How Will I Know?

Take time to reflect on the following passages

1. Present disposition

Reflect on Matthew 16: 1-4

a)	Find some quiet time and think about how God has worked in your life. How has Jesus been present in your life?
b)	Reflect on Luke 9:28-36. How might Jesus be calling you? What is Jesus saying to you today?
c)	Reflect on Matthew 5:1-16. What do you expect and anticipate from God? What do you hope for?

2. Reflective experience

Reflect on Matthew 8:18-27.

a)	As you think about your own life story, what have been the most important decisions in your life so far?
b)	What were your feelings, hopes and fears in the process of making those decisions?
c)	What were the consequences or outcomes of those decisions?

3. Prayer

Reflect on Matthew 6:5-22.

a)	How do some of the gospel values (discipleship, God's reign, perseverance, truth, poverty, single-heartedness, fidelity, justice, mercy, hope, love, humility) relate to your present discernment?
b)	How do you see your discernment in relation to the elements in Jesus' life (his ministry of healing, his qualities of trust, courage, forgiveness, faith, his suffering and persecution, his desire for fullness of life for all, etc.)?

4. Consultation with others

Reflect on Matthew 7:7-12.

Consult with people who are significant in your life: Friends and loved ones Family members Spiritual director Vocation director

5. Listening to yourself

Reflect on Matthew 6:24-34.

a)	As you think about religious life now, what feelings emerge?
b)	What do you hear yourself saying to others when you are talking about religious life? (What messages are you giving yourself here?)
c)	What is your sense of God's "inner voice" within you? What is your gut-level intuition about your decision regarding religious life?
d)	Does your decision, direction or choice give you life? Is it life-giving for you and for others?

6. Confirmation

Reflect on Matthew 12:33-35.

When you put together all that you have heard through prayer, reflection on scripture,
your feelings, responses from others, work with a spiritual director and /or vocation director, what do you believe God wants for you?

Process adapted from material from the National Religious Vocation Conference.