God's primary vocation for each one of us is holiness; to be a saint! First and foremost we are called to know and love the Lord. If we do that first thing, all other aspects of our life will flow from that primary call to holiness. The Cathechism of the Catholic Church tells us that "at every time and in every place, God draws close to man. He calls man to seek him, know him, to love him with all his strength." Disernment is less about trying to make something happen and more about sitting back and listening to God.
If we want to hear God, we have to give him space to speak. Cultivate time for silence in your life where you turn off all distractions and listen for God. If you get distracted that's ok. Just give that distraction to God and let it go. Then you can return to your prayer.
We often stuggle to know if what we are hearing is really God. This is where a spiritual advisor, someone with whom you can discuss your prayer life, can be beneficial. This person can work with you and give you tools to recognize God's voice. If you are interested in having a spiritual director please reach out to us on the get connected page and we can connect you with someone.
Check out the podcast episodes for some great advice!