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If you want your dream to be, build it slow and surely. Small beginning, greater and heartfelt work grows purely.

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Welcome. This is David Russell and Your Faith Anew. Daily Reflections guiding you to live in the divine will. Today's reflection is from the Book of Heaven by the servant of God Louisa Picaretta, may twenty fifth, nineteen oh five, volume six. Let us begin in the will and name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Heavenly Father, in your infinite love, you created us to bear the image of your Son within our souls. Help us today to surrender more completely to your divine will, so that every thought, word, and action may reflect Jesus living within us. Form your likeness in our hearts, and make our souls living mirrors of your divine presence. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Saint John the Apostle writes in the first letter of John chapter three verse two. We are God's children now. What we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. The catechism of the Catholic Church teaches in paragraph sixteen ninety two. The symbol of the faith confesses the greatness of God's gift to man in his work of creation, and even more in redemption and sanctification. What faith confesses the sacraments communicate. By the sacraments which have given them new birth, Christians have become children of God, partakers of the divine nature. Coming to see in the faith their new dignity, Christians are called to lead henceforth a life worthy of the gospel of Christ. As we prepare to hear today's passage from the Book of Heaven, we are reminded that the Christian soul is called not only to believe in Christ, but to be transformed by his life dwelling within us. Through grace and surrender to the divine will, Jesus forms his own likeness in the soul, making us living reflections of his presence. Louisa writes As I was in my usual state, I could see blessed Jesus outside and inside my interior. If I would see him as a child outside, as a child I would see him inside. If I would see him crucified outside, I would see the same inside. I remained surprised, and he said to me, My daughter, when my image is formed completely in the interior of the soul, whatever form I want to assume externally in order to look at myself, the same one is assumed by my image, which I have formed in the soul. What is the wonder then? Today, Jesus reveals a deeply intimate truth about the soul united to him. He explains to Louisa that when his image is fully formed within the interior of the soul, whatever manifestation of himself he chooses to reveal externally is reflected interior within her as well. This is the extraordinary goal of the spiritual life transformation into Christ. So often we think of holiness as merely trying harder, behaving better, or externally imitating Jesus, but the divine will accomplish something much deeper. It allows Jesus to reproduce his own life within the soul. The soul gradually begins to think with him, love with him, suffer with him, and live in communion with his very heart. Saint John tells us we shall be like him. This transformation begins even now through grace. Jesus explains that his image can become so alive within the soul that his own presence is reflected there like a living mirror. When Louisa sees Jesus as a child, she discovers that same childlike Jesus within her. When she sees him crucified, she sees his crucified likeness interiorly as well. This is not imagination, it is the work of sanctification. The divine will removes what is unlike God and slowly restores the divine likeness that humanity possessed before the fall. Every act of surrender, every prayer offered with love, every hidden sacrifice, every act done in union with God becomes part of this transformation. Over time, the soul becomes transparent to Jesus. Others may begin to encounter his patience in our patience, his mercy in our forgiveness, his peace in our trials, and his love in our charity. The more self-will decreases, the more Christ shines through. What joy this brings to Jesus? He looks upon the soul and sees his own image reflected there. Today, let us ask ourselves, what image am I reflecting to the world? Fear, anxiety, self-interest, or the presence of Jesus living within me. The Lord desires not only to visit our lives occasionally, but to reign continually within our souls through his divine will. Let us pray. Jesus, divine image of the Father, form yourself completely within my soul. Remove all that is unlike you. Remove my pride, my impatience, my fears, and my attachments to my own will. Replace them with your humility, your peace, your trust, and your perfect love. Lord, I desire to become a living reflection of your presence in the world. Let my thoughts reflect your wisdom. Let my words carry your gentleness. Let my actions reveal your mercy. As your image grows within me, may others encounter you through the way I live, speak, forgive, and love. Jesus, teach me to surrender daily to your divine will so that my soul may become a dwelling place where you can rest and reign freely. Blessed Mother, perfect mirror of Jesus, guide me into deeper union with the divine will and help me always reflect the beauty of your Son. Amen. Thank you for joining your faith anew today. Jesus desires to do more than simply guide us from afar. He longs to live within us and transform us into reflections of his own heart. Until tomorrow, stay in his will, and your faith will be made anew.

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If you want your dream to be, build it slow and surely. Small beginning, greater and heartfelt work grows pure.