From Dale Gish
What is spiritual direction?
Spiritual direction is rooted in a desire to draw near to God, to hear his voice and experience his presence in your life. A spiritual director facilitates spiritual conversations where you can talk about the joys and struggles of your relationship with God, and the obstacles you face in your spiritual journey. Sessions include prayer, listening, and dialogue between you, the director, and God. Because God is present and at work, everything, both good and, bad becomes the raw material for the work God is doing in your life. As you pay attention to God in your everyday life, you can become more attentive to what the Lord is doing and saying and experience your belovedness in a deeper way. You may bring any topic to the session, but the focus will always be on seeing and hearing what God is doing in the midst of that situation.
The process of spiritual direction
Spiritual direction is an ongoing conversation that takes place over many months. It is more about spiritual dialogue with a soul guide than receiving lessons from a teacher. Spiritual directors may offer suggestions or ideas, but do not tell you what to do—that is for you to discern with the Lord. Through conversation, questions, observations and suggestions for the spiritual journey, a spiritual director helps you center in on God and listen to the voice of his Spirit. Typically people meet with a spiritual director once per month.
Things you could bring to a spiritual direction session:
A struggle in your personal, family or work life -and seek to see how God is at work in that situation
An experience of God's grace or presence in your life recently -to celebrate and savor what God is doing
Your experience in prayer recently, struggles or breakthroughs -to grow in your prayer life
Your desires or longings for God -to seek God as your heart's desire
Major decisions or life transitions -to discern God's leading and calling
Your identity and self understading -to explore who God has created you to be
Wanting to love deeply from the heart -Allowing God to soften and open your heart to him