What a promise! I am not sure which intrigued me more when I first read it?  Wondering how one delights themselves in the Lord or which desire of my heart I longed to have fulfilled?

The first part was easier than I thought to accomplish because the Catholic faith is so rich in ways to encounter Christ in our everyday, ordinary life. I could not imagine my life not filled with prayer, Scripture and the Sacraments.  St. Paul exhorted us to pray without ceasing, so whether folding laundry, driving the car or reading a book, I do everything with a prayerful heart.  I will say a prayer of thanksgiving for each member of my family as I put their dishes into the dishwasher, say the rosary in the car or taking a walk, or praise the Lord for the talent bestowed an author as I read their book.

Introduction to the Scriptures, while only 10 years ago, has transformed my faith life. Scripture offers me an opportunity to listen to Jesus speak which naturally produces within me a better sense of His voice in my life.  Scripture good for all teaching and reproof has become the center of my faith and my hope, not a day goes by I don’t take a moment to ponder a verse or two.  For me, I wanted to memorize a few special verses to embrace on tough days when I need encouragement, particularly helpful when writer’s block strikes or my children are teetering on that last nerve!

Lastly, the Sacraments are where I go to dip into God’s well-spring of grace.  Grace is that undeserved yet freely given gift of God’s Holy Spirit within us.* That Spirit born from His great love that moves us to deeper faith, obedience, and hope.  When I am feeling distant or discouraged, the remedy is always found in participation in and living out the grace found within the Sacraments. Particularly finding additional times during the week for Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, or making a really good (and frequent) Confession.  Gifts are best when they are received, opened, and used.  I try my best never to waste the grace present, promised, and abundant in the Sacraments!

*That is the simplified “Allison abridged” version of grace – by the way.

So, what about the desires of our heart?  How do we discover those?

That is where God is the most generous – since He has given us our lives, we can make a reasonable conclusion that those sweet desires placed upon our hearts, came also from Him.  If nothing else, He is well aware of them.  My worry about which desire I would want the Lord to fulfill was moot.  All I am called to do is to focus on delighting myself in the Lord.  My fidelity is all He requires.

This article in its entirety (which is not here) first appeared on fiction author, Erin McCole Cupp’s website on October 26, 2015.  You can read the rest here!