You’re probably already praying. Continue to pray; work to deepen your prayer life. Prayer is a principal prerequisite for making a good discernment. Prayer is not just saying prayers. It’s a conversation with God, speaking to Him from your heart. Trust completely that God has a plan for you and ask Him to reveal it to you.
IT’S ABOUT RELATIONSHIP Prayer is all about relationship. It’s about allowing yourself to be loved by God and loving Him in return. To begin to answer the question: “How do I know? How do I know what God wants?”, you must be in a relationship with Him. You can’t say YES to God until you get to know HIM, not just about Him. You must spend time together to grow in your relationship. Through your deepening friendship you will be able to discern your life’s vocation with greater clarity and less confusion. Sometimes clarity comes in a flash; more often it’s a gradual realization. It’s up to God how He wants to reveal His plan to you. In any case, remember: Prayer is the foundation for discerning your vocation and deepening your relationship with Christ.
LISTEN IN SILENCE
A prerequisite for an authentic prayer, being able to really hear God’s voice, is silence. God doesn’t post your vocation in neon lights on a gigantic sign. You have to listen deeply within yourself to perceive His quiet movement in your heart.
Listening is an art that must be learned. The inner stillness necessary to hear with your heart starts with exterior stillness. You can listen best when you remove yourself from the things that distract and compete for your attention, like cell phones, computers, traffic, radio, and so on. Place yourself in an environment of silence where you can hear God more easily; find a quiet place without distractions in which to pray.
Yes, silence, exterior and interior, may be challenging at first, but persevere. God does speak in the stillness of the heart. Don’t be concerned so much with what you should do or think when you pray. Above all, desire to BE in God’s presence; allow Him to be the one who acts. As you learn the art of inner stillness, continue to reflect as your day unfolds. God frequently uses ordinary people, circumstances and events to speak to us, too.
PRAY DAILY
Taking time for daily personal prayer is a “must have.” Take time to talk in your own words, to meditate, journal, maybe sing songs… You might find it helpful to make a prayer “place” in your home or in your room. It doesn’t have to be a very big space. It could be as small as a window sill on which you place a religious picture or other religious items. It can be very helpful to have a dedicated place set aside where you can focus your attention during your prayer time.
PRAY WITH SCRIPTURE
Scriptures is the living Word of God inspired by the Holy Spirit. To get to know God become familiar Sacred Scriptures. Start by reading the Gospels. Christ speaks about Himself to us powerfully through the words of Sacred Scripture. Every day, read a little bit of the Bible and talk with Jesus as you would talk to a best friend.
One Way to Pray with Scripture Preparation 1)Make a commitment to pray daily. Decide on an amount of time you’ll devote to personal prayer, and when you’ll pray. Make sure it’s a reasonable amount of time. In other words, if you’re just starting out and not used to extended periods of personal mental prayer, don’t decide on an entire hour to begin! Before long you’re likely to give up. Also, it’s usually best to pray in the morning before your mind gets filled with things that can distract you. Regardless, decide on a time that fits your life and when you can give your best attention. Decide on when and how much – then KEEP to the commitment! 2)Select the Scripture text that you will use for your prayer. You might use a reading from the Mass of the day. 3) Before you enter into prayer, seek inner stillness and block out distractions. Recall God’s presence with you. Pray to Holy Spirit for help.
Prayer 4)Read the Scripture text slowly. If you can, read it aloud. The Word is God speaking to you. As you read, listen for a word or a phrase that catches your attention. Slowly read the text again. Listen for the Lord. If nothing strikes you, move on to read the next passage until something catches your attention. 5)Use your thoughts and imagination to ponder the text: “Who is Jesus speaking to? What is Jesus telling them? What is He telling me? Why did this word or phrase catch my attention?” Maybe re-read the passage. When the text speaks to your heart, you have reached and received a precious fruit of mediation. 6) Then, talk to God about what came up in your prayer. Talk in a personal, spontaneous way. Pray with your heart, not just your mind. Have a heart-to-heart talk with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Share with God your desires, vulnerability, strengths, weaknesses, fears, plans, dreams, and so on. As often as your mind wanders, simply turn it back to God and continue. Your words don’t have to be many or pretty. For example, it may be enough to say/repeat: “Thank you for telling me this.” “Help me to live out this message.” “I’m sorry for my failings.” “I love you!” 7) Then just listen attentively to hear God speaking to you. Respond silently, with love more than with words, rejoicing in God’s love and care for you. Just BE in God’s presence.
Follow-Up 8) Either immediately or later on, review your prayer. Write in your journal, not only about your prayer, but how you felt as you prayed. Journaling can help you see where God is working. It can also be immensely helpful when you meet with your spiritual director. 9)Recall your prayer time throughout the day – perhaps just that key word or phrase that stood out to you. Be aware of what you hear and see, what you think and feel as you go through your day. Remember, God speaks also speaks to us through the ordinary things of our lives – people, events, the circumstances that arise. Learn to live with a listening heart.
ASK YOUR HEAVENLY MOTHER FOR HELP
Mary is the ultimate example of openness to the will of God. Our Blessed Mother wants to help you discover God’s will for your life. Ask her assistance; you will certainly receive it. Entrust yourself to Mary and ask her to take you under her maternal care. Pray her rosary. Pray three Hail Marys every day, specifically to know your vocation, to be open to it, and to have the courage to follow it.
THE EUCHARIST AND CONFESSION
Another essential way to grow in your relationship with God is through the Sacraments. Regular reception of the Eucharist and Reconciliation will give you the spiritual strength and clarity you need to discern well. A sincere search for God’s path for you will lead you to the sacraments.
HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS
Of course, you will attend Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of obligation. But it’s also important to make an effort to attend Mass during the week when possible. Understandably, sometimes school and work schedules don’t make that possible. When you receive Communion, ask Jesus to show you your vocation.
“Persons who attend Mass, receive Communion, and invoke Christ in the Blessed Sacrament obtain light and strength that no one else has a claim to.” – Fr. John Hardon
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
Eucharistic adoration is another way to build your relationship with God. After all, the Eucharist is Christ Himself! Find some time to visit the Blessed Sacrament and spend time with the Lord. Try to do so weekly. You can make a short visit, but maybe make a holy hour when you can. We have no idea how many graces God grants through Eucharistic adoration!
RECONCILIATION
We can’t see clearly when the window is covered in dirt or hear God’s voice when we’re locked in a sound-proof room. We must be cleansed of sin through Confession so we can be in union with God, so we can see clearly and hear what rings true. Get into the practice of going to confession frequently – at least once a month. The Holy Spirit works powerfully when you approach the sacrament of Reconciliation with humility and openness. Prepare for the sacrament by making a good examination of conscience and do not be afraid or embarrassed to confess your sins honestly to a priest. It is an opportunity to trust more in God’s mercy than in your own sinfulness. To protect your friendship and remain in your close relationship with God, live a moral life, desire to remain in the state of grace, and practice the virtues.
SELF-REFLECTION
Besides an examination of conscience in preparation for Confession, get into the practice of taking a few minutes to examine yourself daily, reflecting on your interior life before the Lord. Self-reflection is critical. This daily examination should never be just to uncover your sins and failings. It is that, but it should also be a time in which you consciously recognize the goodness of God and His blessings and graces that have come to you throughout the day. Self-reflection also allows deep questions and concerns within to rise to the surface where you can face them with honesty and God’s grace. All of this makes you a traveler fit for the journey.
