Heart

Discernment Practice 6: Discernment through Hearts Desire

Desires play a vital role in discernment, as they invite us to bring our whole selves into the presence of God.

By exploring these desires, we can better understand who we are and what we are being called to.

In this practice, you will begin to uncover your heart's deepest longings, identifying those desires that may lead you to greater clarity in discernment.

Preparing for Prayer:

• Start by becoming aware of your body. Notice any tensions, feelings of fatigue, or bursts of energy.

• Simply observe how your body feels in the present moment.

• Bring your attention to your mind. Recognize its busy hum, the constant stream of thoughts, judgments, and plans.

• Gently invite your mind to pause, allowing it to rest for the next few moments.

• If needed, take a few deep, calming breaths. You do not need to change your breath, just observe it, letting it guide you toward a more centered, relaxed state.

• Dedicate this time to God. Ask for the light of the Holy Spirit to guide you, to help you notice your deepest desires, name them clearly, and respond to them with the openness of your heart.

  Ask yourself, “What do I want right this minute?”

• Sit quietly in God's presence and listen attentively to whatever surfaces within you. Allow the answer to arise naturally without forcing it.

  
  Reflection Question:

• What desire surfaced for me in this moment?

• What was I feeling in my heart when I asked, "What do I want right this minute?"

  Name and write down the desire you’ve recognized. Let it be noted without judgment. Return your attention to relaxed attentiveness,

• Ask yourself again: “What do I want right this minute?”

  Repeat the process.

• Notice any new desires that arise, name them, and jot them down in your journal.

• Keep returning to a state of calm attentiveness between each new desire.

   Reflection Question :

• How did I feel after naming a desire?

• Did I feel any changes in my body or mind as I continued asking this question?

  Examine your desires.

• Once you have named several, take a moment to notice which ones seem to be at the core of your heart’s longing.

• Which ones are most attractive, energizing, or central to your current state of being?

• Select one that feels most central to you in this moment, and bring it into your focus.

  Ask, “What is underneath this desire?”

• Without judging, gently ask what desire might be even more basic than the one you’ve just identified.

• Let your heart’s deeper longing emerge.

  Repeat this question for each subsequent desire.

• Continue to ask, “Is there an even more basic desire underneath this one?”

• Follow the path inward, peeling away layers of desire until you reach the heart of what you are longing for.

   Reflection Question:

• As I peel back the layers of desire, what is the deeper longing that arises for me?

• What does this reveal about who I am?

  Honor your deepest desire.

• When you reach the most fundamental longing, honor it as central to your identity. This is an expression of your heart’s true desire in this moment.

  Offer it back to God.

• Finally, place your deepest desire in God’s hands. Offer it as it is, with full awareness that it is an expression of who you are right now.

• Trust that God will guide you with this insight.

   Reflection Question:

• How do I feel as I offer this deepest desire to God?

• Do I experience peace, freedom, or something else?