Essay Example on the Fountain of Life: Spiritual Practices for Community Living

Introduction

Spiritual practices in the community is a book that provides the opportunity for readers to learn and lead differently in this thirsty world which desperately looks for spiritual leaders to guide them towards the fountain of life. The book by Diana Shiflet helps readers not only on telling them about the living water of Jesus Christ but also invites them to have an experience of it. The book is like a personal hand on a guide that walks readers through a range of spiritual practices, including scripture mediation and communal silences. Shiflet uses step-by-step instructions to demonstrate pitfalls and damaging experiences to look out for as she shares her experiences in the journey with touches of humor and honesty. As one of the best spiritual guide books, the author uses various spiritual means to convince readers to come and listen to the voice of God. She states that as individuals are starting to take up religious practice spaces, the experience they get will help them learn how to experience and learn from God. As the title of the book suggests, Diana Shiflet works on through lines and chapters of the book to outline spiritual practices within communities that would help leaders to draw groups towards the presence of God.

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Told from multiple perspectives, the spiritual practice in the community handbook starts in the first chapter that states on general steps of leading various religious traditions. The preceding sections show how spiritual leaders can lead groups in other different spiritual practices. These more than thirty practices, as described by Diana Shiflet, are different, and one is advised to take their path. Since everyone knows their context, Diana opens up in the first chapter by suggesting one to do their practice, which leads them into God's way. Some of the methods explained in other sections can also help an individual have more intimacy in their marriage. The plot of the first chapter kicks off by Shiflet discussing general ways a spiritual leader can lead a group. The group could be in different settings, such as board meetings, mission trips, youth ministries, camps, conferences, and even during devotions. In these general occasions, Shiflet advises one to first do spirituality practices on their own before one can lead it. The practice will help one to tell the group how they met God in practice, and the difficulties one experienced during the practice.

The general method of leading a group into spirituality kicks off with room preparation. Room preparation may take up different styles, where the leader might separate individuals if they are more than ten into smaller groups. The method is different for various leaders, but smaller groups of individuals are recommended to ensure maximum cooperation during the practice. Other practices that follow include setting up spaces, which could be the silence needed to listen to God's voice. Maintaining the silence, breathing deeply, listening for the holy spirit, and being oneself are other necessary general steps to lead people into God's presence. Leading at a slower pace, using a timer, and getting to know the audience are other necessary steps and factors that the leader needs to be conversant within the process. The last step is debriefing the audience to know God moved during the spiritual practice. Debriefing involves asking open-ended questions to the audience to enable them to recognize their experience in practice. Such questions might include how one felt during the exercise, sections that felt significant, if there was any scripture that came into their mind while they were practising, among other questions. As Diana Shiflet describes, debriefing helps participants to articulate their encounter with Jesus Christ clearly.

Spiritual Practices Drawing Groups into the Heart Of God

The main argument that plays out in Diana's book is spirituality. After the first chapter, she describes the various spiritual practices that people might engage in to draw themselves closer to God. As one is practising and leading others in doing so, both the leader and the group draw closer to God, and He fills up all their cups to overflow. In one practice, practising in silence with others, the author clearly describes how the absence of noise takes one closer to God. An individual can get a clear message from God when they are not distracted from any exterior disturbances or voices. The author uses biblical references to elaborate on how silence brings one closer to God. In Mathew, for example, the Bible states that we do get a glimpse of Jesus in solitude. External distractions during instances of silence in practice can be mitigated using various methods, as Diana Shiflet explains in the second chapter.

Diana Shiflet explains that each person is wired differently; therefore, spiritual practices give individuals different experiences when they engage with God. As her maim arguments revolves around the scripture and spirituality, Diana Shiflet does not deviate from the theme of spirituality in the book. Other chapters involve spiritual practices that leaders are encouraged to engage in to draw groups within the community closer to God. Some of the methods include exploring life together, processing life, corporate discernment, and sharing the rhythm of being on the community. Using every practice within the book, Diana, through her experience, believes that every thirst will be quenched. Since we are all drawing ourselves to the fountain of life, where our cups are always running empty and the 'the living water' is the provider, we can never be disappointed when we come for the living water. God knows our every need, and since we are wired differently, God will always meet us at different spiritual practices. Diana explains that we should be only willing to submit to His power and let Him take control of our lives.

The final chapter of the book connects individuals within a group to God through corporate discernment. Through corporate discernment, Diana explains that organizations built by the faith of God achieve their mission and vision through well planned organizational strategies designed around discerning, where God is calling the organization. It is a function of an individual relationship with God. The team within the organization can achieve its goal by custom-tailoring their process to meet personal needs. The processes involved in the practice might include identification of the scripture to encourage prayerful individual reflection, encouraging openness within the organization, and building consensus around every emerging direction.

Spiritual practices are different ways that individuals connect to God. Everyone has a way that they feel more connected to God, and Diana Shiflet explores all these ways to submit ourselves to the higher realm. From the first chapter, she explains in a general way we can engage in spiritual practices to other sections where more specificity is required in different groups. Diana explains every process vividly in every chapter to draw spiritual leaders to the fountain of life and direct all their groups to the same. In the process, all our cups are filled to overflowing, as our faith is refilled. With psychological experiences, Diana as a youth ministry has proven that various congregations can be moved closer to God with determination and persistence. Shiflet has been moving congregation of all description towards the kingdom of God, and she understands all the difficulties involved: awkwardness, self-doubt, and different questions involved. The book therefore is a guide whereby all the spiritual practices in the chapters can become life-giving resources in anyone's ministry.

Bibliography

Shiflett, Diana. Spiritual Practices in Community: Drawing Groups into the Heart of God. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, an imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2018.