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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, june twenty second, eighteen ninety nine, volume two. Let us begin in the will and name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of your presence, even when it seems hidden from our eyes. Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, help us to trust that Jesus remains within us, sustaining us with His grace. Teach us to remain attentive to your will, to cooperate with your plans, and to keep watch with love whenever you call us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. In his gospel, Saint Matthew records in chapter twenty six, verses forty and forty one, Jesus inviting his disciples to remain vigilant in prayer. Then he returned to his disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, So you could not keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches in Paragraph twenty seven twenty five. Prayer is both a gift of grace and a determined response on our part. It always presupposes effort. The great figures of prayer of the old covenant before Christ as well as the mother of God, the saints, and he himself all teach us this prayer is a battle. As we continue our journey through the book of Heaven, let us open our hearts to the truths Jesus shares through Louisa, allowing them to guide us more deeply into the life of the divine will. The Lord teaches us to remain watchful and trusting, even when his presence seems hidden. Louisa writes This morning my sweet Jesus wanted to continue to play his little games with me and to joke. He would come, he would place his hands on my face in the act of wanting to caress me, but as he was about to do it, he would disappear. Then he would come again. He would stretch out his arms around my neck in the act of wanting to hug me, but as I stretched out my arms to hug him, he would escape me like a flash, and I could not find him. Who can say the pains of my heart? While my heart was swimming in this sea of immense grief, to the point of feeling life abandoning me, Queen Mamma came, carrying a child in her arms. We hugged, the three of us together Mamma, the son, and I, so I could have the time to say to him My Lord Jesus, it seems to me that you have withdrawn your grace from me and he silly silly little one that you are. How can you say that I've withdrawn my grace when I am within you? What is my grace if not myself? I remained more confused than before, seeing that I was unable to speak, and that in those two words I had uttered, I had spoken nothing but nonsense. Afterwards, the Queen Mother disappeared, and Jesus seemed to enclose himself in my interior, and there he remained. Today then, during the meditation, he made himself seen sleeping inside of me. I was looking at him, delighting in his beautiful face, but without waking him up, content with at least seeing him, when, in one instant, the beautiful Queen Mama came again. She took him from within my heart, moving him all over hurriedly so as to wake him up. After he woke up, she placed him in my arms again, telling me My daughter, don't let him sleep, because if he does, you will see what happens. A thunderstorm was preparing. Half asleep, the baby stretched out his little hands around my neck, and clasping me he said to me My mamma, my mamma let me sleep and I No, my beautiful one. I am not the one who does not want to let you sleep. It is our lady mamma that does not want it, and I pray you to contend her. It is certain that nothing can be denied to a mamma, and besides, to that mamma. After I kept him awake for a little while, he disappeared, and so it ended. This beautiful passage reveals two key truths about life in the divine will. The first is that Jesus himself is grace. Louisa feels abandoned. She believes that perhaps the Lord has withdrawn his grace from her. Yet Jesus gently corrects her. How can you say that I have withdrawn my grace when I am within you? What is my grace if not myself? This is a lesson for all of us. There are times when we don't feel close to God. Prayer may seem dry, consolations may disappear, circumstances may become difficult. Yet the absence of feelings is not the absence of God. Jesus remains within the soul that seeks him and desires to do his will. His presence does not depend on our emotions. His grace is not merely something he gives. It is his very life dwelling within us. The second lesson concerns vigilance. The image of Jesus sleeping within Louisa is important. Our lady urgently tells her not to let him sleep because a storm is approaching. Spiritually, this reminds us that God invites us to remain attentive and watchful. Jesus Himself told his disciples to watch and pray, not because God is unaware, but because he desires our cooperation. Living in the divine will does not mean becoming passive. It means remaining united to God in every circumstance, offering our prayers, sacrifices, and acts of love as participants in his work. Mary shows Louisa how to remain alert to the needs of the moment and responsive to God's plans. Notice also the tenderness of the relationship. Jesus calls out My Mama, my mamma, let me sleep. There is intimacy, affection, and trust. This is a kind of relationship God desires with every soul. The divine will is not merely a spiritual practice, it's a life of union and friendship with Jesus. Today, if you feel that God is distant, remember his words. What is my grace if not myself? He remains within you, and if life presents storms or challenges, stay awake in prayer, attentive to his presence, and confident that our lady is guiding you ever closer to her Son. Let us pray. Lord Jesus, how often we search for you and believe that you're far away when in reality you remain close within our hearts? Forgive us for the times we judge your presence by our feelings instead of trusting in your promises. Teach us to recognize that your grace is your very life dwelling within us. Give us faith when we cannot see, confidence when we cannot understand, and perseverance when prayer seems difficult. Blessed Mother, just as you guided Louisa, guide us as well. Keep us attentive to the movements of God's will. Help us to remain watchful in prayer and faithful in every duty of our day. Jesus, awaken within us a deeper love for you. May every thought, word and action become an act united with your divine will. When storms gather around us, let us remain peaceful, knowing that you are present and that your providence governs all things. We surrender ourselves completely to you. May your will reign in our hearts, in our families, and throughout the whole world. Amen. Thank you for joining your faith anew today. Jesus reminds us that his grace is not something separate from him. It is his very presence within us. Until tomorrow, stay in his will, and your faith will be made anew.