“I heard God, my Father, speak to me”

I was baptized Catholic, and I went to Catholic schools kindergarten through fifth grade, then switched over to public schools. Throughout that time until I was confirmed, I went to CCD Wednesday nights, and to Mass on Sundays for the most part. However, almost any minor inconvenience would be a good reason in my mind not to go to Mass. I wouldn't go because I just didn't know the importance of it. 

I brought this lukewarm faith with me to college. That is up until last fall when I started going to adoration and Bible study. My roommates told me about the Bible study they went to once a week and invited me to come along. After I got more involved and became a regular at Bible study, Efrain, the leader of it, convinced my roommate and I to commit ourselves to an hour a week in adoration. 

After a few weeks, I couldn't stop myself from going a couple more times a week and even threw daily Mass into the mix. Knowing that my God, my Creator, is in front of me gives me so much peace. I can go to adoration and give Him everything on my plate and trust that He will take care of it because He is all-powerful, all-loving, and He is my Father. One day, I was pouring my heart out to Him in the middle of my holy hour and I asked God, “What have I done to become so blessed?” And I heard Him reply, “It’s not about what you have done, but what you are going to do.” It was so beautiful. This was the first time I heard God, my Father, speak to me and it means a lot to me that what He chose to say were words of comfort and encouragement. 

Unfortunately during Christmas break, I didn't stay faithful to spending so much time with the Lord. Even after such a powerful experience of Him speaking to me, it is easy to fall back into old patterns. Thankfully, I had committed to doing the Exodus 90 program, which started at the beginning of this current semester. Knowing I had to do a holy hour each day as part of my commitments in Exodus 90, I picked up 3 hours per week of adoration and have seen (and heard) Him work in so many ways.