Discernment
We
usually think of discernment as what we do when we make an important decision in
our lives—when we try to separate or distinguish the best course of action. The
word discern, however, is grounded in the word concern and in
the Sanskrit word that means to “pour out.” When we are in prayer, we are, in
fact, pouring out our souls to heaven, and in the silent space between prayer
and divine insight, we are sorting out, separating and distinguishing what God
might be trying to say to us. When prayer is the foundation of discernment, we
are emptying our souls into the hands of heaven and having them filled again
with the presence and direction of God.
Let these questions help you in
that prayerful process.
- What
kind of life am I being called to create for myself?
- When
discernment seems difficult, and decisions hard to make, what brings peace to my
mind?
- Who
are the people who help me reach inner clarity?
- How
do the uneven edges of indecisiveness actually lead me closer to a
decision?
- How
can discernment deepen my relationship with God?
- How
can I stay centered when clarity feels distant?
- How is discernment more a process of discovery than decision-making?
