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Katie Donahue

SIMPLE40 - Day 33 - Discernment

SIMPLICITY is a spiritual discipline that trains the soul to fulfill its God-given mission.


I find it truly amazing that all the different aspects of simplicity that we have addressed so far build upon one another. The last few days in particular, learning about the stability of the Eucharist and then silence and solitude. Can you see how it all flows together?

 

One of the fruits of silence and solitude is discernment. When you spend time with God in silence, listening and just being present with Him, you can't help but feel like He is calling you in one way or another. It may take some time to feel the nudge, but He will nudge you. It might be easy to ignore it at first, but then it keeps happening and you just can't ignore it anymore so you take a step forward. And then another one. And another one. You soon find time to do what God has placed on your heart and the peace follows.

 

In order to pursue a life of simplicity, it is important to know how to practice discernment. Discernment is the process you use to seek and understand God's will for your life. You do not need to discern every detail of your life, as that would be exhausting and can lead to scrupulosity. Your discernment is always between two goods. Discerning between something good and something evil is not a matter for discernment. Simply put...do what you know is right. The moral teachings of the Church are available to us and provide clarity so you do not always need to rely on your own judgement.

 

Learn when it is appropriate to say "yes" and when it is appropriate to say "no"...and most importantly, how to tell the difference. The most important question to ask yourself is: "What is God asking of me?" This question will guide you in making a good choice in regards to what you should take on and what you shouldn't.

 

Sometimes, God does not answer you as directly and quickly as you would like, no matter how hard you might pray about your decision. In times like this, He may be calling you to grow in trust and faith. Do not be afraid of failure. You will often learn more from your failures than you from your successes. The hope is that you will turn to God before making decisions to open yourself up to His grace, giving you confidence to move forward. Remember that your confidence is not in yourself, but in God.

 

Raise your heart to God and He will not refuse to guide you when all other guidance is taken away from you; and then choose, unhesitatingly,

what you believe, in good faith, to be the most suitable, the most useful to souls, and the most in conformity with the Will of God.

~Fr. Jean-Pierre de Caussade

 

spiritual

The advice below comes from Cardinal Mercier and beautifully ties together everything from the past week on silence, solitude, simplicity, prayer and discernment. This prayer begins each coaching session to open ourselves up to the Holy Spirit, preparing our hearts and souls to listen to God and be attuned to His promptings.

 

I am going to reveal to you a secret of sanctity and happiness. For five minutes every day quieten your imagination, close your eyes to everything visible and your ears to all external sounds and withdraw into the sanctuary of your baptised soul which is the temple of the Holy Spirit. There, speak to the Holy Spirit and say:

 

O Holy Spirit, soul of my soul, I adore Thee. 

Enlighten me, guide me,strengthen and console me.

Tell me what I ought to do and command me to do it.

I promise to submit to everythingthat you ask of me and to accept all that you allow to happen to me.

Just show me what is Thy will.

AMEN

 

If you do this, your life will be happy and serene. Even in the midst of troubles you will experience great consolation, for grace will be given to strengthen and help you to cope with every difficulty.

 

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO DOWNLOAD A PRINTABLE 4X6 OF THIS POWERFUL PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.



 

self

You are meant to live in freedom and be free. In order to do this, you must know yourself...your temperament, your spiritual gifts, your strengths, etc. Once you know these truths about yourself, you can then discern how God's wants you to use them for His glory, to build His Kingdom. There is nothing that will give you greater fulfillment and joy than doing the work He has called you to. Honestly, that is why I am sitting here typing this SIMPLE40 message tonight. God has placed this on my heart and I am moving forward with what He is nudging me to do!


What is God nudging you to do?

 

service 

Does your parish offer a Fish Fry on Fridays in Lent? Have you supported it yet?

 

If not, tonight is the night!Head to your parish for Stations of the Cross and stick around for the Fish Fry. Make an effort to connect with someone you don't know, introducing yourself and your family.

 

today's recipe

PESTO TORTELLINI SOUP

Simple and delicious, especially on a Lenten Friday.

Serve with some flatbread and a salad.

SERVES 3-4

 

INGREDEINTS

1 cup green onion, chopped

4 cups vegetable broth

20 oz frozen cheese tortellini

12 oz snow peas

8 oz prepared pesto

2 C chopped fresh spinach

 

DIRECTIONS

Combine green onion and broth and bring to boil. Stir in tortellini and reduce heat to medium and cook for 3 min. Stir in pea pods and spinach and cook for another 3 min. Stir in the pesto and serve.

 











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