--- title: Looking for God's Will description: Deanna Bartalini shares her thoughts on a new book by Joseph A. Tetlow, SJ, on the topic of Ignatian spirituality. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/0918-DBartalini-S-finding-God.jpg --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/09/18/looking-for-gods-will/#) [BOOKS](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/books) # Looking for God's Will Sep 18, 2019 2:00:20 PM  |  by [Deanna Bartalini](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/deanna-bartalini) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/0918-DBartalini-S-finding-God.jpg) [![Book-Notes-720-x-340-dark-gold-outline-and-medium-blue-pen-_-Notes-light-blue-702x336](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Book-Notes-720-x-340-dark-gold-outline-and-medium-blue-pen-_-Notes-light-blue-702x336.png)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Book-Notes-720-x-340-dark-gold-outline-and-medium-blue-pen-_-Notes-light-blue-702x336.png) I am a big fan of St. Ignatius of Loyola. He understood people, their search for God and meaning in their lives and how to put together the spiritual life with everyday duties. I recently read a book about discernment, *Always Discerning* by Joseph A. Tetlow, SJ, and it is a treasure trove of ideas to ponder. [![Always Discerning](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/44568-AlwaysDiscerning-750.jpg)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/44568-AlwaysDiscerning-750.jpg) In the second chapter, the author discusses what is meant by discernment. We all discern, all day, to one degree or another. Some of us are very introspective while others seem to not give much deep thought to anything. And hopefully we don’t give the same amount of decision-making time to things like where to fill up our car for gas as to whom we marry or what job we choose in our career or to have another child. As Christians, I hope we involves God in the big decision. A useful definition of discernment is this, “When we say we are discerning, we mean that we have set ourselves to find God at work in the world and unite ourselves to him” (13).  In other words, how do we live, knowing that God is at work in the world? How does what I do each day, from the most mundane task to the extraordinary one, reveal God and my unity with him? It is by being aware of the dynamic play among our head, heart and hands. In our head we have knowledge that we have learned and understand about our faith. It is truth revealed by Jesus through the Church. As followers of Jesus we are learning more and more each day and understanding the beliefs and practices of our faith more fully as we mature. Our heart holds our belief that Jesus is our Savior and we are committed to living out our life according to that belief. For me, this is what gives me the ability to hold on when I am weary. It allows me to rest in him, knowing that there is a far greater plan for me than I can imagine. And then we come to our hands. This is our work, our lived behavior of faith and belief coming together to be the world what it needs from us. In general, God is asking us to engage all -- body, mind and soul -- in loving Him. And all these three facets are always interacting. The more we are steeped in His word, in prayer, and in the sacraments, the more our daily actions and interactions mirror our faith. Each of these aspects: head, heart, and hands, help the other grow and develop. It is not a straight line from one to the other, flowing in the same direction. I see it more as head, heart, and hands are points on a circle, with thoughts, feelings and ideas freely moving around the circle, helping us grow more fully into people who desire to be one with God. [**Read my full review of the book**](http://www.deannabartalini.com/?p=13218). ### **Visit [our Book Notes archive](http://catholicmom.com/category/book-notes/).** --- *Copyright 2019 Deanna Bartalini* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F09%2F18%2Flooking-for-gods-will%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F09%2F18%2Flooking-for-gods-will%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F09%2F18%2Flooking-for-gods-will%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Looking%20for%20God%27s%20Will) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F09%2F18%2Flooking-for-gods-will%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F09%2F18%2Flooking-for-gods-will%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Deanna Bartalini](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Deanna%20Bartalini%202025-1.png) ### [Deanna Bartalini](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/deanna-bartalini) Deanna G. Bartalini, M.Ed., M.P.A. is a certified spiritual director, retreat leader, speaker, and writer with decades of experience serving the Church. She is the founder of [LiveNotLukewarm.com](https://LiveNotLukewarm.com), works on the retreat team at Our Lady of Florida Passionist Spiritual Center, and is an Unbound prayer minister. Deanna writes from her experiences of over 40 years of marriage, children and grandchildren. ## Related Blog Articles [ The Last Quarter Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/10/16/the-last-quarter/) [ Discernment of Spirits for Beginners; Learning to Hear God and Defeat the Lies of the Enemy Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/discernment-of-spirits-for-beginners-learning-to-hear-god-and-defeat-the-lies-of-the-enemy) [ What, me worry? Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2018/08/16/what-me-worry/) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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