Spiritual formation is one of the most important journeys a follower of Jesus can take. It is not about doing more. It is about walking closely with Jesus and allowing Him to shape your heart, your habits, and your whole life. In a world of constant noise and busyness, choosing the path of spiritual formation means choosing to slow down, to listen, and to be transformed from the inside out.
What Is Spiritual Formation?
Walking alongside Jesus and allowing Him to shape your life. It is being formed by God’s Word, by prayer, by journaling, and by spending intentional time with Him. It is learning the discipline of silence — of pausing, of stopping and truly listening.
An invitation to discover what it means to slow down, to walk with Jesus, and to set aside time from the constant demands of daily life. The noise, the busyness, and the urgency can so easily take over.
A slow walk with Jesus.
Spiritual formation is choosing to go on a journey — to create intentional space to focus on God so that your strength for each day comes from His presence (Psalm 1:2–3; John 15:5). You are not running on empty; you are living from being filled, being present, and being formed.
This is not about adding more to your schedule. It is about aligning your heart with God’s rhythm rather than the world’s. It is walking closely with Jesus each day — with steadiness and honesty — and allowing that closeness to shape how you think, lead, respond, and love. A slow walk with Jesus. Not rushing, not striving, but being formed.
What Others Have Helped Me See About Spiritual Formation
John Mark Comer reminds us how simple and profound this journey is:
“Be with Jesus. Become like him. Do as he did.” — John Mark Comer
He also points out something crucial:
“For those of us who desire to follow Jesus, here is the reality we must turn and face: if we’re not being intentionally formed by Jesus himself, then it’s highly likely we are being unintentionally formed by someone or something else.” — John Mark Comer
These truths help ground spiritual formation: it is about apprenticing with Jesus, not just gaining information, following a program, or focusing on performance.
How Is Soul Care Different from Spiritual Formation?
This is a question I have been pondering. Spiritual formation and soul care go hand in hand, like roots and water. Soul care focuses on the health of your inner life – what is happening beneath the surface. Spiritual formation is the ongoing work of becoming like Christ because your soul has been cared for.
Organisations like Nourish Your Soul describe this work as cultivating soul health through practices, reflection, and rhythms that create space for God’s presence. You can explore more at nourishyoursoul.
While spiritual formation describes what God is shaping in us, soul care – through spiritual practices, reflection, rest, and listening – helps us stay present with God and open to that formation. Soul care does not replace formation, but it creates the space for it to grow.
If you are looking for a structured way to grow in spiritual formation, explore the weekly modules at Orama Academy — an immersive two-week journey into deepening your devotional life through practicing the way of Jesus
Scripture Anchors
Here are some key verses that speak to this life of being shaped by God:
- Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. — Romans 12:2
- We are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. — 2 Corinthians 3:18
- Christ is formed in you. — Galatians 4:19
- Remain in me… bear much fruit. — John 15:5
- Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. — Psalm 119:105
These scriptures remind us that spiritual formation is not just about behaviour. It is about being renewed, transformed, and drawn into Christ’s life.
Treena Salthouse
