Joan Kelley continues our series “Desiring Deeply: Freedom and Detachment” with an exploration of holy desire. What role does desire play in our spiritual journey? How do our deepest desires help us uncover God’s loving will for our lives? After Joan’s teaching, we practice a prayer of discerning our desires in God’s presence.
Check out the podcast or view the entire service below!
Kingdom Practices
This week, continue to discern your deep desires in the presence of God. If it is helpful, return to Joan’s prayer practice from last Sunday. Also, you may find it meaningful to pray Thomas Merton’s “Prayer of Unknowing” everyday this week.
A Prayer of Unknowing
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following Your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please You does in fact please You. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that, if I do this, You will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust You always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for You are ever with me, and You will never leave me to face my perils alone. Amen.
Additional Resources
Inner Compass by Margaret Self
Surrender to Love by David Benner
The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius
Interior Freedom by Jacques Philippe
The Selfless Way of Christ by Henri Nouwen