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As many of you know, I am currently working on my Master’s degree in Christian Spiritual Formation and Leadership. It has been one of the most formative and life-giving things that I have ever done. As you can imagine, we do spend some time learning about various spiritual practices that can be facilitate deeper intimacy with Jesus and our character formation. In my studies one that that has become apparent to me in the modern spiritual formation movement is that it tends to neglect some of the outward-focused, ministerial disciplines as a means of discipleship.
You can learn all about prayer, scripture reading, meditation, fasting, silence, solitude, confession, and reconciliation. All of these are very important disciplines but they are all also inwardly focused. Far less time and attention is given to those external disciplines that also open us up to receive God’s love and be formed into Christlikeness.
One of my favorite discipleship books of all time is called The Art of Neighboring. The thing that I love about it is that it gives a very practical guide for how to truly “move into the neighborhood” as a representative of The Word through basic acts of connection, generosity, and goodness.
The first step is simple in premise, and only requires some intentionality on our part. Make a map of the 8 or so closet houses to you (like on the cover) and just get to know these neighbors names. My experience is that if you live in a modern suburb that you likely would not be able to completely fill this map out on your first try. Because, well, it’s hard to get to know people and everyone is busy. And there is no shame in that, however, it does not have to stay that way for you.
The first practical step in incarnating our neighborhood with the love and goodness of Jesus begins with getting to know the names of those who live closest to us. And then, begin to pray for them. It won’t be long before God shows you some very particle ways to show His goodness in their life. He wants to answer those prayers, because He deeply loves you neighbors.
This is the first step that Amanda and I are taking here in our new neighborhood. Using this map to learn the names of those closest to us and beginning to pray for them.
This spiritual formation practice will facilitate you becoming more open to the receiving and giving of God’s love through participating with Him in his own love for your neighbors.
To that end: This weekend we are hosting a neighborhood Christmas cookie decorating party. We have invited the neighborhood over and we are excited for the new connections we are going to make! Please be in prayer for us and we endeavor to be good neighbors to our new friends!
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