How Spiritual Coaching Can Help Deepen Your Relationship with the Lord

Have you ever had one of those moments when you knew what you wanted to do and accomplish, but you didn’t have the foggiest clue how to get started? Life can be like that sometimes. We have the goal clearly in our minds, but the process feels elusive. When it comes to spiritual growth and one’s relationship with the Lord, you can also find yourself aware of your goal, but vague and uncertain about how to get where you want to be. Spiritual coaching can help.

One of the benefits of spiritual coaching is that it can help you figure out what your goals are, and it can clarify the steps you need to take to accomplish those goals. This article will explore how spiritual coaching can be an effective tool in your growth and depth of relationship with the Lord.

Christian Spiritual Coaching Unpacked

The word “coach” will most often conjure images of a sports event, with players on the field and the coach on the sidelines pacing up and down while issuing instructions. That isn’t way off from the mark in describing what a Christian spiritual coach is and does. No one can walk your walk with the Lord for you; only you can do that, empowered by the Spirit. But someone can come alongside you to encourage and guide you on the way.

A Christian spiritual coach is a trained individual whose task is to guide others in their spiritual journey. A coach helps others to discover and fulfill the Lord’s purposes for their lives, and they help them to grow their faith. A Christian spiritual coach will use methods such as open-ended questions, reflective listening, exploring Scripture, prayer, meditation, spiritual practices like fasting and journaling, as well as accountability and goal setting.

When a spiritual coach uses these different methods, they do so to help their clients feel empowered to make informed and wise decisions about their lives and focus on their personal spiritual growth and development. The client explores their spiritual gifts, values, and passions, which aids them in setting and accomplishing meaningful spiritual goals. The spiritual coach supports and also helps to keep their client accountable.

Spiritual Coaching and Pastoral Ministry – Same Difference?

When you read about spiritual coaching, the thought may occur to you that spiritual coaching seems an awful lot like pastoring or shepherding someone. In truth, there are some similarities between spiritual coaching and pastoring someone, but there are some distinctions, too.

Some of the similarities that spiritual coaching has with pastoral ministry include the fact that both are grounded and rooted in Christian principles, with tools such as Scripture and prayer being used in the pastoral process as well as in spiritual coaching. Pastors and spiritual coaches offer their people emotional and spiritual support and encouragement, helping them to grow in discerning the Lord’s will and purpose for their lives.

Coaching is also somewhat distinct from pastoral ministry because pastoral ministry and counseling often address past wounds, while coaching is more focused on future growth. Spiritual coaches also don’t have authority over their clients the way a pastor has over his flock, and a spiritual coach doesn’t provide definitive answers or deliver spiritual truths in the same way a pastor would.

Another difference between the two is that spiritual coaching is client-led; the client comes to the coach with their set agenda and goals, and the coach helps them accomplish those goals. While both pastoring and spiritual coaching value confidentiality, part of one’s certification and ongoing accreditation as a coach is tied to maintaining client confidentiality.

What to Expect

It’s important to find a Christian spiritual coach who is accredited. Various bodies train and accredit Christian spiritual coaches, and these include the Christian Coaching Institute, the American Association of Christian Counselors, and the International Christian Coaching Association, among others. Coaches who are trained and accredited will be better equipped to guide you toward accomplishing your goals.

A Christian spiritual coach uses certain skills to help you on your journey. These skills include empathy and compassion; being an active listener and effective communicator; possessing self-awareness, spiritual maturity, and a non-judgmental attitude toward others. Your spiritual coach will help you in the following ways:

Identifying and setting spiritual goals With help from your coach, you can clarify your values and priorities for yourself. This is key for helping you set goals and begin working toward specific goals like praying more regularly or studying God’s word more effectively.

Exploring helpful spiritual practices Working with your coach can help you discover fresh ways of connecting with the Lord, such as through fasting, meditating on Scripture, or journaling.

Accountability Regular check-ins with your coach can provide much-needed accountability, support, and motivation to work toward your goals.

Growth in discernment Time spent with your coach can provide you with space to examine your spiritual journey and guidance in discerning the Lord’s will.

Nurturing growth Your spiritual coach can help you identify and address the challenges that hinder your growth in Christ. With prayer support and explorations of Scripture that can provide new insights, you can address your growth holistically – physically, emotionally, and spiritually (Luke 2:52).

If you want to grow and deepen your relationship with the Lord, you can reach out and speak to a Christian spiritual coach in Carrollton, Texas. They can walk with you to discern and accomplish goals for your well-being and flourishing. Contact us today at Texas Christian Counseling, Carrollton to find support.