(Based on Soul-Tending: Life Forming Practices for Older Youth and Young Adult)
The ideal setting for these exercises is within a small group. If you are currently in a small group, then you are ready to begin! If not, gather some fellow seekers and find a regular meeting time. The format for each exercise is S-P-I-R-I-T:
Signs of the Spirit: This section asks you to reflect on God's activity in your life during the previous week.
Purpose: The purpose of tending our souls is to allow Christ to be formed in us. Covenant to tend the fire of your sol so that your longing for Christ may never be extinguished and that oyour life will be set ablaze with his love.
Instruction: This section introduces the practice.
Rehearsal: Here you have the opportunity to rehearse the practice and work out any feelings of discomfort or clear up confusion you may have about the practice.
Involving: This section will help you explore the ways in which practicing your faith will afect all areas of your life--from your home life to your school life to your work life, and so forth.
Tomorrow: Choose how you will engage in the practice throughout the week and commit to the practice. You may want to write your commitment in a journal or share it with a friend or parent. This will help you be accountable.
(adapted from Soul Tending edited by Kenda Creasy Dean and Ron Foster)
These are six of the forty-four life-forming practices from Soul Tending edited by Kenda Creasy Dean and Ron Foster, Nashville, TN, Abingdon Press, 2002. Reprinted with permission. Click here to buy the book.