Exercises of the Heart – Discernment of Treasures

Your precious pearl, which you carry in your heart, is faith. So why, in moments of fear, difficulty, and your own weaknesses, do you allow the devil to steal it away from you? Why do you not guard it as your most treasured possession? Would you invite a thief into your home, opening the door and saying, "Come in and take what you want"? Why then do you treat your faith, that which is most precious to you, so lightly?

Faith is your pearl. It is the greatest treasure you have received, both here on earth and in the perspective of eternity. It is what leads you to the moment when you will meet God face to face. Satan roams the world to destroy, kill, and steal. So why, in difficult moments, do you allow him to take away this invaluable pearl?

Take your faith in your hands. Stop and marvel at its beauty. Look at it not only in its perfection but also in its imperfections, in the scratches, the indentations, and even in its roughness. Do you not see that it is these imperfections that testify to the journey you have taken? Can you not see that in its imperfection, faith is perfect? Delight in it. Appreciate it fully, for it carries the marks of your life, your falls, your rises, and your growth.

So why do you not protect it as your greatest treasure? Guard it. Protect it. Delight in it every day. It is your key to eternity.