Spiritual Formation Articles

Our Wildest Dreams Aren't Half Wild Enough

Here at Renovaré, we love a good laugh, and so we turn to this little gem from Frederick Buechner who reminds us that in the kingdom, when God shows us that all of our dearest hopes and wildest dreams are not half wild enough compared to what he has planned for us, we will “make merry,” indeed.

Frederick Buechner

July 19, 2017

Four Paradoxes of Christian Simplicity

Richard Foster encourages us to see simplicity as a pattern for experiencing the true riches of life. He acknowledges that a full embrace of this discipline entails grappling with some paradoxes, but trusts that we can, with God’s grace, find the heart of simplicity in perfect obedience to Christ.

Richard J. Foster

July 17, 2017

Answering Discontent

When Christian, the protagonist in John Bunyan’s classic The Pilgrim’s Progress, catches up with his old friend Faithful on the road to the City of Zion, Faithful shares the tale of how he met with Discontent in the Valley of Humility. This short excerpt is a lesson on keeping our eyes on the prize.

John Bunyan

July 14, 2017

Keeping a Low Center of Gravity

In sports like water skiing, Fr. Michael Denk advises that the key to balance is lowering the center of gravity. Spiritually, this is the essence of humility. Here we offer some thoughts from Mother Teresa of Calcutta on how to keep our spiritual center of gravity low and our lives in balance.

Teresa of Calcutta

July 12, 2017

Humility in Action

Here is a study in the virtue of humility as expressed in the life of Paul’s spiritual son, Timothy, and examined in his personality profile in the pages of the Life with God Bible. What lessons can we learn from Timothy’s “devoted and selfless spirit” that will guide us today?

Brenda Quinn & Life with God Bible Editors

July 10, 2017

The Handmaid of the Holy Spirit

As we continue to walk the path of time-fullness, Tertullian joins us to introduce a good friend along the way: Patience. This partner of the Holy Spirit can be our partner, too, as we learn to keep step with the doings of God in his perfect time.

Tertullian

June 28, 2017

Future. Tense.

“But we want a man hag-ridden by the Future … We want a whole race perpetually in pursuit of the rainbow’s end, never honest, nor kind, nor happy now.” In this piece, we walk the path of the time-full life and consider, with help from Jack Lewis, how gratitude and love can ground us in eternity.

C.S. Lewis

June 27, 2017

Waiting on the Lord Involves ... Waiting ...

If it seems as though we post a lot about waiting here at Renovaré, that’s because it is a discipline that resonates with us—and we think with the world at large—in our “haste, hurry, and hustle.” Richard Foster introduces us to the idea of living a life that’s “time-full” instead.

Richard J. Foster

June 26, 2017

Learning to Pray Again

For anyone who wishes to enter more fully into the mystery and relationship of prayer, Emilie Griffin’s book Clinging is a rich resource. In this short excerpt, she writes of first righting our image of God when learning (or relearning) to pray.

Emilie Griffin

June 23, 2017

Teach us, Almighty Father

The daughter of an Anglican rector, Jane Austen not only wrote some of the most enduring (and hilarious) novels in English literature, she composed prayers for private and family devotions. Here we offer, for your consideration, one of her evening prayers, edited slightly for day or nighttime use.

Jane Austen

June 21, 2017

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