We all have specific gifts given to us by God. These are Our Treasures Within. Inspired by the book of that title by Pope Francis and Peter H. Reynolds with Paul A. Reynolds, pray the Treasures Within Examen.
- Take a deep breath, and notice God’s presence. As you inhale and exhale, thank God for these moments together and for a life full of treasures to discover.
- Name some of the gifts you have. Start with the obvious ones: life, food, shelter, family, and friends. Then move to thanking God for the specific gifts you have to share with the world.
- Are you musical, mathematical, or artistic?
- Do you have the gift of writing or otherwise expressing yourself clearly?
- Are you the person friends come to for advice? Comfort? Hospitality?
- If you feel lonely or in mourning, can you be grateful for the gifts of attentiveness, a rich prayer life, or memories of better times?
- What other gifts from God do you recognize?
- How do you see the gifts or fruits of the Spirit play out in your life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity, wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, fortitude, piety, and fear of the Lord?
- Pay attention to how you feel in naming your gifts. Is this a difficult exercise for you or relatively simple? Are you noticing a gift come to mind that you didn’t expect or haven’t used in a meaningful way in some time? Consider the treasures within that God may be asking you to look at more closely. How might you share one of your treasures with your circle of influence? Talk with God about the possibilities.
- Have you neglected any of your gifts? Talk to God about how that makes you feel. If you have used your gifts in ways not fruitful and loving toward others or yourself, ask God for forgiveness.
- Choose one of your treasures within to focus on in the next 24 hours. Whether it is a gift you use regularly or one you need to develop, ask God for the wisdom to see how to use your gift to add some light to the world.
Photo by Ashin K Suresh on Unsplash.
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Denise,
Many thanks for this insightful post. I’ve come to ‘see’ and appreciate may of the unearned gifts that God has placed all around me. ‘Seeing’ and naming those God-given gifts in myself, I have always found more challenging. Your descriptions helps me to look with ‘fresh’ eyes.
Gratefully,
Rob