Scribd
Upload
169 views2 pages

Spiritual Discernment Guide

1. Discernment is a process of making faith-based choices between potentially good options, helping individuals find where God is calling them. 2. It involves prayer, contemplation, noticing feelings of consolation and desolation, and trusting that God desires one's happiness and fulfillment. 3. The process examines pros and cons without judgment, considers how options align with one's values, and pays attention to feelings over time to clarify God's guidance.

Uploaded by

MSL
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
169 views2 pages

Spiritual Discernment Guide

1. Discernment is a process of making faith-based choices between potentially good options, helping individuals find where God is calling them. 2. It involves prayer, contemplation, noticing feelings of consolation and desolation, and trusting that God desires one's happiness and fulfillment. 3. The process examines pros and cons without judgment, considers how options align with one's values, and pays attention to feelings over time to clarify God's guidance.

Uploaded by

MSL
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

[Link].

org

SpiritualDiscernmentinDecisionMaking
DiscernmentDefined

Discernmentisaprocessofmakingchoicesinthecontextoffaith. Thechoicesindiscernmentareoftennotbetweengoodandbad choicesbutbetweenseveralpossibleactionsthatarepotentially [Link] greatergoodwhereGodistrulycallingthem.


Discernment IsaskingGodforhelpinmakingadecision IsgainingclaritywithregardtohowGodiscallingustoliveoutourpurposeonearth Isconsideringmattersinawaythatinvolvesourheartsaswellasourminds Askingoneself,Whichalternativewillleadtodeeper,moreauthenticrelationshipswithGod,selfandothers? RequiresapracticeofdeeptrustinGod(contemplation) Assumptions: ThatwedesiretogrowinTRUSTandafeltsensethat: o WeliveinaworldpermeatedbyGod,aworldGodusestokeepintouchwithus o Goddesirestohelpusmakethebestdecisionforushasourbestinterestatheart:thefree personalchoicethatwillbringustowardthefulfillmentofouruniquepurposeinlifeGoddesires ourhappinessasmuchaswedoandwantstohelpusclaimit o Wearenotaccidentsbutpurposefullyanduniquelycreatedinanongoingprocess o [Link]!Godlikesus! Thatwedesiretomakeasincerecommitmenttobecomeourbest,authenticselftogrowinself knowledgeandthatGoddesiresthisforustoo ThatwedesiretodeepenourrelationshipwithGodandawarenessofHispresenceandguidanceinour everydaylivesthatwewanttochoosewhatbetterleadstoGodsdeepeninglifeineachofus ThatourchoicesarechoicesbetweenGOODS Process Prayer:PrayforINDIFFERENCE:anopennesstoGodswill;askingGodfortheinnerfreedomand detachmentfromourownpersonalagendatonoticethebetterchoiceleadingtowardthefulfillmentof ourpurposeinlife;PrayfortrustinHisguidance Tools: o Pros/Cons:AskingGodforthelightandgracetosee,withoutjudgmentorrushtodecision,makea listofeverypossiblemotiveforandeverypossiblecon o Yourimagination:Livewithoneofthedecisions o Journaling o Spiritualdirection NOTICEWHATYOUNOTICE:PayparticularattentiontoyourFEELINGS: o Consolation:Peacefulnessofspirit,interiorclarity,joy,enthusiasm,deeperfaith,greaterhopeand trust,greaterlove,confidence,courage;lifegiving,feelclosertoGod,achoicethatisin agreementwiththepersonweareandourdeepestvalues;leadingtowardgreaterinnerfreedom o Desolation:Lackofpeace,feelsdistant/separatedfromGod,disturbed,movingawayfromgreater innerfreedom,lifeconstricting,darknessofsoul,disquiet TheDecision:Makethedecision,askGodforconfirmationofthedecisionseewhetheryourthoughts, desiresandfeelingscontinuetosupportit

Givethanks!

[Link]

Thingstokeepinmind RESISTtheurgetojudgeorcompareyourprocesswithothersortorushtoadecisiontoavoidbeingin limbo o GodstimeisntourtimeandGodisalwaysontimewaitingforadecisiontobecomeclear(be revealedtous)throughtheordinaryeventsofthedayGodofsurprises!God,whoiscreatingus continuously,[Link] Roche,SJ ChoiceisClear ChoiceisntsoClear ChoicereallyisntsoClear o TrustYOURinclinations:[Link] process o Anongoingprocessapracticeofdevelopingadiscerningheartandlivingintoanswers RESISTtheurgetojudgeaparticulardecisionasrightorwrongbasedontheoutcome o MakingadecisionthatisinlinewithGodsdesiresforusdoesnotmeanthatitwillnecessarilybe accompaniedbyease;itishelpfultoreflecton/recalltimeswhenwehaveexperiencedliving throughatimeofconfusionordifficultyinordertoarrivetoagraceddecisioninordertogrow inconfidencethatthoughwemayfeeltobelostandintheshadowofdeath,thatGodiswithus anddoesnotleaveustofaceourperilsalone. TheplacewhereGodcallsustoiswhereourdeepgladnessandtheworlds deephungermeet. FrederickBuechner

Aroughandunshapenloghasnoideathatitcanbemadeintoastatuethatwillbeconsidereda masterpiece,[Link] canmoldthemintosaints,untiltheyputthemselvesintothehandsofthatalmightyArtisan. SaintIgnatiusofLoyola Listentowhatgivesyoujoy;payattentiontowhatdelightsyourheartatits deepestlevelandthenchoosethatwithallyourmight. Hasidicsaying

Everyoneisnotcalledinthesameway,butweareallcalledtodiscoverand dothegoodGodhasinmindforus. PeterRyan,SJ

Latentandsometimeslockedwithineachhumanheartisa dreamwaitingtobeborn. BerganandSchwan,CSJ

RESOURCESUSEDFORTHISSUMMARY [Link]: HowIgnatianSpiritualitygivesusawaytoDiscernGodsWill,Fleming,SJ AnIgnatianFrameworkforMakingaDecision,JimManney DiscernmentinDecisionMaking,RandyRoche,SJ [Link]:FourStepsinDiscernment TheJesuitGuideto(Almost)Everything,JamesMartin,SJ VisionVocationGuide2009

You might also like