This article describes one of many techniques developed by Adventures in Spiritual Living to encourage and support your personal spiritual experience. It can be used by individuals or enjoyed as a group activity and sharing.
Introduction
Letter to God is a very popular technique both for use in your spiritual journal and as a group activity. You can write a letter to God any time you choose or as a regular part of your journaling. It is useful when you need reassurance, encouragement, peace, or help in decision making.
If you write letters in your journal, you will be able to read back over them to see your spiritual growth over time and to confirm the reality of God’s presence in your life. These confirmations are very faith building.
You may also want to write letters to other meaningful spiritual persons, such as Jesus, the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit, your angels, God our Mother, or our Mother Spirit.
Writing to God
When you write a letter to God our Father, speak to him as you would anyone you love. Tell him of your joy in his presence. Express your desire to experience fully the spiritual adventure of his making. You may have some commitments you want to make to him or some requests for his help in living a loving and serving life. You may want to describe how you feel about having God as your personal, always available friend, mentor, and companion. Above all, enjoy the pleasure of his company.
Spend as long as you want writing your letter. Ten minutes is a good time to try at first. Keep writing the whole time. Be as intimate and as honest as you are able. Your letter is private.
Letter from God
When you finish your letter to God, write God’s letter back. Simply write down what you think God might say back to you. Remember: He loves you individually and personally. He already knows you more intimately than anyone. He is delighted that you have written to him. Let his love and delight flow through you as you write.
Reflect on Your Letters
When you are finished with both letters, sit quietly for a few minutes. Be receptive to any thoughts that may come to you. Then you may want to read over your letters and reflect on the experience.
Group Experience
If you are fortunate enough to have a group who will share their experiences with each other, discuss beforehand the need to create a safe place for each person to share his or her inner thoughts and feelings without criticism or advice.
Suggestions to create a safe place:
- Slow down and relax your body and your mind.
- Express genuine interest in what others have to say.
- Accept their sharing with appreciation.
Letter to God can be used individually or in groups. It can be used for a group worship. Experiencing the writing is very beneficial, but sharing with friends adds more value. It brings the group closer together. It also gives you the opportunity to observe the basic similarity of everyone’s experience.
Sharing in the Group
Once the group has written their letters, give the group these instructions:
Now we invite you to share your experience. We have observed that there are great benefits to all of us from sharing what we have written in this exercise — especially the letters from God. Our letters from God often speak as much to the rest of us as they do to the one who was writing. Our letters to God tend to reveal our motives and help us learn to love each other. So, we encourage everyone to share who is willing.
You may want to read to us all or part of what you wrote to God and what he wrote back. You may simply want to comment on your feelings or new understandings. Remember, this is strictly voluntary. Share only what you wish. Take a couple of minutes to look over what you wrote.
(Give about 2 minutes to read, then ask) “Who is willing to share first?”
Conclusion to Sharing
“Thank you” to all of you who were willing to share your letters from God. These are very personal communications from our Father. Often, it Is not appropriate to share them with each other, but when it is, there are great benefits for us all. We learn more about each other and we learn to love each other more. We are able to notice the similarity of feeling in each letter. Our Father’s love comes through each of us as we write. As a group activity, we have found that the letters to and from God always enrich us and bring us closer together. You may want to try it at home in your individual quiet time with God.
[NOTE to the exercise leader]
Further questions for the facilitator to use to encourage sharing:
- Who else would like to share?
- Who will be next?
Don’t say, “Is there anyone else who wants to share?” It sounds like you are ready to close the sharing and discourages people from speaking.
[Pointers for facilitators of group exercise:]
- Slow down – give time for silence after you ask for comments. People need to think.
- Watch people, a slight movement can mean someone is ready to speak. You might ask, “did you want to share?” − but never pressure anyone.
- Acknowledge with attention during and after each person who shares. Even a thank-you is good. Don’t over complement anyone. It makes others feel less equal and less appreciated.
- Focus your attention on people, not on yourself.
- Your facilitator’s job is important. Your relaxed body language and pacing make people feel that there is time for them to share. The respect you show each one impresses everyone that this is a sacred time. Do not hurry on to the next person.
