When is the last time you were given “counsel”? When is that last time you offered “counsel”? When you hear the word counsel – what do you think of?
I think of an attorney giving legal advice. But more often, I think of giving advice.
But, before I write about a Work of Mercy, I read a little about it first. I prepared to write this post about Counseling the Doubtful on Divine Mercy Sunday. I came across a brief summary on the Spiritual Works of Mercy at The Divine Mercy website. I thought, “Perfect. There are no coincidences – let me read what this article has to offer.”
The article stressed the importance of listening.
Yep, that’s the Holy Spirit talking to me for sure. I talk – a lot. I don’t listen enough.
I love the counsel this article gives. In order to give counsel to others, we must first be in tune with the Holy Spirit. We must take time to listen to His voice. We must nourish our soul and our relationship with the Lord. I am reminded of the Scripture passage:
Psalm 46:10
Be Still, and know that I am God . . .
Before we can “Counsel the Doubtful” we must be counseled ourselves. As theDivineMercy.org article states: first we must listen and reflect in prayer; then we must discuss our prayer life with a Spiritual Director.
How many of us have a Spiritual Director? I don’t. Although I have been thinking a lot lately about how nice it would be to have one. Maybe this is the Lord pushing me to go on the search. He does say “Seek and you shall find” right?
I love how much the author,Dr. Robert Stackpole, stresses listening.
Listen to the person who is in doubt.
Listen to the Holy Spirit.
Listen to your Spiritual Director.
Then, after you have listened to those three, pray some more. Then we may be ready to give good counsel.
Isn’t this such great advice? Stackpole is reminding us of Matthew 7:5:
Hypocrite! Take the log out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye.
I notice that Matthew doesn’t instruct us not to take the splinter out of our brother’s eye – but he certainly stresses to look at ourselves first.
Stackpole explains how we must look at ourselves. That we must take our introspection seriously. We must take time to examine our actions, our thoughts and our goals. We must take time to listen. More time must be spent listening than giving counsel.
In an effort to listen more – I am going to attempt taking the “Heroic Minute” Challenge.
Two Catholic Bloggers Debbie Gancila Gaudino at Saints365 and Allision Gringras over at Reconciled To You will be beginning the 14 Day Heroic Minute Challenge on Monday April 4 – based on St. Josemarie Escriva’s concept of the Heroic Minute. I figured I would share this with you incase you also want to take the challenge! It’s about starting the day early and starting the day listening and talking to God!
Perhaps if I start with this “heroic minute” I will take more time to listen to the Lord throughout the day. Then perhaps someday I will be able to give good counsel to the doubtful. Until then . .
What is the best counsel you have been given in times of doubt?
The Heroic Minute challenge is a great idea. Getting up early for a peaceful start to the day is on my list of goals this month. I think it’s time I set the alarm early to allow for grace and peace in my mornings, instead of chaos and frenzy!
Amen to that Carrie – Amen to that!
I think I need to do this challenge, too. Ughhhhh I have been avoiding it for months. But, there is never a better time than now, thanks for posting! I’ll be with you in the early morning doing this!
We can do this! Just think of how awesome the coffee will taste 🙂
Wow, I love this! I honestly don’t remember the last time I provided counsel to anyone. I’m in a Catholic women’s bible study group on Wednesdays and I feel like we provide counsel to one another but not really individually. I’ve been having so many different questions about the Catholic faith lately and I wish I had someone that I could trust to ask the questions and discuss them openly. We are having an afternoon with our parish priest in a couple weeks and there’s an anonymous Q&A so I submitted some of my questions but I know their answers will generate more questions (so is life)! Anyways, that’s just a long way of me saying how important counsel is and listening is KEY (on both sides) it it’s to be successful. Many blessings.
Thanks Brittany! That Bible women’s study sounds really awesome! Your Q&A’s would make a great post! If you decide to write it – let me know, I’d love to read it 🙂
My daughter’s school has adopted a “code of conduct” (though that’s not really the right word), and one thing I hear from her constantly is “strive first to understand, then to be understood.” And, believe me, when words like that come out of your 6 year old’s mouth (and then she actually puts the concept in practice), you will nearly weep. None of us can underestimate the power of just LISTENING. As parents, colleagues, friends, and family members. It’s important everywhere.
Thanks for the reminder!
Thank you Mollie! Your daughter sounds wise beyond her years!!! xoxo
also struggle with listening…I talk a LOT! I’ve found I begin to counsel others before hearing what they are struggling with completely and before listening to the Holy Spirit and how I should be lead to counsel. It’s something I need to work on becoming better at.
Same here Lauren!
What is a Spiritual Director? Could a pastor be one? I love the photographs by the way, so beautiful and adept on showing God’s glory! <3
I definitely think a pastor could be a Spiritual Director! I think what is great about a Spiritual Director is they meet with you one on one 🙂
I feel like the best counsel I could ever seek comes directly from the Holy Spirit through prayer and petition. Often when we seek counsel from the Lord he will change us before he deals with what we are praying about-just like it says in Matthew 7:5
It’s definitely important to listen to God before handing out advice. I really needed to read this! I tend to speak way too much and listen too little
I needed to be reminded too 🙂
I could not have stumbled onto this article at a better time. I’ve had struggles in my marriage for years and now it’s come to exercising the possibility of divorce. I’ve prayed and prayed about it asking why? I am convinced that this article could be answering one of my (why’s) ….. listening! I talk too much instead of listening. Spiritual director is such a lovely idea. I think it’s time I put my pride aside and find myself a spiritual director within my church. “Seek and you shall find”…..
Thank you for sharing this article 🙂
God Bless you Irene! I hope you find the perfect Spiritual Director and find peace in every aspect of life! xo