90 day
discernment challenge
It’s Time to Move!
Introduction: It's Time to Move!
“If a man is moving – gathering information, praying, growing in holiness, checking out vocation websites, reading books, talking with his spiritual director – the Lord can guide his movements. He will close some doors, causing the man to turn and go a different way. He will open other doors for the man to pass through. Some men just sit in their rooms and pray, ‘Jesus, please tell me my vocation.’ And the Lord says, ‘I will. But God can’t drive a parked car. Move!’ Have you done everything that you need to do in order to know the will of God? If not, then maybe Jesus is waiting on you.”
The 90 Days Discernment Challenge helps one allow God to MOVE them towards His will. We have broken up 90 days into three sections of 30 days known as “weeks”. Each week will focus on four simple activities for the discerner to do based off of the acronym M.O.V.E. (Maria, Oratio, Visita, Eucaristia). Mary moves the heart of the discerner towards Jesus; prayer opens us up to God’s presence; visiting a seminary or convent dispels fears; and living a life centered on the Eucharist transforms us into the image of God from within.
Each week builds upon the other and we will reveal them over the weeks ahead. May the Lord MOVE your heart during these days so that you will clearly know His will and follow it with joy!
Week 1 (First 30 Days)
M (Maria) – Pray the Litany of Humily.
O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being honored
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being praised
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being approved
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being despised
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected
Deliver me, Jesus.That others may be loved more than I
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I unnoticed
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
O ( Oratio) – Practice Relational Prayer: ARRR
The ARRR method of personal prayer begins with unburdening your deepest thoughts, feelings and desires to the Lord, opening yourself to receive His grace, and then making an intentional response to God’s love.
Acknowledge (A)
Be still for a moment. What’s going on inside you? What are you thinking, feeling, desiring? Honestly acknowledge your interior disposition. Try to be aware of both your surface-level emotions and what’s going on deep in your heart. In a word: be honest with yourself.
Relate (R)
Now tell the Lord what’s going on. Be completely real with Him and don’t hold anything back. Tell him about your anger, fear, agitation, and joy. Tell him even about the small stuff. It may help to imagine Jesus sitting in front of you as you’re talking to him. Let it all out.
Receive (R)
This step is most difficult: stop talking and listen. Be confident that God will communicate with you! Open yourself to his response. Feel his light and love. Is there a peaceful thought that keeps coming? A gentle tug in one direction? An echo of Scripture that comes to mind? Let God’s grace wash over you.
Respond (R)
Now respond to grace. As you are walking alongside the Lord, what is your next step with him? Is he inviting a spiritual change? Renewal in how you approach a situation? Sometimes your response should be concrete, like an action to undertake today, a word to speak to a friend, or a resolution for the future.
V ( Visita) – Speak with a trusted friend about your vocational desires.
Sally pg 171 form Discernment of Spirits.
E ( Eucharistia) – Go to Confession once a month to prepare the way for the Lord.
David pg from Is Jesus Calling You?
Week 2 (Second 30 Days)
Check back in 30 days. Give yourself fully to the suggestions in Week 1.
Week 3 (Third 30 Days)
No looking ahead. Discernment is a slow process. If you desire more, click on “Desire” below.
Stages
of discernment