Spiritual Discernment Overview

Definitions and Brief Description

In classical spirituality, the term "discernment" refers to a discernment of spirits: distinguishing the Spirit of God from other spirits that my be manifesting themselves - such as the spirit of competition; the spirit of success; the spirit of prosperity; the spirit of respectability; the spirit of one's family, friends, or colleagues; the spirit of the times. Discernment is a focused endeavor to identify God's Spirit in a situation in order to trace the Spirit's movement and determine where it may be pointing. It is a mode of prayer that builds on a base of knowledge and experience in the ways of God. It can be a profound effort to hear what God is saying.

People sometimes confuse discernment with kindred disciplines. Identifying one's gifts is not the same thing as discernment, although they work in a supportive relationship with each other, and either one may point to the other. Nor are marriage counseling, career counseling, or therapy the same as discernment, though any of the three may work with it or serve as an alternative to it. Likewise, pastoral counseling is not discernment, although a certain amount of discernment surely takes place through pastoral counseling. Still another area of potential confusion is with rational dialogue, either the type that takes place one on one or in small groups or in formal meetings, even if prayer accompanies it. Rational consideration is an important facet of discernment, but it is not an equivalent.

Discernment is an exercise that calls upon the whole self, ideally drawing upon the intellect, the senses, intuition, and imagination. It is a conscious, deliberate, informed effort to arrive at our best understanding of what God is asking of a group or a particular person in a given set of circumstances.

Issues that invite discernment
  • Personal relationships - husband-wife, parent-child, or those with friends
  • Professional relationships - boss-subordinate, or those with co-workers or professional colleagues
  • Priorities for use of time and energy
  • Ethical dilemmas
  • Specific work situations
  • Leadership roles
  • Personal-professional boundaries
  • Personal-professional time demands
  • The call within the call (e.g., "I am called to serve in this place, but how is God asking me to focus my efforts at this time?)
  • Career options (Is God calling me to persevere in this place or to seek out new possibilities for moving on?)
  • Generational concerns
  • Issues related to race, culture, gender, sexuality
For More Information

To learn more about the workshops and retreats we offer on the practice of discernment for groups and individuals, please visit our Programs section.

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