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What Is Discernment?
Through our baptism, we are called to love and serve God with our lives. We must discern how God desires us to live out that love and service. This process takes time and action. One must sift out and separate what is coming from God and what is not. Discernment is different from decision making. While decisions are more autonomous and take less time, discernment on the other hand involves a mutual listening to God’s movements in my life as well as listening to my own desires. Discernment is more than about myself: seeking spiritual direction and asking advice is a good idea in order to see if I am on the right track. Here are some guidelines regarding Discernment.
To discern is to...-
spend time listening;
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admit that we are powerless over our own ability to be certain, to be in control, to have all the answers;
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set out on a journey with God, confident that we will be cared for, that we will have all we need and that we have nothing to fear;
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really live life by the choices we make and now allow ourselves to be victims of circumstance;
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take responsibility for the direction of my life, and not depend on anyone else for my happiness;
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actively cooperate with God in co-creating a future full of hope, meaning and promise;
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be alert, frightened, surprised, joyful and rooted (sometimes all at once).
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The Call to the Priesthood