The SoulShaping Journal: Pathways to Spiritual Vitality is based on Doug Rumford's book SoulShaping (Second Edition): From Soul Neglect to Spiritual Vitality (published in 2022). The SoulShaping Journal presents a ten-week series of Bible studies and spiritual exercises that give readers a solid foundation for everyday spirituality.
Spiritual vitality doesn't just happen. It requires our active engagement. Spiritual formation is about developing holy habits that cultivate our continual awareness of the Lord at work both in our lives and around us. The process is the product.
The SoulShaping Journal offers a self-guided tour to soul care. It includes an Introduction to keeping a spiritual journal, followed by three main sections which correspond to the book. These three parts cover the process of spiritual transformation, the practice of primary spiritual disciplines, and the process for developing a personal plan for spiritual vitality.
The SoulShaping Journal explores the five Vital Signs of Spiritual Health presented in SoulShaping (Second Edition). Rumford describes the vital signs in this way: We are spiritually healthy when God's pace redeems our time; God's presence fills our hearts; God's perspective renews our minds; God's power strengthens our wills; God's purpose directs our steps.
The material in the SoulShaping Journal is formatted for six days each week for 10 weeks.
Day 1 introduces the discipline(s) of the week.
Days 2-5 provide Scripture readings and journal prompts that relate to that week's discipline.
Day 6 is for reflection on what the reader is learning, both for that week and throughout the whole experience.