A Discerning Lent: Be Aware, Understand, Take Action

St. Ignatius of Loyola developed spiritual exercises in which he guides us to become aware of the spiritual influences or “voices” competing for our attention (our voice, the enemy’s voice, God’s voice); to understand the implications of listening to/following/ accepting each; and to take action based on the direction the Godly voice.

Our voice is often based on emotions, or appetites/desires; it seeks self-satisfaction. I want what I want, how I want it, when I want it. Sounds like a kid throwing a tantrum, eh? Lurk-ing below the surface of our voice are ego. pride, self-justification and self-soothing (from wounds we carry with us); it’s all about bolstering our frail self-esteem. Remember the seagulls’ chant from the movie “Finding Nemo”: Mine! Mine! Mine! That’s our voice.

The enemy’s voice is typically negative, targeting a weakness we have in our self-image. His voice usually says:

-         You are not worthy of that; you do not deserve that; you are not good enough.

-         You will fail; you know how lacking you are; you don’t have what it takes.

-         Remember how you always screw up things; you’re going to screw up again.

-         You are not loved; you are unlovable; you will only be hurt if you love/accept love…

The enemy preys upon our pride, too:

-         You deserve what she has more than she does – go ahead and take it…

-         You are better than him, don’t let him succeed…

-         That’s not stealing, you deserve it for all your hard work….

-         If you lie, they won’t know; protecting your image is more important than the truth…

-         Fudging the expense report, you’ll merely receive what you are really worth….

God’s voice is affirming, encouraging, brimming with love:

-         You are my beloved, in whom I am well pleased

-         Well done good and faithful servant

-         You can do this, with my grace.

-         Follow me/my will – it is the way, the truth, and the life.

-         Abide in me, and I will abide in you.

Becoming aware of theses voices competing for our attention is difficult. It requires intentional, focused praying – best done in silence where subtle movements in our heart of peace or sadness or anxiousness can be detected; where the thoughts that enter our minds can be sorted through more clearly. Awareness requires the quiet calm of the inner room (Matthew 6:6) to discern the Lord’s voice.

Next, understand the outcome each voice is promising. ONLY GOD’S VOICE BRINGS PEACE OF HEART. Your voice may plead, whine, complain…desperate to be obeyed. The outcome of following that voice is satisfaction at the human level: a full belly, an enhanced reputation, an increased income, a rise in power… The enemy’s voice often promises the same things. This is not a coincidence, since the enemy tempts us at our weakest areas… the things we want most, the tempter/liar targets. He dangles the shiny objects of our desire before the eyes of our heart and we are mesmerized. Our yearning heart, believing it’s a true good instead of a false one, all too easily succumbs to that desire. After which the tempter laughs at how easily we were tricked…

Eve never wanted the apple from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil until the tempter falsely described its after-effects: you will not die (as God had told her), in fact you will become like a god! (Gen 3:4-5) Because the serpent was “the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made” (Gen 3:1), Eve believed his lies and suddenly “saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and the tree was desirable for gaining wisdom” – she saw the tree as good and true and beautiful (the essence of God); she now wants its fruit for herself. (Gen 3:6)

God’s voice promises peace, love, patience, kindness, joy, goodness, faithfulness, self-control – the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Especially peace – peace that surpasses all understanding. And unity, alignment with God’s will – which is the way Jesus described when he said of himself: I am the way (follow my example), the truth (follow my teaching), and the life (a Godly life on earth and an eternal life with him in heaven).

Now, as our own voice senses us leaning toward following God’s voice, it will throw a further tantrum at having to give up what it wants, or tempt you to be sad at not getting your way, or to express anger at God the killjoy who never gives you what you want. Do you hear the petulant child increasing his rant in all these responses?

The enemy will catastrophize the situation if you don’t choose his voice. All kinds of negative outcomes will come to mind. He will fill your heart with fear. He will make you anxious. He will tempt you further, sweeten the pot with additional false promises (“This lie will not only increase your power, but people will find you more attractive”). He will also make you doubt your ability to hear/follow God… (that’s not God, that’s your imagination!).

Take action – to follow what God’s peace has affirmed is the right decision, the right path to follow. Do not worry if it doesn’t make sense, defies logic, or seems impossible. Think of what the Lord asked Noah, Abram, Moses, Jonah, Jesus . . .  If God asks us to do something seemingly impossible, have confidence that he will make a way where there seems no way. Don’t worry that it may not be what you want; as “fasting” in Lent teaches us, we need to curb our appetites/desires/addictions or they will control us. Our desires are a poor indicator of which direction to pursue happiness. Happiness is an indirect byproduct of our charitable works, kind words, sacrificial love – not something we pursue or attain directly.

Our Lenten journey is one of becoming aware of what God's will is for us, of understanding the spiritual benefits of following his will (and the negative consequences of not doing so), and courageously taking action to live his will, empwered by his mercy, love, and grace. May we all have a discerning Lent.