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Jared Dees

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Taking the “I” Out of Discernment

By Jared Dees

Two questions you might ask in discerning God’s will:

1) Lord, what do you want me to do?

2) Lord, what do you want?

There is a hint of selfishness in that first question. That’s why the second way to discern God’s will is even better.

When we seek out God’s will objectively, then we can start to imagine the world that he wants to create. The “me to do” flows as a conclusion rather than the end goal.

To ask God what he wants “me to do” is to limit our discernment only to what we think is possible or what we are dealing with in this very moment.

People who lead with vision focus on something bigger than themselves. They recognize that the world doesn’t have to be this way . . . and they do something about it.

Seeking God’s will without the “I” is like this. We seek out what God wants for everyone, then we can redirect our actions and our intentions to this higher purpose.

Lord, what do you want?

Lord, give me the grace to be a part of that.

Thanks to Marcus Grodi from EWTN’s Coming Home Network who made this distinction in an interview with Sr. Miriam James Heidland, SOLT (22:05):

November 9, 2017 Filed Under: How to Pray, On Spirituality, Prayer

About Jared Dees

Jared Dees is passionate about sharing practical resources to teach faith. He is best known for his website The Religion Teacher and is the author of many books including 31 Days to Becoming a Better Religious Educator, To Heal, Proclaim, and Teach, Praying the Angelus, Christ in the Classroom, and Beatitales: 80 Fables about the Beatitudes for Children.

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Jared Dees is passionate about sharing practical resources to teach faith. He is best known for his website The Religion Teacher and is the author of many books including 31 Days to Becoming a Better Religious Educator, To Heal, Proclaim, and Teach, Praying the Angelus, Christ in the Classroom, and Beatitales: 80 Fables about the Beatitudes for Children. See all of Jared's Books →

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