Reflection Paper

Loren Yutuc

Foundations of Biblical Spirituality

Fall 2019
 The journey from home to Berrien Springs, MI has been quite the journey so far. I knew

in a shallow way, to be honest, that God had directed my wife and I here to the seminary. I was

preparing myself for the long hours of reading, as well as learning again how to parse and

translate Greek sentences. I was opening up my mind and heart to new ideas that would add

new tools to my ministry tool belt. What I overlooked was the necessity of reshaping my heart

for a life of servant-led ministry. I did not know what to expect when entering this class,

Foundations of Biblical Spirituality. As I look back now, I believe that God led me to this class

for a reason. My spiritual well-being needed a turn around, and this class helped me get

started.

I needed to be in the presence of God, but I don’t think I knew what that meant. I knew

I needed to be and wanted to be in His presence, but I learned that I need to enjoy His

presence. In order to enjoy His presence, I had to be intentional by finding time to be alone

with God and unplugging (especially electronically). One of the key exercises which I will

forever be grateful for is learning how to do reflective Bible reading. For many years, I read the

Bible in order to exegete the passage and find out what God was saying to the masses. Then in

turn, I would disseminate the information to the congregation. I was definitely uninformed in

how to read Scripture. This class taught me how to read Scripture for myself. I needed to find

my “hiding place,” where it was only God and I alone. It was in this place where God would

speak directly to my life. The reading of Mark 10:46-52 impacted me greatly in my spiritual

walk. As I read the story and internalized it, I could hear God asking that same question in the

passage, “What do you want me to do for you?” That question is something I still ask myself on

a daily basis. So no as I read Scripture, I always ask myself, “What are you saying to me God?
How are you trying to intersect with my life? Where are you inviting me in this passage?” This

exercise of Scripture reading has radically forever changed my view on Bible study.

Aside from Scripture reading, the lecture on prayer really affected me. Dr. Walshe gave

us this statement, “Your prayer life is in direct proportion to your picture of God.” Did I even

have a right picture of God? I was challenged to think that maybe my prayer life is not very

effective because I didn’t know His face. I also learned that according to Scripture, prayer is a

conversational relationship which enables me to grow in trust in God to the place where I

delight for Him to give me what He wants. I realize now that the essence of prayer is

relationship, not requests. Requests are not the heart of prayer. Dr. Walsh then gave a radical

statement that I will forever be grateful for, “God does not respond to prayer. God does not

merely respond to prayer. God responds to us, to our whole life.” God sees me and answers

my life and where I’m at.

If there was anything Dr. Walshe has stressed and was intentional about, it would be the

regular exercise of journaling. Before attending this class, journaling my thoughts and Scripture

readings was far from my radar. It was something I felt was unnecessary for my spiritual walk. I

praise God for showing me the error of my ways. I struggled at first to journal my thoughts. I

kept asking God if this was necessary, and soon He was the one asking questions and speaking

to me through Scripture. It has been a fulfilling experience doing my devotional exercises. It’s

one thing to read Scripture and contemplate it in your head, but it’s another thing to journal

one’s thoughts while reading Scripture. The message of the passage felt more real and I felt as

though God and I were having a conversation. I was able to write my frustrations, wants,

needs, and hopes as God listened to me. In turn, I listened for His voice and found myself
hearing it as I journaled. I wonder how much more effective I could have been if I had been

doing this sooner early in my ministry. Walshe shared with us some thoughts regarding

journaling:

1. Brain science reveals to us an extraordinary relationship between the brain, mind,

hand, emotions, and heart.

2. A journal is just not a recording of thoughts. It is a journey, an exploring of a

landscape of the mind and the heart.

3. What is written is not as significant as what has to happen before we can write.

4. Writing is a way into or an understanding of what is going on in

ourselves…developing in ourselves.

5. It helps us get a handle on what is happening within us which can be lost without

articulating it on paper.

6. Helps to keep an ongoing conversation about an issue flowing and on track.

7. It is so easy in this busy world to merely live outside of ourselves…to be unaware of

the inner journey.

8. As we pray, as we reflect upon the word, often the Holy Spirit will give us insights or

understanding about our relationship with God, what is happening in our lives, and

what is happening in relationships, our pain, our “stuckness.”

9. Creative clustering (mind mapping)

10. Plan and write down several things you plan to do differently….more intentionally.

Suffice to say, I will add journaling to my spiritual tools and share it with those I will minister so

that they may enjoy this wonderful exercise.

praise. I would sing songs and then praise Him in prayer, but I didn’t fully realize what it was all

about. I floored when I learned that we often confuse praise with thanksgiving. I always

thought they were kind of the same thing. Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” When I thank God, I am

recognizing Him for what He does. When I praise God, I am recognizing Him for who He is. I

was so used to thanking Him because He gives me so much that I failed to give Him the

recognition He deserves. FB Meyer wrote, “Praise is our highest service, we thank God for what

He does for us, but we praise God for what He is of Himself.” The praise we give God makes me

aware of His presence, it enthralls the mind of God, it honors Him, it lifts me above my

situation, helps me to focus on the Giver, and it reminds me how marvelous is the One whose

presence I am in.

This semester, I learned how inadequate I was spiritually. I do not mean to be down on

myself, but rather I’ve learned that I need God even more. My journey to this place took 15

years. I shared the story of my journey here during the spiritual retreat and I felt so vulnerable

and naked because I was revealing to people and to myself how God has been with me through

this important journey. I felt as though God was stripping me of my preconceptions about

spirituality and reforging me into something better. As I’ve spent time with my spiritual partner

and with others in the class, I see now how we are all on our own spiritual journey. While we

may feel alone at times, the connections we make with each other help deepen our need for

connection with God.

helped me on this journey. He continues to be my shepherd and lead me to greener pastures

and still waters no matter what. He leads me to paths of righteousness and continues to

choose me for His work no matter what. He is constantly asking me that question from the

beginning of the semester, “What do you want me to do for you?” Sometimes it’s very easy to

answer Him, but other times I find it difficult. It’s during those times, I reach out to Him and

praise Him for who He is and what He’s able to do in my life. My spiritual walk has just started

but this class and my professor, Dr. Walshe, as helped put me on the right path in recognizing

who God is what He wants to do in my life, no matter what.