Because shepherds need soul care too
Spiritual Direction and Soul Care for Ministry Leaders
Whom do I trust to care for my soul as a ministry leader?
Soul of the Shepherd brings together a network of soul care professionals who offer insight and practical content on the vital role spiritual direction plays in the lives of ministry leaders.
What is Spiritual Direction?
A spiritual director is a trained listener who helps individuals notice and pay attention to the ways God is present in all aspects of life. In spiritual direction, individuals receive guidance in discerning the movement of the Spirit within them and how to respond faithfully. Spiritual direction provides a safe and non-judgmental space for honest conversation, helping individuals move toward a deeper understanding of themselves and their areas of growth, ultimately leading to a more integrated and whole life with God and others.
Why Spiritual Direction for Ministry Leaders?
As spiritual directors who have been in the field of ministry, we have come to know and love Jesus as our Good Shepherd, trusting his voice to guide us and his presence to sustain us through our lives and in our service to God. We also know how lonely and difficult it can be to be a leader and not always have the energy or time to attend to the desires and needs of our own soul.
This is why we at Gracebridge Alliance (the folks behind Soul of the Shepherd) offer spiritual direction resources for ministry leaders.
Explore Psalm 23 as our landscape for soul care
A Psalm of David
The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
You make me lie down in green pastures;
You lead me beside quiet waters
You restore my soul;
You guide me in the paths of righteousness
For Your name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
What if we lived in the landscape of this beautiful poem?
Perhaps we would find the Good Shepherd guiding us through every turn, faithfully present, strong and courageous, gentle and kind. Go deeper in any of the categories below.
Contentment
“I shall not want”
How do we attend to the good desires and needs we have as we let go and entrust ourselves into God’s care?
Go Deeper >
Restoration
“You restore my soul”
What would it feel like to welcome the kind of soul care we need in the highly demanding and, at times, depleting role of ministry leadership?
Go Deeper >
Guidance
“You guide me”
How do we listen to the invitations from God with discernment amidst the noise of so many competing voices?
Go Deeper >
Encouragement
“You are with me”
We all need the kind of courage that knowing the nearness of God brings to us through all of life’s circumstances, especially in suffering and grief.
Go Deeper >
Reconciliation
“You prepare a table before me”
Let’s open our hands to the overflow of God’s grace amidst opposition and conflict with a hopeful desire for reconciliation and celebration.
Go Deeper >
Faithfulness
“All the days of my life”
Understanding our life stages gives us a long arc view of how to sustain faithfulness in ministry for a lifetime.
Go Deeper >
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