Words of wisdom from my retreat

The women's retreat for my parish was led by Sue Cummins and the theme was "Delighting in God's Word." Sue provided the following in a handout. I wish I could reference it further. (I don't know if it's from something else she has written or taken from somewhere else. She did say that her perspective on the topic was from Saint Ignatius Loyola. So....

"A-R-R-R

St. Ignatius of Loy-ola says in his Spiritual Exercises that God is "laboring to love us." Our part is to open our hearts and allow his love to enter in. How do you open your heart? This simple four-step movement in prayer is a helpful description of how you can open your heart and let God do his loving work.

Acknowledge ~ First, acknowledge what is stirring in your heart. Observe whatever memory, thought, or feeling is strongest in your heart in this moment. Call it by name in your prayer before God.

Relate ~ Relate that thought, memory, or feeling to God. You are sitting before God in prayer. Don't pretend that you are in this alone. Speak to the Lord from your heart in a way that acknowledges his active presence.

Receive ~ The Lord is laboring to love you in this moment. But love comes to us in different ways depending on what we are presently experiencing. Receive the love that the Lord is now giving you in the midst of this memory, thought, or feeling.

Respond ~ Now that you have tasted the Lord's love anew, respond to that love. Perhaps speak a word of thanks to God or ask his help to act from that love. Respond in such a way to God's love that you bring his love with you from your time of prayer. "

I love this.