Walking with Souls: The Holy Art of Guidance
Foundations of Christian Spiritual Guidance
Spiritual direction is one of the most sought-after practices within Christian spirituality and plays a vital role in the process of spiritual formation. Rooted in various streams of Christian tradition, this biblical practice helps cultivate a deeper awareness of God’s presence and a clearer discernment of His work in our daily lives. As a transformative practice of spiritual formation, its gift is profound: it invites you to listen more attentively to God’s voice and become more attuned to His real presence. This series on spiritual direction and guidance will provide a brief introduction and orientation, whether you're seeking spiritual direction for your own growth or sensing a calling to guide others into a deeper awareness of God’s presence.
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Today: Spiritual Direction as a Biblical Practice
One of the things I appreciate most about people who hold Scripture in high regard is their foundational question about spiritual practices: Is this biblical? Is this something Jesus did or valued? To those outside the Christian tradition, or with a low view of Scripture, this may seem doctrinaire. I, however, kindly disagree. Eugene Peterson is a voice I trust when it comes to spiritual formation and theology. In his landmark book on spiritual theology, Peterson offers a poignant warning about the state of contemporary spirituality:
Because of this spiritual poverty all around, this lack of in dealing with what matters most to us…”spirituality,” to use the generic term for it, has escaped institutional structures and is now more or less free-floating. Spirituality is “in the air.” The good thing in all this is that the deepest and most chacteristic aspects of life are now common concerns: hunger and thirst for what is lasting and eternal is widely acknowledged and openly expressed: refusal to be reduced to our job descriptions and test results is pervasive and determined. The difficulty, though, is that everyone is more or less invited to make up a spirituality that suits herself or himself. Out of the grab bag of celebrity anecdotes, media gurus, fragments of ecstasy, and personal fantasies, far too many of us, with the best intentions in the world, because we have been left to do it “on our own,” assemble spiritual identities and ways of life that are conspicuously prone to addictions, broken relationships, isolation, and violence.1
I have zero interest in offering an approach to spiritual formation or spiritual guidance that is, in Peterson’s words, “free floating” and composed of a DIY “grab bag” of spirituality that is largely cut off from the deep roots of biblical spirituality. So, here are FOUR narratives from scripture that illustrate and show the biblical roots of spiritual guidance.
Moses Guided Israel…but God Guided Moses
Moses had a God-given opportunity at Mt. Sinai, to grab the horns of leadership and take Israel on a journey across the desert. Moses certainly had the leadership chops to do this, growing up in the courts of the Egyptian super leader, the Pharaoh. Israel’s God, Yahweh, had seen some of the early signs of Israel’s addiction to self-direction, and told Moses that He, God, would not be making the rest of the journey with Israel:
Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised…But I will not go with you, because [Israel is] a stiff-necked people… (Exodus 33:1-3)
Moses refused. He knew everything—and everyone—depended on one thing, and it wasn’t his leadership acumen. It was the Real Presence of God with them.
Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”(Exodus 33:12-16)
Moses’ sense of relief must have been palpable. Then, something extraordinary happened: Moses entered the Tent of Meeting, and the Presence of God filled the space. "The Lord spoke with Moses... The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend." (Exodus 33:9-11)
Moses had been learning to discern the voice of God. We can see signs of Moses having developed a conversational relationship with God, from which, Moses, the guide, received guidance from God. It was from this divine guidance that he then led Israel on its harrowing trek to the promised land prepared by God. The Tent of Meeting was an early form of sacred space where guidance from God was found.
Eli Guided Samuel
You might be familiar with the story of the young Samuel, who served as an apprentice to Eli, the high priest of Israel. Samuel was living in the tabernacle, learning the ways of the priesthood and spiritual leadership under Eli’s guidance. He was being trained to fulfill priestly duties, a likely future vocation for him.
But everything changed one night. As Samuel slept near the ark of God, a voice called his name. Startled, Samuel woke up and assumed it was Eli calling for him. He rushed to Eli's side, shaking him awake, but Eli, groggy from being disturbed, sent Samuel back to his bed.
Samuel returned to sleep, only to be awakened again by the voice calling his name. He rushed to Eli once more, and again, Eli, more irritated this time, sent him back to bed.
After Samuel had fallen asleep once more, the voice called his name a third time. This time, Eli realized that something extraordinary was happening: God was calling Samuel. Eli, now understanding the situation and knew his mission: to help Samuel recognize and discern the speaking voice of God. In this moment, Eli played a pivotal role in helping Samuel recognize and respond to God’s voice. This biblical story highlights the essential role of spiritual guidance—helping someone discern God's voice and direction in their life.
John the Baptist Guided His Followers to Jesus
John the Baptist was a truly unique figure in the biblical narrative. More devoted than most, with an austere lifestyle, he knew his calling: to prepare the hearts of the people for the arrival of the One sent by God. But in the midst of waiting, something unexpected happened—John developed a following. A large one. So large, in fact, that "all of Jerusalem" (Mark 1:5) went out into the wilderness to hear his bold and challenging messages.
Then, one day, while a great crowd surrounded John, the long-awaited Messiah, Jesus, arrived. The people, thinking John might be the Messiah, asked him directly. But John, ever the humble guide, denied it. As he saw Jesus at the edge of the crowd, he boldly pointed to Him and declared, “He is the one you want” (John 1:19-37).
This moment is a profound picture of spiritual direction. John, the guide, recognized his role was only to prepare others to recongize the One who would bring true transformation, never to be the Messiah. He was secure in his identity, grounded in his calling, and clear about the distinction between his role and the greater One he was pointing to. There is power in that. John had done the inner work of spiritual formation—he knew who he was, and just as importantly, he knew who he wasn’t.
In a culture where so many are prone to misidentify the One their hearts long for, the clarity and humility shown by John the Baptist is a model for us all. To be a guide requires the same self-awareness and humility: to prepare the hearts of others, not to stand at the center, but to recognize and point to the Real Presence of God.
Jesus Guided His Disciples
When it comes to the practice of spiritual guidance, I think I love most the early story of Jesus choosing his twelve disciples. It’s right in many ways that I would love the Jesus-story more than others. He is, after all, the smartest person in every room and in every conversation. How he does guidance is the way above all ways.
You’re familiar with this story: in the beginning of his ministry, Jesus handpicks a dozen individuals to follow him, to become his disciples. They will later be known as the apostles. But what strikes me most is the very first invitation Jesus gives them. Mark, likely through Peter’s account, tells us what happened:
After naming the twelve, Jesus gave them the invitation of a lifetime: “to be with him” (Mark 3:14).
What Mark shows us in this moment is foundational to spiritual guidance: it’s relational, not informational. For centuries, I think we knew that the “best practices” of guidance involved listening, relationship, and accountability. Later, as culture turned more outward and transactional, we substituted relationship for lectures, information, advice, counsel, and solutions. But spiritual guidance that is transformational is stubborn: it will not work when it is transactional because at its heart, it is relational in nature. Both the guide and the seeker are on the same journey, walking with Jesus and with one another in response to a shared hunger for a deeper connection with him.
In a world marked by isolation and disconnection, the relational nature of spiritual guidance is perhaps its most powerful element. In that relational space, everything changes.
Conclusion
Each of these biblical stories story highlights a different aspect of spiritual guidance, demonstrating its relational, discerning, and transformative nature. From Moses’ conversation with God in the Tent of Meeting to John the Baptist’s humility in pointing others to Jesus, these stories place Christian spiritual direction inside of biblical spiritual formation and theology. You might want to add other biblical roots by leaving a comment.
Tomorrow: Spiritual Direction as Care of the Soul
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If you have more questions about spiritual direction as a Christian spiritual formation practice, or are interested in how to become a spiritual guide, I’d love to engage in a converation with you.
Eugene H. Peterson, Christ Plays in Ten Thouand Places, (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 2005), 5.