The Gifts of the Spirit for the work of the Kingdom: Discernment
Apr 29, 2024
auto_awesome
Exploring the journey of spiritual discernment, recognizing God's voice in daily life, obedience through uncertainty, and finding comfort in God's relentless pursuit. Delving into the significance of spiritual gifts from 1 Corinthians 12 and the personal experiences of the speaker in navigating God's call.
Discerning God's voice involves recognizing His whisper amongst competing noises and attuning to spiritual longings over superficial desires.
Community serves as a guard against deception in discernment, emphasizing deep listening, vulnerability, and trust within spiritual friendships and group discernment.
Deep dives
Understanding God's Whisper
Discerning God's voice is compared to recognizing a whispered message amidst competing noises. It involves attuning to deep spiritual longings rather than superficial desires. The narrative of Elijah learning to hear God's voice showcases the challenges and blessings of recognizing God's whisper, emphasizing trust and radical obedience.
The Role of Community in Discernment
Community plays a vital role in discernment, serving as a guard against deception. Spiritual friendships, spiritual direction, and group discernment are essential components of discernment within a community. In these relationships, deep listening, vulnerability, and trust are cultivated to differentiate between God's voice and personal ego.
Practical Application: The Prayer of Examen
The Prayer of Examen, derived from St. Ignatius, is a valuable tool for daily discernment. It involves reviewing the day with God, identifying moments of closeness and distance from Him, and offering a prayer for the upcoming day. By reflecting on past experiences, individuals can learn to recognize God's presence in their daily lives.
Embracing God's Continuous Guidance
Discernment is portrayed as an ongoing process of learning to hear and respond to God's voice in the midst of life's complexities. It emphasizes that God's guidance does not hinge on perfection or a predetermined plan but on His unwavering commitment to lead and guide His followers. Embracing God's grace and guidance is key, underscoring His relentless pursuit of His people.