An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart with Kris McGregor

This twenty-six-day Advent series invites you to prepare for Christmas by forming a listening and Discerning Heart.

Rooted in Scripture and guided by the saints, each day offers a reflection and a simple practice to help you encounter Christ more deeply.

Part One: Awakening the Listening Heart (Days 1 to 6)

These first days quiet the soul and open the ear of the heart. We explore stillness, silence, desire, openness, and the first movements of conversion.

Part Two: Following the Voice of Christ (Days 7 to 13)

Here the heart grows in recognizing how Christ speaks and guides. We reflect on trust, hope, peace, courage, and the inner movements that help us follow Him.

Part Three: Listening Through Trials, Weakness, and Silence (Days 14 to 20)

This section teaches the fidelity of the listening heart as we remain with Christ in dryness, confusion, weakness, and suffering.

Part Four: Welcoming Christ with a Heart Fully Awake (Days 21 to 26)

The final days prepare the soul to receive Christ with humility, mercy, charity, and love. Christmas becomes the moment when Christ dwells within the listening heart.

Day 1 – Wakefulness – An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart: Prepare your heart for Christ through Scripture, the saints, and the gentle practice of daily listening. Week One: Awakening the Listening Heart DAY 1 – Wakefulness “Besides this you know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep. For salvation … Read more

Day 2 – Silence – An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart: Prepare your heart for Christ through Scripture, the saints, and the gentle practice of daily listening. Week One: Awakening the Listening Heart DAY 2 – Silence “For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him.” Psalm 62.5 RSV Silence is the doorway through … Read more

Day 3 – Desire – An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart: Prepare your heart for Christ through Scripture, the saints, and the gentle practice of daily listening. Week One: Awakening the Listening Heart DAY 3 – Desire “As a deer longs for flowing streams, so longs my soul for thee, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the … Read more

Day 4 – Openness – An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart: Prepare your heart for Christ through Scripture, the saints, and the gentle practice of daily listening. Week One: Awakening the Listening Heart DAY 4 – Openness “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in … Read more

Day 5 – Stillness – An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart: Prepare your heart for Christ through Scripture, the saints, and the gentle practice of daily listening. Week One: Awakening the Listening Heart DAY 5 – Stillness “Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46.10 RSV Stillness is the interior calm that allows the soul to recognize … Read more

Day 6 – Conversion – An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart: Prepare your heart for Christ through Scripture, the saints, and the gentle practice of daily listening. Week One: Awakening the Listening Heart DAY 6 – Conversion “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4.17 Conversion is not a single moment. It is a continual turning … Read more

Day 7 – Trust – An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart: Prepare your heart for Christ through Scripture, the saints, and the gentle practice of daily listening. Week Two: Following the Voice of Christ DAY 7 – Trust “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge … Read more

Day 8 – Hope – An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart: Prepare your heart for Christ through Scripture, the saints, and the gentle practice of daily listening. Week Two: Following the Voice of Christ DAY 8 – Hope “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10.23 Hope is … Read more

Day 9 – Courage – An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart: Prepare your heart for Christ through Scripture, the saints, and the gentle practice of daily listening. Week Two: Following the Voice of Christ DAY 9 – Courage “Wait for the Lord. Be strong, and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27.14 RSV Courage … Read more

Day 10 – Peace – An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart: Prepare your heart for Christ through Scripture, the saints, and the gentle practice of daily listening. Week Two: Following the Voice of Christ DAY 10 – Peace “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. … Read more

Day 11 – Guidance – An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart: Prepare your heart for Christ through Scripture, the saints, and the gentle practice of daily listening. Week Two: Following the Voice of Christ DAY 11 – Guidance “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it.” Isaiah 30.21 RSV Guidance is … Read more

Day 12 – Interior Movement – An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart: Prepare your heart for Christ through Scripture, the saints, and the gentle practice of daily listening. Week Two: Following the Voice of Christ DAY 12 – Interior Movement “I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel. In the night also my heart instructs me.” Psalm 16.7 RSV … Read more

Day 13 – Surrender – An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart: Prepare your heart for Christ through Scripture, the saints, and the gentle practice of daily listening. Week Two: Following the Voice of Christ DAY 13 – Surrender “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge … Read more

Day 14 – Dryness – An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart: Prepare your heart for Christ through Scripture, the saints, and the gentle practice of daily listening. Week Two: Following the Voice of Christ DAY 14 – Dryness “O God, thou art my God, I seek thee, my soul thirsts for thee; my flesh faints for thee, as in … Read more

Day 15 – Confusion – An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart: Prepare your heart for Christ through Scripture, the saints, and the gentle practice of daily listening. Part Three: Listening Through Trials, Weakness, and Silence DAY 15 – Confusion “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.” Proverbs 3.5 RSV Interior … Read more

Day 16 – Weakness – An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart: Prepare your heart for Christ through Scripture, the saints, and the gentle practice of daily listening. Part Three: Listening Through Trials, Weakness, and Silence DAY 16 – Weakness “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12.9 RSV Weakness is … Read more

Day 17 – Suffering – An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart: Prepare your heart for Christ through Scripture, the saints, and the gentle practice of daily listening. Part Three: Listening Through Trials, Weakness, and Silence DAY 17 – Suffering “For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.” 2 Corinthians 1.5 … Read more

Day 18 – Fear – An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart: Prepare your heart for Christ through Scripture, the saints, and the gentle practice of daily listening. Part Three: Listening Through Trials, Weakness, and Silence DAY 18 – Fear “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.” Psalm 56:3 RSV Fear touches every human heart. We long … Read more

Day 19 – Spiritual Desolation – An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart: Prepare your heart for Christ through Scripture, the saints, and the gentle practice of daily listening. Part Three: Listening Through Trials, Weakness, and Silence DAY 19 – Spiritual Desolation “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for … Read more

Day 20 – Love – An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart: Prepare your heart for Christ through Scripture, the saints, and the gentle practice of daily listening. Part Four: Welcoming Christ with a Heart Fully Awake DAY 20 – Love “We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4.19 (RSV Love is the fullness of the listening heart. … Read more

Day 21 – Humility – An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart: Prepare your heart for Christ through Scripture, the saints, and the gentle practice of daily listening. Part Four: Welcoming Christ with a Heart Fully Awake DAY 21 – Humility “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3.30 (RSV) Humility is the doorway through which Christ enters the … Read more