What’s a Sign from God (and What Isn’t)

Signs are often tricky and fuzzy. They’re not always such a good tool for helping you make a decision.

Let’s be honest: we want shortcuts. We want God to do the hard work and make big decisions for us. Doing God’s will is the purpose of life, but that does not mean he is going to just reveal exactly what you ought to do. That would violate our freedom.

God speaks in clarity, not fuzziness. If he is telling you to do something, there will be no doubt that he is telling you. This kind of sign, however, is rare because in order to be a disciple of Christ—at some point—we have to make the tough decision to follow him on our own. There are steps that can help in this process:

1) Gather the data.
2) Seek counsel.
3) Weigh all the options and risks.
4) Take the responsibility for the decision you need to make.

If you follow those steps, the decision will be clear. God wants us to use our intellects to make decisions. He wants us to be stewards of our own lives. We can base our decisions on the facts rather than mere feelings and fuzzy signs.

If you would like more help making any kind of decision in your life, try the book, Pray, Decide, and Don’t Worry (http://tinyurl.com/yy6hk27j
by Bobby and Jackie Angel with Fr. Mike Schmitz.


The Catechism in a Year – Day 239 – The Formation of Conscience

Together, with Fr. Mike, we unpack the formation of our conscience. Fr. Mike emphasizes that a well-formed conscience is one that is both “upright and truthful.” He also highlights the idea that a well-formed intellect is vital to having a well-formed conscience. We cannot just say something is either right or wrong, we have to understand why we think that. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1783-1789.

Click on link: https://youtu.be/NZ1mkbVSgDE?si=aAMyUFT-VY2IzM5J


The Catechism in a Year – Day 238 – Our Moral Conscience

Together, with Fr. Mike, we explore the moral conscience. Fr. Mike emphasizes that even though our intellect has been weakened by sin, we still have some sense, our conscience, that tells us that there is a right and wrong. He also emphasizes the difference between our conscience and our passions. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1776-1782.

Click on link: https://youtu.be/6wGaMraZc_Y?si=988zq1pTxquNmfPr


Meditation of the Day – The Idea of Peace

“And so the idea of peace came down to do the work of peace: The Word was made flesh and even now dwells among us. It is by faith that he dwells in our hearts, in our memory, our intellect and penetrates even into our imagination. What concept could man have of God if he did not first fashion an image of him in his heart? By nature incomprehensible and inaccessible, he was invisible and unthinkable, but now he wished to be understood, to be seen and thought of. But how, you ask, was this done? He lay in a manger and rested on a virgin’s breast, preached on a mountain, and spent the night in prayer. He hung on a cross, grew pale in death, and roamed free among the dead and ruled over those in hell. He rose again on the third day, and showed the apostles the wounds of the nails, the signs of victory; and finally in their presence he ascended to the sanctuary of heaven. How can we not contemplate this story in truth, piety and holiness?”— St. Bernard, p. 186