First Spiritual Exercises – Radical Transformation

The hand of the Lord set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.” I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.

Then he said to me, prophesy, and say, I the Lord God, am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people.

Ezekial 37:1-13

We pray for the radical transformation of opportunity for the women of Patra Kalan and all women in marginalised communities. May God’s grace empower them to break free from their past limitations and embrace a future of hope and purpose. Grant them courage, resilience, and the strength to inspire change within themselves, their families, and their communities.

1. Desire...

I ask the Spirit for Transformation

I find and hold in each hand a stone and a living thing. I consider how God changes my stony heart into a heart of flesh, and how a new spirit, God's Spirit, finds a home in me. I remove the veil on my desires for transformation, from this to that, with a new freedom.

I ask the Spirit for help to be utterly transformed.

2. Relish...

Today I live in the Transforming Trinity

I imagine I am surrounded by the Transforming Trinity. Father, Jesus and Spirit, address me by name, saying, ‘A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you?'

Even in a place or time where my past life has been destroyed or locked into poverty or injustice, I dare, with the help of the Spirit to seek transformation in my life. I ponder, for a while, my hoped for change in the mystery of the Transforming Trinity.

I relish being transformed.

3. Befriend...

I breathe in the Spirit of Transformation

I imagine the Spirit of Transformation breathing freedom and hope, imagination and courage into me. I breathe them in deep, pause, then breathe them out into my life. I breathe them into all those desiring to make a new start in life after, or amid, great destruction, persecution, survival. I repeat as desired – breathing, freeing, transforming.

I conclude, with thanks, ready to take a first small step in my transformation.

PRAYER TIME: 10 minutes.

Click here to download the Prayer of Radical Transformation.