How do we discern God’s will?
This is THE question of our spiritual journey. Life is nothing but choices..., are we making the right ones? How do we know? I think there are four stages of discerning God’s will in our lives and at any given point we have decisions in all stages. Please read through this and share your thoughts.
First, seek to dwell in the house of the Lord every day of your life (Psalm 27). Seek to grow in holiness and union with God through meditation, contemplation, prayer, praise, sacraments, scripture, devotions, wise counsel, and many other means. Devote time to God so that God can transform your heart into His. This week is my wife’s birthday. I’m pretty sure she will like her present because I have devoted enough time to her to know her heart (at least enough for a present). The more we walk, think, speak, and act in the presence of God, the easier it will be to discern His will. This is not a quick fix…
“Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2
Second, pray for the spiritual gifts that will help you with discernment. Pray to have a heart that only finds delight in pleasing God.
“MOST HIGH, glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart, and give me right faith, certain hope, and perfect charity, wisdom and understanding, Lord, that I may carry out your holy and true command. Amen.”
St. Francis of Assisi’s prayer to discern God’s will said in front of the crucifix
Third, live in the question for some time. Don’t rush. Since we are all the body of Christ, God uses people to give us hints. We will have a conversation with someone at the bus stop or get a call from an old friend or read a blog entry which sheds light on our question.
This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6: 16
Then, as long as our choice furthers our love for God and our love for one another, confidently follow your heart. Say yes to the whisper of God, to the divine ripples made by the gentle breeze of the Holy Spirit. Our heart will know. If we are loving God and live in His presence, how can we go wrong? The journey will be perfect.
“In every one of our activities, every instant in our lives, God is waiting to be revealed through our actions. Obviously, we can and sometimes do take a pass on letting God be known through our actions, but that doesn't change the reality that each of our actions has divine potential” Steve Bogner, May 2005
“MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. “
- Thomas Merton, "Thoughts in Solitude"
This thread started in Steve Bogner's Blog about Willpower. This topic is SO important, that I also wanted to make an entry here. I'd love to hear people's thoughts.
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