IP#490 Joe Paprocki - 8 Steps to Energize Your Faith, Part 1 on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

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Joe Paprocki on “8 Steps to Energize Your Faith”, Part One on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

Eight Steps to Energize Your Faith, which explores practical ways to reconnect with God’s presence in everyday life. Paprocki draws on the examples of the prophet Elijah and George Bailey from It’s a Wonderful Life to illustrate the human experience of spiritual fatigue and the longing for renewed purpose. Many people, especially post-pandemic, feel depleted and seek divine energy to reawaken their desire to live fully. Through relatable stories and Ignatian principles, Paprocki encourages readers to recognize God’s presence in daily activities, even the mundane ones, and to nurture their spiritual lives through creativity, simplicity, and gratitude.

Authentic spirituality involves seeking meaning beyond the visible and recognizing God’s hand in creation. Steps like delighting in nature, simplifying possessions, and expressing creativity help individuals encounter God’s grace. The book is a resource not only for those firmly rooted in faith but also for those who identify as spiritual but not religious, inviting them to experience God’s presence in daily life and consider how faith practices can deepen that relationship.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

Recognizing Spiritual Fatigue: What aspects of your faith life feel depleted, and how might you invite God’s divine energy to renew your spirit?
Finding God in Everyday Moments: Where have you recently experienced God’s presence in ordinary, daily activities?
Embracing Creativity as a Gift from God: How do you express creativity in your life, and how does it reflect your identity as a co-creator with God?
The Role of Pondering in Spiritual Growth: When was the last time you took time to ponder a significant event, and what did it reveal about God’s presence in your life?
Cultivating Gratitude for Spiritual Renewal: What blessings can you name today that remind you of God’s love and care?
Simplifying Life for Greater Clarity: What possessions, commitments, or distractions might you let go of to create more space for God?
Connecting with Creation as a Path to God: How can you intentionally spend more time in nature to grow in awareness of God’s creative power?
Accompanying Others in Their Faith Journey: How can you show love and support to those who identify as spiritual but not religious, meeting them where they are with compassion

You can find the book here.

From the book description:

“Act now to tap into the current of God’s loving grace.

While uncertainty and tough times are hallmarks of life, our current era feels more than a little unpredictable. And if we’re honest with ourselves, many of us are feeling uncertain about God’s plan. In times like these, we need a healthy boost of faith and a solid shot of inspiration to get through the day and lead us back to God. Pie-in-the-sky advice or overwrought platitudes won’t do. We need substantial, practical ways to fortify our souls.

In 8 Steps to Energize Your Faith, beloved spiritual teacher Joe Paprocki offers hands-on advice to guide us out of the fog of an often-confusing world and bolster our confidence in who we are—children of God with a vision and a purpose. This, of course, means growing in faith, but how? By tapping into God’s loving Spirit so we can go with the holy flow to put first things first and let the small stuff go.

Timely, inspiring, and filled with hard-earned, practical wisdom that applies to your life right now, 8 Steps to Energize Your Faith offers a path that we can all start on today to feel motivated, focused, and renewed in the Spirit.”

About the Author: Joe Paprocki, DMin, is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press. He has over 40 years of experience in pastoral ministry and has taught at the high school, college, and general-adult levels. He is the author of over 20 books that have sold nearly a half-million copies, including the best sellers The Catechist’s Toolbox and A Well-Built Faith. His latest book, 8 Steps to Energize Your Faith, was published in 2023. He has presented in over 150 dioceses in North America and blogs about the catechetical ministry at www.catechistsjourney.com.