The concept of God as pure, necessary, and Supreme Being, foundation of all life and source of all existence, and not just the anthropomorphic grandfatherly figure in the sky, delighted Merton and called him to deeper theological reflection on Christian mysticism.

Jean-Pierre de Caussade, more than two hundred years after his death, still speaks to me about what he called the “sacrament of the present moment.” In his little book on prayer, he assures us that God is speaking and revealing his will in every moment of every day, and that we can discern God’s presence and guidance through simple prayers each

We can become very knowledgeable about spiritual matters without becoming truly spiritual people. As we learn to read spiritually about spiritual things, we open our hearts to God’s voice. Discernment requires not only reading with the heart but being willing to put down the book we are reading to just listen to what God is saying to us through its

God speaks to us all the time and in many ways, but it requires spiritual discernment to hear God’s voice, see what God sees, and read the signs in daily life. —Henri Nouwen

Prayer of the Psalmist: “I am your servant; O, God, grant me discernment, that I may understand your statutes” (Ps. 119:125).

There is wisdom from the fourth-century monks of the Egyptian desert: “Do not combat the demons directly.” The wise ones of the desert felt that a direct confrontation with the forces of evil required such spiritual maturity that few would be ready for it. Instead of paying so much attention to the prince of darkness, they advised their disciples

I have found that Saint Teresa’s call to focus on the goodness of God when I need to discern helps me fight the demons of despair, self-rejection, and fear, and has overcome the powers of darkness with the power of God many times. I have often prayed the prayer of Saint Teresa, “Solo Dios basta, God alone is enough,” when I have needed to discern

Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us God’s beloved. Being the beloved expresses the core truth of our existence.2

I wonder if the greatest temptation is self-rejection. Could it be that beneath all the lures to greed, lust, and success rests a great fear of never being enough or not being lovable?