John Mark Comer: Resetting Our Relationship With God
Jan 11, 2025
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Join John Mark Comer, a teacher and spiritual formation expert, as he shares insights on nurturing deeper connections with God and others. He discusses the importance of spiritual resets over mere resolutions, the transformative power of observing the Sabbath, and how to cultivate genuine spiritual desires free from guilt. Comer emphasizes community in spiritual practices and critiques modern church dynamics that prioritize entertainment over depth. Get ready to reimagine your faith journey in today's fast-paced world!
True spirituality involves a genuine desire for connection with God rather than adherence to societal expectations and guilt-driven practices.
Cultivating spiritual hunger requires identifying and addressing distractions, allowing deeper longings to surface and guide discipleship.
Church communities play a crucial role in spiritual growth by fostering practices that prioritize love and deeper engagement with faith.
Deep dives
The Importance of Resetting Spiritual Life
Resetting one's spiritual life involves recognizing the need for change through genuine desire rather than guilt. Many individuals have been conditioned to feel they should engage in religious practices due to societal or personal expectations, leading to fleeting motivation. True spirituality requires identifying a deep, inherent need for connection with God, which manifests frequently, rather than as an annual event. Embracing this perspective allows for a more meaningful, sustained relationship with spirituality that is centered on love as the primary motivator.
Nurturing Spiritual Desires
Cultivating spiritual desires involves recognizing and tapping into the vulnerabilities of boredom and avoiding superficial cravings. In a relatable analogy, preparing for a spiritual 'feast' requires intentionally starving lesser desires that distract from deeper spiritual fulfillment. The distinction between primal desires and more profound longings lies at the heart of genuine discipleship, urging individuals to focus on pursuits that lead toward holiness. This means actively curating life moments to enhance spiritual appetites rather than indulging in distractions.
The Detox of Spiritual Practices
Embarking on a spiritual reset often necessitates an uncomfortable period of detoxing from distractions and superficial gratifications. This initial stage may involve confronting discomfort, such as boredom or anxiety, but is ultimately a vital precursor to deeper understanding and connection with God. The process requires patience as vital truths about the nature of love and fulfillment are rediscovered. A healthy spiritual life emerges not only from eliminating harmful distractions but also from learning to engage with inner feelings in a constructive way.
Practices for Continuous Spiritual Reset
Incorporating regular spiritual practices into daily life promotes ongoing spiritual renewal through methods of abstinence and engagement. Traditional practices include fasting, solitude, and simplicity, which are beneficial to those overstimulated by modern life. Effective spiritual life often stems from simplifying rather than overloading commitments, providing a healthier balance amid cultural pressures. This continuous reset not only deepens personal faith but also allows individuals to cultivate their spiritual hunger.
Church's Role in Spiritual Formation
Church communities play a pivotal role in nurturing spiritual development by encouraging practices that guide individuals in slowing down and engaging deeper with their faith. Implementing elements such as guided meditation and reflexive silence into church programming transforms the typical service into an impactful experience focused on healing and growth. Pastors are challenged to adapt their approaches to better resonate with spiritual needs, opposing the prevalent trends of distraction and busyness. By fostering a communal culture that prioritizes love and attention to God's presence, churches can support their members on a complex spiritual journey.
Are you ready to trade your New Year’s resolutions for spiritual growth?
Host Curtis Chang and teacher and writer John Mark Comer dive into the transformative journey of spiritual reset to start the new year. Discover practical insights on community, the importance of Sabbath, and how to navigate the distractions of modern life, all aimed at nurturing a deeper spiritual hunger and fostering genuine connection with God and others.
