​For the last month, I did 30 Days of Abiding. My intention was to create just a small bit of space to encounter God daily, and go deeper in my relationship with him. So each day I took time to go through the Daily Examen with God. Here are 7 things I learned as I did 30 days of the Daily Examen:

1. Doing anything for 30 days is difficult.

In all honesty, there were a few days when I either completely forgot about the Examen, or simply could not make space in the day. My daily life has a general flow to them, but there were a few circumstances that made it a challenge to do the Examen every day. For example, some nights we hosted people at our home, and I was unable to find the time or energy to do the Examen. This was a little frustrating. The perfectionist in me didn't like having days when I didn't accomplish what I had set out to do. But I also experienced moments of grace from God. Ultimately, I felt like despite the missed days, my heart was in a good place of wanting more union with God.

2. The Daily Examen is a wonderful pathway to connect with God.

​I love how the Daily Examen deepened my awareness of my soul and God's presence. With each additional time of doing the Examen, I began to be more generally aware of how God was at work in my daily life. I began to expect to see God or hear God in the midst of typically mundane activities and moments. At night, when I did the Examen, I loved noticing how God had been speaking to my soul through my joys and sorrows.

3. Community is vital for my spiritual growth.

I really experienced the gift of community this month. I originally meant to simply do the 30 Days of Abiding on my own. But then I ended up inviting others along into it. We launched the Spiritual Journeyers Facebook Group, and many people in the community joined 30 Days of Abiding. Every day, people shared encouragement, prayer requests, and reflections throughout the 30 days. What a fun, encouraging thing it was to pursue a common desire for God with others!

4. Spiritual growth is a mysterious combination of me showing up and God doing his work.

I believe that my depth with God grew this month. I experienced new awareness of God, and a deeper contentment in my soul with him. Did I do a whole lot? On some level, yes. I showed up. I intentionally created more space in my daily life to turn toward God. But the true work in me ultimately happened because of God. His Spirit birthed in me a deeper desire for him, a deeper trust in his power and presence. Both of those things - me showing up and God showing up - create the environment for true spiritual growth.

It is the promise of Jesus in John 15: "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

What have you learned as you've create space to connect with God in your daily life? Please share in the comments.

We can develop the skill of listening to our soul.

One helpful way to learn to listen to your soul is by asking these questions:

When my soul is neglected, what tends to happen? When my soul is needing something, what tends to emerge in my feelings, choices, thoughts, body, and relationships?

When my soul is healthy, what flows out of me? When I am deeply aware of my connection with God, and living out of my identity as his beloved child, what emerges from me through my feelings, thoughts, and actions?

I'll use my own reflections as an example. Here are the symptoms of my soul:

Symptoms of soul neglect: shame, fear that my needs aren't getting met, overworking, emotional disengagement, insecurity, comparing myself to others, frustration toward my kids, bitterness, projecting other people's expectations of me, lack of intimacy with people, restlessness, isolation, a critical attitude. 

Symptoms of soul health: joy, compassion, peace, trust in God's goodness, creativity, a sense of humor, generosity toward others, clear sense of vision, intimacy with others, energy for work and play, a desire to connect with God.

Focus on the causes, not the symptoms.

We can spend so much time and energy trying to decrease the symptoms of soul neglect. But when we focus on the symptoms rather than the causes, we always end up in the same cycles. The results are short-lived and sometimes counterproductive. Instead, focus your attention on the soul neglect in your life.

In order to have true and lasting health, we must tend to our soul's needs. Everything about our lives and identity is in some way a function of our soul.

So what makes a soul healthy? It's not related to our external circumstances.

A soul is healthy to the extent that it has a connection and receptivity to God.

That's it. The health of your soul depends on your connection and receptivity to God. When you are connected to God and receptive to him, your soul comes alive. Your soul experiences deep joy and peace, no matter your external circumstances.

Psalm 23 says, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul."

Take a good look at your soul today, so that you can experience God in restorative ways.

ACTION & PRACTICE

Ask yourself the question: What has your soul been crying for lately? Spend some time reflecting and journaling about that. Ask God to meet the needs of your soul. Ask him, "God, what is your invitation to my soul today? What do you want to say to or do with my soul right now?"

What has your soul been crying for lately? What does your want from God today? Please share in the comments.