RUMMAGING FOR GOD
How can we look back with God in order to move forwards? Penelope Swithinbank shares from her years of spiritual direction how she helped someone recalibrate her decision-making process as she discerned her movements towards and away from God through the prayer of examen. I love the hands-on nature of Penelope’s exploration of this prayer practice, which can enrich our lives. - Amy Boucher Pye
Laura twisted her fingers and heaved a deep sigh.
‘I really don’t know what to do,’ she said. ‘I think my job’s about to be made redundant; my parents aren’t well and maybe I should move closer to them, but I love my job, my church and my home here. How do I know what God’s plans are for me? What if I step out of His plans?’
As her spiritual director/counsellor, I felt God nudging me to give Laura a challenge. I suggested to her that for the next month, four whole weeks, she should ask herself two questions last thing at night.
First, a question of consolation. ‘What am I thankful for today?’ ‘Where have I known true joy today?’ Or, ‘Where did I see God at work?’
And then a question of desolation. ‘Where did I fail God today?’ ‘Where was I not at peace today?’ ‘When or where was I not content, not filled with God’s Spirit?’
I suggested Laura jot down her answers to the questions, just briefly, so that in a month’s time she’d notice any patterns, anything important, anything that the Lord wanted to point out or suggest to her. Laura agreed to the challenge and was ……
7 Ways to Pray by Amy Boucher Pye is out now.
You can buy Amy’s wonderful new book here:
If you’d like to have a go at the 7 ways to pray, Amy has a 7 day devotional which you can download for free here
SCENT OF WATER
Do you ever wonder what to say to help someone who is grieving the loss of a loved one?
Or maybe you’ve lost a loved one yourself?
SCENT OF WATER - words of comfort in times of grief is a lovely gift book to give, to receive, to dip in and out of as you appreciate the words, the pictures, the reflections and the quotes.
