritual companionship and share the deepest things in our hearts with each other. [22:01]

Bible Chapters for the Group to Read:

1. Psalm 84
2. Romans 5:1-5
3. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

Discussion Guide:

Observation Questions:

1. What does Psalm 84 tell us about the longing of the human heart for God's presence?
2. How does the speaker describe the need for stillness in our lives?
3. What does the speaker mean when he talks about embracing suffering?
4. How does the speaker describe the power of intention and the joy of companionship?

Interpretation Questions:

1. How does Psalm 84 relate to the speaker's points about the spiritual journey and pilgrimage?
2. What does it mean to "open our eyes in the midst of our suffering"?
3. How can we apply the power of intention in our spiritual journey?
4. What does the joy of companionship look like in our lives?

Application Questions:

1. How can we create more stillness in our lives to allow our souls to flourish?
2. Can you recall a time when you experienced suffering? How did you see God in that situation?
3. How can we set our hearts on a fresh encounter with God? What does that look like in practical terms?
4. How can we cultivate deeper spiritual companionship in our lives?

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of Intention

The power of intention is a powerful force in our spiritual journey. It is the driving force behind our actions and decisions. It is the compass that guides us towards our spiritual goals. Without a clear intention, we can easily lose our way and become distracted by the many distractions of the world.

Proverbs 16:3 - "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."

Reflection: Reflect on your spiritual journey so far. Have you set a clear, intentional goal for your spiritual growth? If not, what specific goal can you set today to deepen your relationship with God?

Day 2: The Soul's Thirst for Stillness

In the hustle and bustle of life, our souls often yearn for stillness. This stillness is not merely the absence of noise or activity, but a deep, inner peace that comes from being in communion with God.

Psalm 46:10 - "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

Reflection: Do you feel like your soul is operating in oxygen debt due to the hustle and bustle of life? If so, what specific steps can you take this week to create space for stillness and engage in a deep conversation with God?

Day 3: Embracing Suffering

Suffering is a part of life. It is in these moments of suffering that we are often able to feel God's presence the most. Embracing suffering does not mean that we enjoy it, but rather that we accept it as a part of our journey and seek God's presence and grace in the midst of it.

Romans 5:3-4 - "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent time of suffering in your life. Were you able to feel God's presence during this time? If not, how can you seek God's presence and grace in future seasons of suffering?

Day 4: The Joy of Companionship

Companionship is a gift from God. It is through companionship that we are able to share our joys, sorrows, hopes, and fears. It is through companionship that we are able to grow and mature in our spiritual journey.

Proverbs 27:17 - "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."

Reflection: Think of a friend who has been a companion in your spiritual journey. How can you deepen this companionship by sharing the deepest things in your heart with them?

Day 5: Risking Intimacy

Intimacy is a risk. It requires us to be vulnerable and open ourselves up to the possibility of being hurt. But it is through this risk that we are able to experience the deepest forms of love and connection.

James 5:16 - "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

Reflection: Reflect on your relationships. Are there areas where you are holding back from sharing your deepest thoughts, feelings, or fears? How can you take a step towards risking intimacy in these relationships this week?

Quotes

1. "Pilgrimage teaches us about the power of intention. It also teaches us about the Soul's thirst for Stillness. The soul needs Stillness in order for it to come alive, in order for it to flourish. We think of spiritual growth as a mysterious thing and of course it is a mysterious thing because God is infinite and he's larger than we are and he's invisible and so how do we make contact with the invisible God." 13:31

2. "The soul will expand like a flower that's watered if we give it adequate space. If we clear away the Clutter that's one of the gifts of pilgrimage." 16:58

3. "Being a person whose heart is set on pilgrimage towards God doesn't promise that we will be Exempted from sorrow or Injustice but it does promise US that God will meet us there. We don't have to be glad for our suffering we said to open our eyes in the midst of our suffering." 19:54

4. "One of the renewing gifts of the Camino is extraordinarily generous time with friends. I want to challenge us all to honor the gift of deep spiritual companionship with one another to find people with whom we can share the deepest things in our hearts." 22:01

5. "Pilgrimage is one of the oldest most common spiritual practices in human history. People of all religions have always made pilgrimage to Holy sides. There is power to move forward in the spiritual journey when we set our hearts on pilgrimage when we simply say to God God I want nothing more than a fresh encounter with you." 04:56

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?