• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
light magazine logo and tag

Light Magazine

Inspiring Faith For Everyday Life

  • Arts
  • Community
    • Alberta Community
    • British Columbia Community
  • Faith
  • Family
  • Leadership
  • Life
  • Mission
  • Jobs
    • Job Dashboard
    • Post a Job
  • Events
  • Directory
  • About Us

Spiritual discipline in the wilderness

May 1, 2020 by Marion Van Driel Leave a Comment

Spiritual discipline in the wilderness

Today we, along with the rest of the world, wander in a spiritual wilderness. We face an unknown future, and everything seems beyond our control. We are only able to choose how we will respond. With the Spirit’s help, we can act in ways that bring hope and healing to ourselves, and others. To respond well is to be intentional about our spiritual wellbeing. Just as physical exercise gives our bodies strength and agility, so spiritual exercise keeps our hearts and minds supple and strong. The most compelling argument for delving into spiritual disciplines is the resulting joy. Can we, in a time such as this, really experience authentic joy? Can sorrow, lament and joy co-exist? Perhaps there is no better time to discover the answer to that question.

Pacific Academy jan 15 25 post ad

Scores of books have been written on the subject of spiritual discipline. A good start for us might be to refresh those most comforting familiar: scripture reading and prayer. If you don’t have a regular habit (or ‘rule of life’) that includes these disciplines, start slowly – even just fifteen minutes a day. In his book, Deep-Rooted in Christ, Korean pastor Joshua Choonmin Kang says, “The wilderness is a beautiful place when we start to hear God. As we learn to listen, desert flowers bloom and the wilderness is filled with love.” So pick up your Bible, find a quiet, comfortable space without disruption for at least fifteen minutes. Read a Psalm. Read a passage in one of the gospels. Don’t devour the words – linger over them. Notice what moves you – what concerns you, what questions you have. Talk to God about those things. Know that He is able to handle your doubts, sorrow, and yes, even anger. Sit with the silence. Don’t rush. Listen to your heart – what the Holy Spirit is bringing to your attention. In a practical sense, here are a few ways to refresh your practice:

Alistair Young Nov 14 2024 post ad

• Take a moment to quiet your heart, to move away from the day’s worries – this is just you and God

BC Christian Ashram 250

• Read the Bible passage(s) aloud – hearing the word spoken is powerful

CSB Men ISI 300

• Read the passages slowly, two or three times

• Sit in silence – don’t talk (even to God), just sit quietly, imagining yourself resting at Jesus’ feet

• Kneel as you pray – a humble position can give us a deeper sense of God’s presence

• Go for a ‘prayer walk’ – just keep your eyes open!

Maybe your world has actually become busier during the pandemic. If finding time is a real struggle, look for other ways to commune with God; a few minutes before you get out of bed in the morning; direct your thoughts to Him on your way to work. And if you find it hard to even approach God, ask someone to pray for you – a mentor, a family member, or a trusted friend. We – all of us – desire a journey towards joy. Perhaps it’s nearer than we think. 

“God created us in joy and created us for joy, and in the long run not all the darkness there is in the world and in ourselves can separate us finally from that joy, because whatever else it means to say that God created us in His image, I think it means that even when we cannot believe in Him, even when we feel most spiritually bankrupt and deserted by Him, His mark is deep within us. We have God’s joy in our blood.”

– Frederick Buechner

About Marion Van Driel

Marion Van DrielMarion Van Driel delights in her roles as a wife, mother and grandmother; her soul is fed by both composing and composting. Music, words, form and colour are ingredients on which she thrives. She considers her garden a gift where family and friends gather to visit, heal, reflect and celebrate. Called as writer, artist, worship leader, gardener and (sometimes reluctant) follower of Christ, she bears evidence of God’s abundant grace without which she’d be someone else entirely.

View all posts by Marion Van Driel

Filed Under: Faith Tagged With: Bible, Spirit

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

BC Christian Ashram
Christian Herald
Cultus Lake Parks ad 360
CSB Men ISI 360
Lighhouse Harbour Ministries
Taylormotive Jun 26, 23 S
Visionvest
BC Christian Academy 360
sign up 1
Pioneer Camps post ad 360 x 240
CSB Boys Jun 2025 360
Camp Qwanoes 360
sign up 2
Jack Taylor The Sacrifice

Secondary Sidebar

Upcoming Events

Jun 6
June 6 @ 8:00 am - August 30 @ 5:00 pm

Rosebud, AB: Dream, A new Canadian Musical at Rosebud Theatre

Jun 23
June 23 @ 8:00 am - June 26 @ 5:00 pm

Nepean, ON: The Timothy Trust Summer School

Jun 24
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Vernon, BC: Watoto Children’s Choir

Jun 26
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Online: National Day of Prayer

Jun 26
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Salmon Arm, BC: Watoto Children’s Choir

View Calendar

Recent Jobs

  • Kindergarten Teacher

    • Salmon Arm, BC, Canada
    • King's Christian School
    • Full Time
  • Director of Philanthropy & Communications

    • Victoria, BC, Canada
    • The Cridge Centre for the Family
    • Full Time
  • Director of Major Gifts

    • Alberta, Canada (Remote)
    • Mary's Meals Canada
    • Full Time
  • Community Office Support Worker

    • Swan River, MB, Canada
    • Adult & Teen Challenge of Central Canada
    • Full Time
  • Director of Operations

    • Binbrook, Hamilton, ON L0R 1C0, Canada
    • Aqua Fast Flush
    • Full Time

Directory

Businesses
201
Ministries
909
Schools
427

Articles Archive

Copyright © 2025 · Light Magazine · Website by Shannon Stange · Log in

Change Location
Find awesome listings near you!