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Influence - The capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself. Spiritual formation provides an active spiritual pathway to draw closer to God through intentional desire and practices to become the Imago Dei, the image of God. John 15:4,.“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” (Crossway Bible,2007).  Spiritual formation connects us to God. Spiritual formation consist of both inward, outward and corporate spiritual disciplines that should impact the spiritual transformation in the life of a professing follower of Jesus Christ. Our capacity to have intimacy with God requires freedom to trust without borders. We cannot trust God if we depend on our own resources for our survival because fear will overcome any attempt we make to get close to God or other people. Trust and submission is the bridge to intimacy with our Lord. “Inward disciplines are practiced in the privacy of our intimate walk with Jesus.   Outward spiritual disciplines/practices affect how we interface with the world.” (Foster,1988). The knowledge and spiritual formation practices put into action through an integration of daily life in Christ and not simply as agenda listed task items should reflect the ongoing spiritual transformation in the life of the believer. Although I am not providing all inward, outward and corporate disciplines of spiritual formation, the inward, outward and corporate practices of prayer, meditation, solitude, personal and corporate worship, celebration, communion, fasting, thankfulness, discipleship, confession, discernment, silence and solitude are all significant and strategic practices in the transformation of life of a believer. “Spiritual practices must include all compartments in the life of a believer. Everything contributes to our act of spiritual worship.” (SPIR-711 notes, September 24, 2018).  Corporate or communal spiritual formation practices provide the every part for every other part in how, “ where every part belongs and finds its health in right relationship to every other part. No part is meant to function alone.” (Calhoun 2005). Community enhances community. Holiness flows out of community. Paul the Apostle gives us another wonderful way to know who we are in Galatians 5:22 & 23. He declares that all who are born of God will have the fruits of the Spirit that are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Each of these are obtained through an ongoing intentional desire and willingness to present ourselves as living sacrifices.  Spiritual formation practices possess the necessary strategic equipping tools to obtain a posture of humility that is the gateway to God. Spiritual practices should not in of themselves become the actual focus that would cultivate a life of neglecting Jesus Christ. Nathan Foster said that “The concept of the spiritual disciplines is really quite simple: we do the practices that Jesus did. Over time these practices become habitual,” (Nathan Foster, 2014). Creating and cultivating habits that become normal integrated spiritual practices into daily life is cultivating a spiritual knee jerk reaction response to life as Jesus would.  In His love and grace, Bob realpurpose.pastorboblenz@gmail.com