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The Seven Attitudes of a Discerning Heart with Kris McGregor

Prayerful Reflection

Prayerful reflection is the fifth attitude of a discerning heart. In Catholic discernment, it means pausing to notice God’s presence in daily life. The psalmist reminds us, “O Lord, you have searched me and known me,” and saints like Francis de Sales encouraged a daily examen of gratitude and humility. Reflection allows us to see grace and failure honestly, so we may respond to God with greater clarity and love.

Scripture Reading:
“O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.” (Psalm 139:1–3)

A discerning heart does not rush through life without pause. It learns to stop, to remember, and to reflect. Prayerful reflection is the space where we allow God to show us how He has been present — in the blessings and also in the challenges.

The psalmist tells us that God knows us completely. Nothing escapes His gaze. When we take time to reflect, we begin to see our lives as He sees them. We recognize moments of grace that might have passed unnoticed. We also see where we turned away, where sin or selfishness clouded our choices.

Prayerful reflection helps us grow in gratitude, humility, and clarity. It is not simply an exercise in memory, but an encounter with God’s living presence in our daily story.

Saint’s Teaching:
St. Francis de Sales encouraged the faithful to make a daily examen — not only to confess faults, but to rejoice in God’s blessings and renew the desire to walk closely with Him. He wrote that reflection helps us “turn our hearts to God, raising them above the concerns of the world.”

The Benedictines also practiced this rhythm of reflection in the Divine Office, pausing throughout the day to pray the Psalms. Their lives show us that reflection is not a luxury, but an essential rhythm of Christian life.

Guided Application Questions:

How can I make time, even briefly, to reflect on where God has been present in my day?
End the day with a few minutes of prayerful review and thanksgiving.
In what moments do I experience peace, and when do I feel restlessness?
Bring these to prayer, asking the Lord to deepen His peace and heal what is restless within you.
How can I begin a simple practice of reflection?
Pray with gratitude, ask forgiveness where needed, and place tomorrow in God’s hands.

Closing Prayer:
O Lord, You search me and know me.
Help me to pause each day and see my life through Your eyes.
Through the example of St. Francis de Sales and St. Benedict, teach me to remember with gratitude and to return to You with trust.
Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.