
 The Familiar Stranger Podcast
 The Familiar Stranger Podcast Discernment with Rich Villodas
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 Mar 11, 2025  Rich Villodas, lead pastor of New Life Fellowship and author of 'The Deeply Formed Life', dives into discernment and spirituality. He discusses how to differentiate the voice of Jesus from societal influences in decision-making. Rich emphasizes that discernment is an ongoing process, vital for spiritual growth. He reframes indifference as constructive openness, essential for community building. The conversation highlights the transformative effects of discernment on identity and the importance of humility and community in one's spiritual journey. 
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Discernment Defined
- Discernment is a process of distinguishing Jesus' voice from other competing voices internally and externally.
- It involves discovering and doing God's will, not just reflecting on it.
Competing Voices in Discernment
- Competing voices in discernment include our own desires, family and cultural influences, and trusted individuals' opinions.
- These layers must be sifted through to discern what Jesus might be saying.
World, Flesh, and Devil Dynamics
- The world, flesh, and devil are core influences creating competing voices affecting discernment.
- Awareness of one's personality and cultural context helps better discern God's voice.

