Why Spiritual Direction Matters For The Care Of The Soul


One of the greatest challenges of the spiritual life is cultivating awareness in a world of constant distraction. The demands of daily life can easily pull us away from the deeper recesses of the soul, leaving little room to reflect on where God is at work in and around us.

Spiritual direction offers a gracious invitation: to give our attention to the ever-initiating presence of the Triune God. 

At its core, spiritual direction is a relationship that’s devoted to discernment. It is a sacred space where we intentionally seek to recognize the movements of God, reflect on our experiences in His presence, and become more receptive to His invitations. Rather than concentrating on being productive or problem-solving, spiritual direction helps us cultivate a posture of openness before the Lord.

The care of the soul requires intentionality. Our inner life flourishes when we create space to bring our questions, desires, struggles, and joys before God. In the company of a trained and trusted spiritual director, we are invited to notice the subtle ways God is drawing us toward greater freedom and wholeness.

There is also a profound gift in discerning alongside another person. While no one can hear God for us, a wise companion can help illuminate what we may overlook on our own. Together, we listen, reflect, pray, and seek to respond faithfully to God’s loving initiative.

Over time, this rhythm of prayerful listening shapes us. We grow in our awareness of God’s movement, deepen our trust in His leading, and become more aligned with His purposes for our lives. And as we do so, our lives are transformed from the inside out. 

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Steve Macchia

Founder & President

The Rev. Dr. Stephen A. Macchia is founder and president of Leadership Transformations, Inc. (LTI), a ministry serving the spiritual formation, discernment, and renewal of leaders and learners since 2003. For more than 20 years he was the Director of the Pierce Center for Disciple-Building at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he continues to serve as an adjunct faculty member in the Doctor of Ministry Program. From 1989-2003 he was the president of Vision New England, the largest regional church renewal association in the country. Earlier in his ministry life, Steve was a member of the pastoral staff of Grace Chapel in Lexington, Massachusetts for 11 years. He is the author or co-author of 17 books,  including Praying the Parables of Jesus (NavPress/Tyndale), The Discerning Life (Zondervan Reflective), and Crafting a Rule of Life, Becoming A Healthy Church (LTI), and Broken and Whole (IVP).  He and his wife Ruth live in the Boston (MA) area and are the proud parents of two married children and grandparents to three adorable grandchildren. Steve’s personal website is www.SteveMacchia.com.

My soul comes alive singing the great hymns of the church and enjoying the beauty of God’s creation. I’m in awe of God for fulfilling the dream for LTI that he birthed in my heart, for the team he has assembled, and the transformational impact experienced in the leaders and teams we serve.

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Mitzi Mak

Selah-West Faculty & Emmaus Faculty

Mitzi started her professional life as a high school social studies teacher. She and her husband Jerry then served cross-culturally for ten+ years, living abroad first in India and then Kurdistan, N. Iraq. In addition to being a Spiritual Director, she now serves as a Formation and Care pastor in her local church in Houston, TX. She has graduated from LTI’s Selah Spiritual Direction training as well as LTI’s Emmaus Formational Leadership Program.

Mitzi enjoys engaging conversation, reading fiction, doing jigsaw/crossword puzzles, ocean gazing and exploring the world with Jerry through food and travel.

God has two main callings in Mitzi’s life: to care for those who care for others and to be a guide in helping others have a healthy relationship with the Trinity – recognizing God’s loving presence and activity in their lives and how to faithfully respond.

Selah was a transformative experience for me – allowing the contemplative within to emerge and to beautifully co-exist with my extraverted personality.