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Discernment

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.

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91 views2 pages

Discernment

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.

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org

SpiritualDiscernmentinDecisionMaking
DiscernmentDefined

Discernmentisaprocessofmakingchoicesinthecontextoffaith. Thechoicesindiscernmentareoftennotbetweengoodandbad choicesbutbetweenseveralpossibleactionsthatarepotentially good.Theprocessofdiscernmenthelpsindividualstofindthe greatergoodwhereGodistrulycallingthem.


Discernment IsaskingGodforhelpinmakingadecision IsgainingclaritywithregardtohowGodiscallingustoliveoutourpurposeonearth Isconsideringmattersinawaythatinvolvesourheartsaswellasourminds Askingoneself,Whichalternativewillleadtodeeper,moreauthenticrelationshipswithGod,selfandothers? RequiresapracticeofdeeptrustinGod(contemplation) Assumptions: ThatwedesiretogrowinTRUSTandafeltsensethat: o WeliveinaworldpermeatedbyGod,aworldGodusestokeepintouchwithus o Goddesirestohelpusmakethebestdecisionforushasourbestinterestatheart:thefree personalchoicethatwillbringustowardthefulfillmentofouruniquepurposeinlifeGoddesires ourhappinessasmuchaswedoandwantstohelpusclaimit o Wearenotaccidentsbutpurposefullyanduniquelycreatedinanongoingprocess o Godlovesus.Goddelightsinus!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

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

Aroughandunshapenloghasnoideathatitcanbemadeintoastatuethatwillbeconsidereda masterpiece,butthecarverseeswhatcanbedonewithit.SomanydonotunderstandthatGod canmoldthemintosaints,untiltheyputthemselvesintothehandsofthatalmightyArtisan. SaintIgnatiusofLoyola Listentowhatgivesyoujoy;payattentiontowhatdelightsyourheartatits deepestlevelandthenchoosethatwithallyourmight. Hasidicsaying

Everyoneisnotcalledinthesameway,butweareallcalledtodiscoverand dothegoodGodhasinmindforus. PeterRyan,SJ

Latentandsometimeslockedwithineachhumanheartisa dreamwaitingtobeborn. BerganandSchwan,CSJ

RESOURCESUSEDFORTHISSUMMARY FromIgnatianSpirituality.com: HowIgnatianSpiritualitygivesusawaytoDiscernGodsWill,Fleming,SJ AnIgnatianFrameworkforMakingaDecision,JimManney DiscernmentinDecisionMaking,RandyRoche,SJ FromCatholicVocation.org.au:FourStepsinDiscernment TheJesuitGuideto(Almost)Everything,JamesMartin,SJ VisionVocationGuide2009

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