We have been asking catechumenate leaders and team members how they discern God’s will. (Click here if you’d like to share how you discern.)
The one theme that is consistent in almost every answer is “prayer.” This makes sense, doesn’t it? Prayer is an essential aspect of the life of a disciple. It is through prayer that we connect with God, seek God’s guidance, and discern God’s will for our ministry.
In this article, I want to explore the profound relationship between prayer and discernment, discovering how prayer can serve as a pathway to align our actions and decisions with God’s purpose.
The importance of prayer in discernment
Discernment is the process of seeking God’s will and direction in our lives. As ministry leaders, we encounter numerous decisions and challenges as we accompany seekers on the journey of faith. How do we know if the seeker is sincere? How do we guide the seeker along the journey of faith? How do we know if the seeker is ready for the next step at each point in the rite? What if we make a mistake?
In these moments, prayer becomes our compass, guiding us toward the choices that align with God’s will.
Through prayer, we create space for God to speak, opening ourselves to divine wisdom and guidance. It is in this sacred dialogue with God that we discover God’s will for our ministry.
Developing a prayer life
To fully embrace prayer as a pathway to discernment, we have to have a regular, active practice of personal prayer. While this seems obvious, many ministry leaders do not pray on a regular basis. A recent Pew study found that just 51% of Catholics pray every day. While the percentage of daily pray-ers is no doubt higher among catechumenate team members, I know there are still many of us who do not pray as much as we should.
Cultivating an ongoing conversation with God throughout the day nurtures our ability to discern God’s will.
Setting aside dedicated time for prayer each day is crucial. Whether it is in the morning, during lunch breaks, or in the evening, find a consistent time that works best for you. It is during these moments of intentional prayer that we create regular, consistent way of listening for what it is God has in mind for us.
In addition to dedicated prayer times, we can infuse prayer into our daily activities. Simple prayers of gratitude, seeking guidance, or surrendering our plans to God can be woven into our work, interactions, and decisions. Cultivating an ongoing conversation with God throughout the day nurtures our ability to discern God’s will.
Listening and discerning in prayer
When I was younger, I thought of prayer as mostly asking God for things. Presenting our needs to God on a regular basis is not wrong. But if that’s all we do, we’re missing a big part of the prayer process. We also have to actively listen to God. In the stillness of prayer, we create space for God to speak to us and reveal to us what the plan is for our ministry.
Listening in prayer requires patience, attentiveness, and an open heart. As we surrender our own preconceived notions and agendas, we become receptive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. God speaks to us in various ways—through Scripture, insights, gentle nudges, or a sense of peace. By listening attentively, we can discern God’s guidance.
It is essential to approach discernment with humility and an understanding that God’s ways may differ from our own. Prayer provides the necessary space to open our hearts to God’s will, allowing us to let go of our own expectations and align ourselves more with God’s expectations.
Prayer is the vital lifeline that connects us to God and fuels our discernment process as catechumenate ministers. Through prayer, we seek God’s will, invite the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and align our actions with the Spirit’s promptings. By developing a prayerful lifestyle, actively listening in prayer, and embracing humility, we can navigate the challenges of our ministry with confidence and clarity.
Can you help me out?
I’d love to know how this is landing. Can you share a word or a phrase about how this article resonates with you? Does it speak to your experience? Share your thoughts in the comments box below. Thanks for being part of the conversion!
This is great, Nick!
I think we often teach the externals, but don’t give people the tools to develop an adult spirituality and a prayer life that will serve them into the future.
I think a great place to begin would be to include Ignatius’ First Principle and Foundation: “My only desire and our one choice should be this: I want and I choose what better leads to God’s deepening his life in me.” I would also, early on, teach them to use the daily Examen as a tool to help them see how well they are doing that.
Understanding that we were created in love and sent for a purpose is a key to knowing our goal is to learn and do God’s will for us. It is the work of a lifetime. For adults coming into the Church, this can help them see their faith journey more clearly.
Thanks Joyce! I’m glad you liked the article. And thanks, also, for your insightful comments.
About 30 years ago, when my youngest son was about 12, he asked me: “Do you pray?” I replied yes. And his follow up question was: “WHY?” This took some contemplation and reflection at the time. I finally responded to him that I was pretty sure I prayed to know what God wanted me to do next.
Fast forward most of those 30 years, I read something that resonated from Richard Rohr. We pray not to change the mind of God, but rather to change our minds about God. When prayer is not happening easily I return myself to both of these encounters and then I can better proceed. I find that many of the seekers I am privileged to work with have deep prayer lives and it is through this prayer life that they have experienced the nudging of the Holy Spirit whether they put it in those words or not…they have shown up.
Hi Theresa. What a great story! Thanks so much for sharing. Blessings on your ministry.
Hi, Nick. One of my jobs on our RCIA team is to find and form sponsors. In the last few weeks we had 4 candidates go through the Rite of Full Communion and 3 inquirers go through the Rite of Welcome. There are 4 four other candidates and catechumens in the catechumenate. Now we have 6 new inquirers. So you see that I am always scrambling to find good sponsor matches. The other team members help, but it is difficult sometimes. When I am beginning to feel frantic and panicky I try to remember to pray to the Holy Spirit. It’s amazing how often a name pops up or someone makes a new suggestion. Unfortunately prayer isn’t always my first move, but I am learning to go there first.
Hi Sharon. I loved you’re statement that prayer isn’t always your first move! It’s not always mine either. It’s amazing to me how often I have to be reminded. Thanks for sharing.