Moving toward God through intentional practice
The practices we keep in life shape and form us along the way. Being intentional about those practices allows us to hold agency over who we’re becoming. Without intentionality, we simply drift in whatever direction the winds of our world want to take us. We’re choosing to engage in spiritual practices that enable us to be and become the men, women and children God designed us to be.
Spiritual practices are:
“Habits, practices, and experiences that are designed to develop, grow, and strengthen certain qualities of spirit - to build the “muscles” of one’s character and expand the breadth of one’s inner life. They structure the “workouts” which train the soul.”
~ Richard Foster
Every other month, we’ll focus on one spiritual practice intended to shape and form us in God’s image …
Hospitality to Neighbors
March/April 2025
Have you ever been a stranger? Have you ever been the new person on the job or in the classroom? Some of us have had great first experiences and others have had terrible experiences. Most of us have experienced both.
Israel famously had a great experience that turned into a nightmare when the people migrated to and flourished in Egypt at first, only to suffer at the hands of their hosts in their later years. What began as a place of refuge turned into a place of desolate exile.
Knowing that humans had capacity for great cruelty, God wrote the practice of hospitality into the Jewish laws, commanding His people to welcome and care for the stranger in their midst. He did so while reminding Israel of the way they were rescued from an incredibly inhospitable environment.
Our practice in March/April, during Leap of Faith (our annual Lent custom), is to extend hospitality to our neighbors.
Who is my neighbor? Jesus famously unpacked this question to effectively express our obligation of care to all humans within our reach. For our purposes, we’re focusing on those in physical proximity to us. People we see at work, in the classroom or our other regular spaces; people who live next door or across the street; people who show up to the same events/activities we show up to.
Practice
Extend hospitality to your neighbors. Begin by considering the question, “Who are my neighbors?” Try to identify five neighbors. Then, using the following list, consider what it would look like for you to take a step or two forward in expressing hospitality to those neighbors.
Meet. If you don’t know them yet, meet your neighbors.
Intercede. At first, your prayer for those neighbors will be generic. Aim to interact enough that you learn something specific to pray for.
Encourage. As you get more familiar with them, notice the good in their lives and pay attention to the ways they reflect God’s image. Tell them what you’ve noticed.
Kindness. Find a way to aid your neighbor with something practical.
Feed. Provide for and share a meal or drink with your neighbor.
Pray. Ask your neighbor: “Can I pray for you right now?”
You may have your own intermediary steps. Don’t be too tied to these steps either… if an opportunity comes up to jump some stages, go for it.
In Small Group
Choose one or two neighbors out of the group and serve them in some extravagant way. Discuss it early in lent and put it to work before Easter.
Tell your story - don’t forget to tell others how it’s going.