A PRAYER FOR GRACES TO: Become more aware of our truest desires of our heart and our longings, which is where He is calling us; and to delight in those gifts to give glory to God.
“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” St. Augustine
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MEDITATIONS
DESIRE AND TRUST
Desire (Ps 73:24-26)
You guide me with your counsel, and afterward, you will receive me with honor Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Trust (Ps 91:2)
I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!
Delight (Ps 37:4-5,7)
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.
Reflection:
What are the desires of my heart today?_______________________________________________
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LONGING
My Soul thirsts (Ps 63:1)
Ardent Longing for God - A psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah
O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. I look to you in the sanctuary to see your power and glory. For your love is better than life; my lips shall ever praise you!
I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands, calling on your name. My soul shall be sated as with choice food, with joyous lips my mouth shall praise you! I think of you upon my bed, I remember you through the watches of the night You indeed are my savior, and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.
As the Deer (Ps 42: 1)
As the deer panteth for the water; So my soul longeth after Thee.
What words of David speak for you?
What is my deepest longing? ________________________
Share this with God_________________________________
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WATER OF LIFE INVITATION
Come to the Waters (Isaiah 55)
Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live.
We are invited to the banquet of the Lord. What words here speak to your heart?____________________________________________________________________
Blessed are they (Matt 5:6)
Jesus speaking: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Allow yourself to listen to your longings without judgment or self-editing or self-denial.
As David is now aware of his desire for God, he speaks to God of it. He compares the feelings of longing in his soul to a deer panting in need of water to live. His experience assures us if we delight in God, God will give us the desires of our hearts. David has experienced God’s trusting care; thus proclaiming even if his health may fail, in his heart, trust in God will not fail.
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CONTEMPLATION
Spiritual Exercise / At the Well
The Water I shall give (John 4: 13-15a)
Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty.”
Meet Jesus at the well.
Look inside together What do you see?
What do you hear?
Let Him speak to you - 'whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst...'
St. Ignatius tells us we are reflect on what are our deepest desires, therefore be specific in letting let God know of them.
What are they?
What are comes up from within you?
What is the specific water He has for you?
The Examen: God is in the Details
Walk through your day with God and note its joys and delights. Focus on the day’s gifts.
Look at the work you did, the people you interacted with. What did you receive from these people? What did you give them?
Pay attention to small things—the food you ate, the sights you saw, and other seemingly small pleasures.
Drink in the delights of the day.