Building Emotional Health through the Practice of Spiritual Disciplines

The primary purpose of spiritual disciplines, like prayer and engaging with Scripture, is to help us love God more and serve Him more effectively. Yet, one of the huge benefits of these God-oriented practices, is that they help us manage the stress and anxiety that is a normal part of life and which may spike in certain occupations like pastoral ministry. Of course, some conditions and situations require additional interventions like professional counselling and medication. However, spiritual practices, particularly when they include elements that help with the management of stress and anxiety, can help most pastors and other leaders live and serve in an optimal way. In this session, I will explore how we can practice several spiritual disciplines that Peter Scazzero describes in his book, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, in ways that help us build emotional health.