Jan Johnson | Dear Daughters Episode 33
Jan Johnson is a spiritual director, speaker, instructor at Richmont Graduate University, and writer of 22 books (!!). She says that everything she writes or speaks on flows out of these three areas: spiritual formation, partnering with God in caring for the voiceless, and living with purposeful intentionality. Isn’t that lovely? She lives in Simi Valley California with her husband, has two adult children and two little grandbabies. In Heaven we’re going to try to live next door to each other. ;) I can’t wait for you to meet her today.
Here’s the interview on Dear Daughters Episode 33.
SHOW NOTES
- Susie found her spiritual director through Spiritual Directors International
- Jan says one of the best ways to find a spiritual director is to google ‘Spiritual Direction Training’, and find programs in your area. If there are programs, there are graduates. :)
- Jan’s speaking page
- The best example of spiritual direction ~ Jesus and the woman at the well in John 4
- Julian of Norwich ~> the ‘drive through spiritual director’
- Ignatius and The Ignatian Exercises that formalized the practice of spiritual direction
- Ozark Christian College, Dallas Willard’s class, trained as a spiritual director at still point in southern California
- Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
- The Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas Willard
- Some of Jan’s books : Abundant Simplicity : Discovering the Unhurried Rhythms of Grace, Enjoying the Presence of God : Discovering Intimacy with God in the Daily Rhythms of Life, Meeting God in Scripture: A Hands On Guide to Lectio Divina, When the Soul Listens: Finding Rest and Direction in Contemplative Prayer.
- Jan’s interpretation of the Serenity Prayer ~ God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change (that’s 98% of life), courage to change the things I can (that’s me) and the wisdom to know the difference (that’s prayer.)
- The story of Jesus with Legion ~ imagine the amount of time Jesus must have spent with just this one man
- Some of Jan’s online courses : Finding Rest and Direction in Contemplative Prayer, Meeting God in Scripture and a forthcoming Advent study (out November 27th) Taste & See : Experiencing the Stories of Advent and Christmas
- Jan’s Wisbits ~ sign up to receive them in your inbox, and then maybe binge-read the archives.
- Part of Jan’s daily rhythm : a Guide to Lexio Meditation. She also has Scripture Meditation guides on her site.
- Schedule a consultation with Susie here.
Sign up for my weekly-ish newsletter here!
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
Jan’s explains a session with a spiritual director as: “Two people sitting together and listening to the Holy Spirit.”
Susie defines a spiritual director as “a spiritual mentor who helps you listen.”
Why would you not want to talk to somebody about your life with God at least once a month? ~ Jan Johnson
Ministry presents hard things, but it also is a front row seat to glory in a lot of situations. ~ Susie Davis
We study the Bible, but that’s taking a look at a candy bar. Meditation is tasting it. ~ Jan Johnson
Solitude is really the foundation of all spiritual disciplines. If you want to break the cycle of hurry, solitude is a good way. ~ Jan Johnson
‘Hurry’ is what rips 1 Corinthians 13 out of the Bible. Hurry is my way of saying, you are not important and you do not matter. ~ Jan Johnson
Disciplines don’t have to last forever. It’s like getting at the heart of what’s going on, rather than the practice itself. ~ Susie Davis
We need to be careful about ‘shoulding’ ourselves or others. Part of that is about accepting people as they are. A lot of it is about realizing that God is the Great Inviter. God doesn’t beat you over the head. ~ Jan Johnson
God invites us into obedience and says, obedience works better. ~ Jan Johnson
If God chooses to wait for our obedience, we can wait for obedience from others instead of forcing it on them. ~ Susie Davis
In the Gospels, Jesus took an immense amount of time with one person. ~ Jan Johnson
Real compassion will be filled with justice, and real justice will be full of compassion. It seems to us that you either have to be harsh and right, or sweet and a pushover. But Love is doing what’s best for someone. ~ Jan Johnson
CONNECT WITH JAN
… grateful, grateful for Davis sharing their music with DD Podcast. :)