Discerning God in the Spiritual Practices (REPRISE)

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: David Vryhof

This is a reprise of season 2 episode 5 of The Discerning Leader Podcast.

Reflection is an important spiritual discipline, inviting us to notice, remember, and give thanks. It is practiced in a variety of ways, from journaling to photography, and especially in the ancient practice of Examen. In reflection we are seeking the Spirit’s guidance to illuminate the path we’ve walked and attend to his presence and power every step of the way. As discerning leaders, it’s preferable to live a reflective life, noticing our feelings, actions, and attitudes, and intentionally realigning our motivations, drives, and values toward God’s delightful priorities. 

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: David Vryhof

This is a reprise of season 2 episode 4 of The Discerning Leader Podcast.

Prayer is a huge, somewhat daunting subject. No one has mastered prayer. In fact, if we’re honest, we are all simply beginners. This episode explores the inward, upward, and outward nature of prayer, in both the “secret place” of our prayer closet, as well as in our public worship and community life. Prayer is a conversation between God and his children, with God as primary initiator, offering his love and inviting our love in return.  Our posture is to be one of receptivity, openness, listening and noticing God’s loving voice of comfort, guidance, and joy. 

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: David Vryhof

This is a reprise of season 2 episode 3 of The Discerning Leader Podcast.

Instead of studying the Word to preach or teach it, Lectio Divina invites us to simply listen and receive the Word as a gift of love from God to us, his beloved children. Discerning leaders know the power of the Word and delight when the Scriptures come alive in our prayer closets. As a primary spiritual practice, lectio divina encourages us to feast on a slow and prayerfully meditative reading of God’s Word. In this episode we look at the six rhythms of lectio and behold how the Word comes alive as it’s prayerfully and repetitively held as a gift of love.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: David Vryhof

This is a reprise of season 2 episode 2 of The Discerning Leader Podcast.

We live in an incredibly noisy world. Distractions abound, vying for our attention all throughout our days. Choosing a subversive, counter-cultural pursuit of exterior and interior silence is what separates a discerning leader from society’s norm. Silence and solitude is where we hear the whisper of God, enveloping us with love and affection. It’s the place where Jesus often was found, before the sun rose or late in the evening, discerning the loving voice of the Father.

Finding our way to interior stillness is a great challenge but an even more significant reward.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: David Vryhof

This is a reprise of season 2 episode 1 of The Discerning Leader Podcast.

 A discerning leader understands that service to others is based upon a relationship with God and thereby prioritizes the nurture of the soul.  Commencing a new series, Steve Macchia and his spiritual director, Br. David Vryhof (www.ssje.org), explore the importance of spiritual practices as a foundation on which to deepen a life with God. Since we generally live unreflective lives, we need the space, the grace, and the rhythms to pursue on our pathway to greater union with God. Spiritual practices are a means to the abundant life. It’s all about love!

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.