Spiritual Formation Diagnostic Tools

Do you identify with one of the key questions below?

Are you in touch with your longings? Do any of the primary longings listed below ring true for you today?
Which temptations express where you are?
Are there any signs of being spiritually stuck in your journey?
Which stage reflects your heart at this moment in time?

SEASONS OF THE SOUL

Spring Summer Autumn Winter Seasoned Saint

KEY QUESTION What is life about? How can I grow as a How do I shoulder What happens when the How do I remain open
disciple and share my responsibility for my gifts well runs dry? and in communion with
Who am I? faith? and bear fruit? Jesus?
Who is God when the
darkness comes? How do I graciously let
go and prepare for my
last letting go?
PRIMARY To know and belong to To love and be loved To live an authentic life of To find God in the darkness To abide in God
LONGINGS God To grow in grace and meaningful contribution To experience the God whoTo love God above all
truth is beyond me else in life, keeping him
first
SIGNS OF THE Thirst for meaning Passion to belong and Bear fruit, and use my Feel stuck, angry or distant Calling and vocation flow
SEASON Awareness of longing grow gifts from God from experiential sense
or need or awe Discovery of and Take initiative and Doubts and crises of faith of being God’s beloved
Spiritual awakening rightness about my new responsibility Longing for new directions, Live out God’s love for
but may not yet identity and call Spiritual industry and and encounter with God others, investing in
embrace Jesus Feeling of homecoming aspirations Face personal limits and their growth
and security (This is the In touch with my identify inner brokenness Let go—receive
leader, church, cause strengths Find God in my weakness everything as part of
or group for me.) Begin to realize the link God’s goodness
between weakness and Habitual openness and
fruitfulness, between thankfulness to God
being and doing Communion with God

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 Spring Summer Autumn Winter Seasoned Saint

TEMPTATIONS Thinking a decision for We-they mentality, “I Overidentification with Depression, fear of being Side-tracked in personal
Christ means know”; judgment of titles, praise, influence, found out, navel gazing agendas and second
missing out on life those who don’t believe giftedness, etc. Rationalization, denial, things
Avoiding implications like me Anxiety, materialism, blame Refuse to let go, thus
of the gospel Head and heart begin to control Pretense becoming rigid, overly
separate Burn out, too much doing, Bitterness, isolation opinionated,
too little being the demanding
beloved Critical and complaining

SIGNS OF Too busy to be Diminished sense of Responsibility without joy Lack of hope that anything Bitterness and
STUCKNESS AND connected longing for God Defensive when can change resentment about life
FAILURE TO Remain anonymous Myself and my family challenged to change Christian fellowship seems Feeling that I have
THRIVE Take no intentional come first; Christ and Denial of doubts and out contrived and superficial nothing more to give
steps toward growth his kingdom come of touch with my Can’t find God in my life Inability to let go
second weaknesses Anger at simple answers
Lack of awareness of Lagging desire to pray
where God is at work in
me

DISCIPLINES Confession Small Group Examen Journaling Contemplative Prayer

Bible Study Service Mentoring Devotional Reading Detachment
Conversational Prayer Community Rule of Life Detachment Humility
Worship Simplicity Rest Solitude Practicing the Presence
Spiritual Friendship Unity Self-Care Labyrinth Breath Prayer
Teachability Truth Telling Walking Prayer Fixed-Hour Prayer Submission
Discipling Intercession Hospitality Spiritual Direction Gratitude
Stewardship Meditation Healing Prayer
Slowing Unplugging
Discernment

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 Finding and Following Your Spiritual Path

The “Finding Your Spiritual Path” and “Following Your Spiritual Path” charts (pages 32-35) can help us see our need for a holistic spiritual
journey. The charts reference the Myers-Briggs personality type index. If you don’t know your Myers-Briggs type, you can still look at the charts
to determine which columns more accurately reflect who you are. The last rows indicate the path you might need to follow for more wholeness,
both individually and corporately as a team, turning to those who have the strength you are seeking. We all need one another.

Charts taken from Invitation to a Journey by M. Robert Mulholland. Copyright (c) 1993. Used with permission of Center for Applications of Psychological Type, 2815 NW 13th
St., Suite 401, Gainsville, FL 32609

Finding Your Spiritual Path

Note: These words are meant to suggest, not to define or to limit understanding.

Preferred Extroversion Introversion Sensing Intuition Thinking Feeling Judgment Perception

Attitude, E I S N T F J P
Function or
Lifestyle
Primary Arena World/Other Ideas/Self Body Spirit Mind Heart Will Awareness

Preference for Action Reflection Sensory reality Possibilities Objective Subjective Initiative Response
Details Patterns values values
Status quo Change
Significant Exterior Interior Immediacy Anticipation Theory Feeling Product Process
Aspects of Concreteness Vision Principles Memory Category Conditional
Reality Ideal

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Preferred Extroversion Introversion Sensing Intuition Thinking Feeling Judgment Perception
Attitude, E I S N T F J P
Function or
Lifestyle
Windows People Individual Society Insight Reason Relationships Order Serendipity
Through Events experience Institutions Imagination Speculation Emotions “Ought” “Is”
Which God’s Scripture Inspiration “The Seen” “The Unseen”
Revelation Is Natural world Inner world
Received
Significant Immanence Transcendence Incarnation Mystery The Absolute Relational Judge Redeemer
Aspects of Creator Identity of God Holy Spirit Principle Familial (e.g. Ruler Healer
God Imago Dei and inner self First Cause Father)
Approach to Social Solitary Practical Symbolic Analytical Personal Systematic Of-the-moment
Bible, Literal Metaphorical Abstract Immediate
Religious
Experience
Avoids (Hell) Exclusion Intrusions Ambiguity Restriction Inconsistency Conflict Helplessness Regimentation
Loneliness Confusion Repetition Ignorance Estrangement Disorder Deadlines

Seeks Participation Incorporation Physical Aesthetic Conceptual Personal Closure Openness

(Heaven) Reunion Fulfillment harmony harmony harmony harmony Productivity Receptivity
Faithfulness Mystical union Enlightenment Communion Work ethic Play ethic
Obedience Justice, Truth Appreciation
Prayer Corporate Private Sensuous (eyes, Intuitive Cognitive Affective Planned Unplanned
ears, nose,
hands, mouth)

4
Preferred Extroversion Introversion Sensing Intuition Thinking Feeling Judgment Perception
Attitude, E I S N T F J P
Function or
Lifestyle
Natural Action Reflection Service Awareness Knowledge Devotion Discipline Spontaneity
Spiritual Path

Needed for Reflection Action or Awareness or Service or Devotion Knowledge Spontaneity Discipline
Wholeness Participation Understanding Embodiment

Copyright 1982 Centre for Applications of Psychological Type

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Following Your Spiritual Path
Note: Our aim is a balanced, centered spirituality. These words are meant to facilitate understanding, not to stifle individuality.

Spiritual Path Action Reflection Service Awareness Knowledge Devotion Discipline Spontaneity
E I S N T F J P

Some Positive Assertiveness Independence Love Ecstasy Equanimity Compassion Discrimination Acceptance
Expressions Building Pleasure Anticipation Objectivity Rapport, Trust Serenity
community Deepening Competence
community
Some Negative Anger Fear Attachment Elation Apathy Sentimentality Inappropriate Failure to take
Expressions Attack Withdrawal Depression Criticalness Overprotectiveness control responsibility
Judging
others
Underdevelopme Isolation Emptiness Abstraction Flatness Confusion Coldness Loss of Premature
nt May Lead to Lack of Dependence Overlooking Distrust purpose closure
circumspection Indecision Baseless
conclusions
Overdevelopment Impatience Withholding Idolatry Illusion Reductionism Credulity Rigidity Passivity
May Lead to Shallowness Idiosyncrasy Frivolity Impracticality Cynicism Personalizing Perfectionism Impulsiveness
Inappropriate Inappropriate Stubbornness Dogmatism Blaming Procrastination
intensity conformity Fickleness Rumination

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Spiritual Path Action Reflection Service Awareness Knowledge Devotion Discipline Spontaneity
E I S N T F J P

Special Distraction Inaction Superstition Primitive Emotional Idealizing authority Self- Rebelliousness
Temptations and Suggestibility Inclusion by Suspicion sensuality explosion, Pseudo-objectivity righteousness Carelessness
Vulnerabilities others Fear of Psychogenic exploitation, Hurt feelings Scrupulosity
change illness indulgence
Contaminated
thinking
Needed for Reflection Action or Awareness or Service or Devotion Knowledge Spontaneity Discipline
Wholeness Participation Understanding Embodiment

Copyright 1982 Centre for Applications of Psychologica

l Type