How do you discern God's Plan for you?

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I was about to post this on a few other vocation sites I belong to.

The priority here is your relationship with JESUS. Concentrate on that. A spiritual director–if they know what they’re doing–will help to eradicate your faults one at a time (usually), to help you get closer to JESUS.

I have to speak of a religious vocation allegorically now. Since you’re in this relationship with JESUS, regard Him as something of a boyfriend (for girls, that is). What happens in dating relationships (non-hedonistic)? You spend time together. You want to be with each other whenever you can. If He wants you to be his Bride, he will propose, and show you which house He wants the two of you to share.

Crux of the matter–build the relationship with JESUS and the rest will take care of itself.

HTH.

Blessings,
Cloisters
 
Hi All,

It’s very interesting to read all the messages regarding how do we discern God’s plan for us. And I’ve got many information about it. Because lately, I’ve been thinking whether God calls me to be a nun.
So, it’s very interesting when I read SHF’s writing that we should find sign from God. I noticed that sometime we believe that God gives some signs which we think is from God but later after we follow, we find that they are not.
Honestly, now I’m struggling with my self about what is God’s will in my life??
I have a good career as Finance Manager but it doesn’t satisfy me. I’m enggaged which I’ve already had 5 years relationship ( long distance) and we still can stick together I thought it’s God’s will but a few weeks ago my fiance said that he’s not ready yet. So, suddenly my thought about to be a nun came. I had this desire since at school but it’s ups and downs.
Lately, I’ve been searching to discern God’s plan for me. I’m looking and learning about any conggregation that might be fitted for me.
So, it’s very very difficult to really understand what God’s plan for our lives. So to give me strength to my self I just think that God’s plan is not our plan and God’s way is not our way. So, just move your life with prayers.

God bless
 
wina said:
Hi All,

It’s very interesting to read all the messages regarding how do we discern God’s plan for us. And I’ve got many information about it. Because lately, I’ve been thinking whether God calls me to be a nun.
So, it’s very interesting when I read SHF’s writing that we should find sign from God. I noticed that sometime we believe that God gives some signs which we think is from God but later after we follow, we find that they are not.
Honestly, now I’m struggling with my self about what is God’s will in my life??
I have a good career as Finance Manager but it doesn’t satisfy me. I’m enggaged which I’ve already had 5 years relationship ( long distance) and we still can stick together I thought it’s God’s will but a few weeks ago my fiance said that he’s not ready yet. So, suddenly my thought about to be a nun came. I had this desire since at school but it’s ups and downs.
Lately, I’ve been searching to discern God’s plan for me. I’m looking and learning about any conggregation that might be fitted for me.
So, it’s very very difficult to really understand what God’s plan for our lives. So to give me strength to my self I just think that God’s plan is not our plan and God’s way is not our way. So, just move your life with prayers.

God bless
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Looking for “signs” is presumption. One has to stay still and listen for the still voice deep within.

What way of life are you feeling drawn to? Here are sites for cloistered orders:

cloisters.tripod.com/

And here are a couple of other discernment forums:

phatmass.com/

Scroll down and find “vocation station.”

Women in discernment yahoo group:

groups.yahoo.com/group/womenindiscernment/

Blessings,
Cloisters
 
I am a 36 year old woman, too. I usually feel very happy about becoming a religious sister. Sometimes I get scared thinking about some of the secular comforts I might leave behind but if you want to grow closer to Him, you have to be willing to leave the comforts of secular life behind.
I dated for a while and it was one of the most miserable periods in my whole life. Marriage is a vocation, too & sometimes I think it would be the much harder one. Because in my mind, if I were to get married, God would still have to come first and my husband would come second and I think you’d have a lot of men who’d have a problem with that.
 
turtle18 said:
I am a 36 year old woman, too. I usually feel very happy about becoming a religious sister. Sometimes I get scared thinking about some of the secular comforts I might leave behind but if you want to grow closer to Him, you have to be willing to leave the comforts of secular life behind.
I dated for a while and it was one of the most miserable periods in my whole life. Marriage is a vocation, too & sometimes I think it would be the much harder one. Because in my mind, if I were to get married, God would still have to come first and my husband would come second and I think you’d have a lot of men who’d have a problem with that.
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Finding God in husband and children, and putting your whole heart and soul into their sanctification leads to the wife and mother’s sanctification.

Yes, you need to have some prayer time alone, but it doesn’t come as easily as it used to. The Prayer of Simple Regard (of God) is sometimes the only prayer one can make.

FWIW.

Blessings,
Cloisters
 
CathPhilosopher said:
I’ve been studying vocation as a theologian for some years now, and have recently finished a book, which I am seeking to have published by regular channels, but have temporarily published through Lulu; if you’re interested you can browse it on this Lulu webpage.

It’s hard to give specific advice over the internet. But some general points may help: (1) There’s really only one vocation, to love God and our fellow human beings; wherever we will be most capable of living out this love, that’s our vocation; (2) It is love that makes human beings truly happy. So if we’re sad at the thought of living some way of life, it can be a sign that it’s not the best way for us to live that love. It’s quite natural to feel some apprehension at the thought of committing oneself to a way of life, but to feel sad at the thought is a problem. Would you marry a person if you were grew sad as you thought about marrying him? (3) What is most important is living well today, living in love now. “Tomorrow will be anxious for itself” (Mat 6:34). If it doesn’t seem that you will find a spouse for a long time, maybe you should think about how you will best live right now as a child of God. I don’t mean to imply that you haven’t done this; I don’t know your situation well enough, and am just trying to give general principles.

On a personal note, I thought for a long time that I was called to a religious community. But after encountering many obstacles to the pursuit of this path, I realized that God by his providence was showing me a somewhat different path. I will be entering a diocesan seminary this Fall.

Joseph

Web page I’m working on: goodcatholicbooks.org
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Hi Joseph…Today I purchased your book via PayPal and it all seems to have gone ok by “following the bouncing ball”. I have only just registered with PayPal and your book will be my first purchase via that medium and will be a test case for me having been wary of PayPal in the past. I will post into this thread again when I have received and read the book which I am looking forward to receiving and reading. Thank you …Blessings - Barb:)
 
God’s Plan for e is exactly what I am doing each day. I don’t think about it much. I simply live my life.
 
wina said:
Hi All,

It’s very interesting to read all the messages regarding how do we discern God’s plan for us. And I’ve got many information about it. Because lately, I’ve been thinking whether God calls me to be a nun.
So, it’s very interesting when I read SHF’s writing that we should find sign from God. I noticed that sometime we believe that God gives some signs which we think is from God but later after we follow, we find that they are not.
Honestly, now I’m struggling with my self about what is God’s will in my life??
I have a good career as Finance Manager but it doesn’t satisfy me. I’m enggaged which I’ve already had 5 years relationship ( long distance) and we still can stick together I thought it’s God’s will but a few weeks ago my fiance said that he’s not ready yet. So, suddenly my thought about to be a nun came. I had this desire since at school but it’s ups and downs.
Lately, I’ve been searching to discern God’s plan for me. I’m looking and learning about any conggregation that might be fitted for me.
So, it’s very very difficult to really understand what God’s plan for our lives. So to give me strength to my self I just think that God’s plan is not our plan and God’s way is not our way. So, just move your life with prayers.

God bless
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God’s Kingdom will be firmly established on this earth. Until that time, i have found that the greatest plan he has for us is actually each other. And the more our lives are harmonized with the two greatest commands expressed by Jesus, the more fulfilling our lives become.🙂 Welcome!
 
truagape said:
God’s Kingdom will be firmly established on this earth. Until that time, i have found that the greatest plan he has for us is actually each other. And the more our lives are harmonized with the two greatest commands expressed by Jesus, the more fulfilling our lives become.🙂 Welcome!
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Hi Tru, I didn’t know that you visit this thread too. I agree with you. Lately I feel more calm about God’s will for me. Just take my step for each day…
 
wina said:
Hi Tru, I didn’t know that you visit this thread too. I agree with you. Lately I feel more calm about God’s will for me. Just take my step for each day…
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“Patience” actually means “attention to the moment.”

Your sanctification lies in your Daily Duty. If your job is not satisfying you, that’s an indication that your sanctification may lie elsewhere. However, I would join this “dryness” to that of Jesus Crucified, and it will be sanctification, still.

Again, our “mantra” here on CAF-Vocations: find a spiritual director. Aside from advising you to do that, I would also suggest you find a monastery or retreat house close-by and go on retreat.

If you’re wanting to be a cloistered nun, an order called the Visitation would allow you to come into the enclosure for three days (or longer) and experience their life.

Please check my website, and see if anything appeals to you:

cloisters.tripod.com/

I would also recommend reading the great religious rules of the church: St. Augustine; St. Benedict; and St. Albert of Jerusalem. A great majority follow that of St. Augustine; the Benedictines follow the second; and the Carmelites, the third.

Blessings,
Cloisters
 
Hallelujahhh said:
But if you’re single, there is always the option of marriage or religious life - and it will always be there until you die, basically. So I think the single vocation is hardest because there’s probably no feeling of being sure because there are always two options out there floating around.
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And that is probably the biggest reason why being single is NOT a vocation, unless you commit to it to the rest of you life through some form of binding vows.
 
First of all, don’t buy into the notion of a micromanaging God. God gives us a free will and, as long as we don’t break any of His laws, a lot more is left to our discretion than a lot of people think.
zes1 said:
Whenever I think maybe I am supposed to be a sister, I start to feel very sad
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Is this because you fear being a nun, or because you are sad at the possiblility that you may have “wasted” years where you could have been a nun?

Additionally, although I have sparred with her over other things regarding “single vocation”, I think what she has written probably sums it up in a nutshell:
BarbaraTherese said:
There are three indications of vocation:
Attraction to the life
Absence of imediments
Acceptance into the life
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OP, let me ask you something: what do YOU want out of life - and why? The why is important as well, because in James 4:3 it is written about not receiving what we ask for because we ask for that which we will squander on our pleasures. In other words, we must ask why we want the life we live - is it for selfish reasons? The reason I bring this up is that wanting to be married is NOT selfish; in fact, quite the OPPOSITE, as I will explain further, for BarbTherese touches on a very important point that needs to be expanded upon:
BarbaraTherese said:
No…the vocation to religious life is not a default position.
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Agreed. And neither is “single life”. If there is a Church teaching about a “default” position, the closest probably comes in CCC 1603, in which it is stated that the vocation to marriage is written into our very nature. This point needs to be emphasized, because without fully understanding that marriage is our natural vocation we cannot fully appreciate how vowed celibacy is a “higher” or “supernatural” calling.

OP, another poster asked why you have never dated. Is it because of a lack of committment or ability to make a decision for yourself, or just the fact that it is hard to find a good Catholic spouse in this day and age? Trust me, with some of the women I find even in Catholic circles I sometimes jokingly wonder if they are on the Cardinal’s payroll in an effort to drive men into the seminary! Or have you been rebuffed and been given bad advice ranging from the standard cliches about not being patient enough or that a spouse will be dropped onto your doorstep in good time?

I advise that you analyze these points prayerfully.
 
Cloisters said:
“Patience” actually means “attention to the moment.”

Your sanctification lies in your Daily Duty. If your job is not satisfying you, that’s an indication that your sanctification may lie elsewhere. However, I would join this “dryness” to that of Jesus Crucified, and it will be sanctification, still.

Again, our “mantra” here on CAF-Vocations: find a spiritual director. Aside from advising you to do that, I would also suggest you find a monastery or retreat house close-by and go on retreat.

If you’re wanting to be a cloistered nun, an order called the Visitation would allow you to come into the enclosure for three days (or longer) and experience their life.

Please check my website, and see if anything appeals to you:

cloisters.tripod.com/

I would also recommend reading the great religious rules of the church: St. Augustine; St. Benedict; and St. Albert of Jerusalem. A great majority follow that of St. Augustine; the Benedictines follow the second; and the Carmelites, the third.

Blessings,
Cloisters
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Thanks for your advice
 
Why do so many feel the single life is not a vocation? It can be and is with me. And I am not consecrated in any secular order either. I just live the single life with absolutely no interest in marriage.
 
Hi Zes, do you listen to MP3 files at all? There is a good talk on called “Determining God’s Will for You” by an outstanding apologist Phil Krill (host of the Catholic Forum show). In it he discusses the discernment exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. I recommend this. 🙂

Here is the download page.
 
MarcoPolo said:
Hi Zes, do you listen to MP3 files at all? There is a good talk on called “Determining God’s Will for You” by an outstanding apologist Phil Krill (host of the Catholic Forum show). In it he discusses the discernment exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. I recommend this. 🙂

Here is the download page./QUOTE

Could you let me know the good books that I should read about it?? sorry that I can’t listen the MP3 files.
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wina said:
Could you let me know the good books that I should read about it?? sorry that I can’t listen the MP3 files.
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If you know a friend who has iTunes, they could burn it on a CD for you.

Otherwise I would try to find a book about St. Ignatius of Loyola on Discernment. Or you could read this which is another great Saint’s take on discernment by St. Louis de Montfort. 🙂
 
If you are searching for God’s plan for your life, you can find the beginning in John chapter 6 verse - “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” Then continue to search for truth by searching the scriptures everyday to see if what I am saying is true(Acts 17:11) and the Holy Spirit will guide you in ALL truth(John 16:13). Search the scriptures and learn what true LOVE is and where it comes from, then learn to obey everything Jesus Christ commanded (Matthew 28:20). I encourage you to continue to seek the interests of Jesus Christ and not your own interests(Philippians 2:21).
 
Such a hard question. I’m reading a great book on it though by Mark Thibodeaux.

I’m having a hard time right now. I have prayed and prayed for God to send a good Catholic man into my life. Then, just a couple of weeks ago a man in my parish who had always been there suddenly came to my notice. I am in RCIA with him–we are both sponsors–and the more I am around him the more attracted I am to him. He is smart, funny, in love with his Catholic faith, has a career in advocating Catholic social teaching, and is even on Catholic Match, saying that he wants to be married. The joy I felt when I realized God had answered my prayers was so great! Yet, I am crushed. As far as I can tell, this man has no interest in me. He has not made an effort to talk to me or get to know me, and I am a believer that the man should do the pursuing. Although he looks at me when he’s talking during RCIA as if to make contact, and I look at him when I’m making a comment too, it never goes further than that. I have gone over to the side of the room he’s on after RCIA is over so that I can talk to the deacon, and I say “hi” to him as I pass by, but I only get a small smile out of him–nothing more. It’s breaking my heart to finally have a man that I find so wonderful that close by, yet so emotionally far away. And worst of all, I’m angry at God about it. Why would He bring someone so wonderful into my path as an answer to my prayers and then seem to yank him away? It seems as if God is deliberately being cruel to me. He knows the desires of my heart. How could he do this?
 
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