Spirit from other spirits that are present in a given time and place–such as the spirit of a nation, the spirit of the times, the spirit of competition. To put it another way, discernment is distinguishing the voice of God from other voices that speak to us: the voice of our parents echoing from years past, the voices of friends, voices of urgency or fear. These voices are neither bad nor good in and of themselves. God often speaks to us through them. But, if followed indiscriminantly, such voices can dominate us and lead us along a wrong path.
Discernment is a prayerful, informed, and intentional attempt to sort through these voices to get in touch with God's Spirit at work in a situation and to develop a sense of the direction in which the Spirit is leading. Discernment is more a journey than a destination. We may not find answers for all our concerns, but we can be receptive to God's presence as we ponder the questions.2
Sound rational analysis based on the best available information is crucial to good discernment. Yet spiritual discernment goes beyond the analytical to engage our senses, feelings, imaginations, and intuition as we wrestle with issues. It often points toward a decision, but it is not problem-solving. The goal of our discernment efforts is to find the mind of Christ.3 As such, it is the central component of decision-making for those who would have their lives grounded in God.
Discernment is more than saying prayers that ask God to guide us in rational consideration of matters. It is a mode of prayer that involves opening our entire selves to the working of the Holy Spirit. It bids us to let go of preconceived ideas so that we can be open to new possibilities with a readiness to view things from new perspectives. Discernment beckons us to be still and listen with the ear of our heart. It draws us into alignment with God.
Discernment is central to doing God's work. To serve God, we must constantly be alert to the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Without God, we can do nothing. “Those who abide in me and I in them,” said Jesus, “bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5).
In group deliberations, discernment involves coming together with open hearts and open minds to seek God's wisdom around issues important to the community. The first order of business is to become attuned to God's presence within and among those assembled.
Groups that seek discernment when they have business to do and decisions to make often find that their meetings become more energized and productive. The priorities of the meeting shift. Those gathered grow in faith and in love for one another while addressing the issues at hand. When those present center in God and listen deeply, their varying needs and divergent views can move from discord to concord. Rather than entering into a contest with factions singing competing tunes, the group as a whole can discover a true harmony, satisfying for all.
Spiritual discernment differs from other kinds of discernment because it is grounded in a conviction that the Holy Spirit is an active presence and, when in a group, the leading party in the proceedings. Christ is present at the center of each person and alive in the group–speaking, forming, and touching–waiting to be heard and recognized. Those assembled want to let go of barriers, both individually and collectively. They want the Spirit to guide them in shaping an issue so that it reflects what is important to God. The Spirit works as leaven that permeates the mixture, transforming the ingredients into the bread of life.
Issues of seemingly great import can become insignificant when measured against our relationship with God. For example, when a man asked Jesus to tell his brother to divide the family inheritance with him, Jesus shifted the perspective to the problem of greed, pointing out that one's life does not consist in the abundance of one's possessions. He then told a parable that warned against storing up treasures for oneself without being rich toward God (Luke 12:13). Engaging Jesus in dialogue moved the discussion from a perfectly logical consideration of property rights to the importance of putting our relationship with God first. Such reordering of priorities enables a group to be more useful in the Lord's service.
The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened. –Mt. 13:33
TWO
Total Listening
A spirit glided past my face; the hair of my flesh bristled. It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; there was silence, then I heard a voice…. – Job 4:15–16
Focused silence creates a stillness in which particular sounds become distinctly heard or felt. It is as though a veil is lifted from our senses and intuitions. We see our brothers and sisters anew; we hear afresh the sounds in the silence. We feel the Spirit in our midst.
In contrast, if the noise level is loud enough, it may be impossible to hear people talking to us, even if they shout. That is how it sometimes is with God: God is speaking to us, but the noise around us is so great that we hear nothing. If a group wants to hear God, the first thing its members must do is to create a serene environment.
Beyond that, we contend with inner commotion. Many voices chatter inside us as we think about what we had been doing before we arrived and worry about what we have yet to do after we leave. Our muscles may be tense, our bodies full of stress. To listen to God, we need to become still within. We need to become quiet as a group. Beginning meetings in silence provides an opportunity for a group to settle down and become attuned to God's presence.1
Once a quiet tone is established, it is important to maintain it by proceeding in ways that encourage genuine listening. For instance, if the group takes care to allow a pause between speakers, it provides time for everyone to absorb what has been said.2 Moreover, the speaker may have a deeper thought percolating underneath and will find that a pause opens an opportunity to discover and articulate a new insight. By honoring the pause, we avoid interrupting the speaker without careful consideration. In those silent pauses, we leave time for God to mold us gently before we move on.
A more subtle problem is our tendency to formulate what we want to say next while another person is speaking. We cannot truly listen if we are focused on what we ourselves want to say. Discernment is not an exercise in persuasion; rather, it is an attempt to listen deeply and await God's guidance.3
Attentive listening goes beyond the spoken word. In discernment, we listen with our eyes as well as with our ears, observing facial expressions and body language. People tell us many things by how they are sitting, how they are holding their heads, what they are doing with their hands, or by the expressions on their faces.
In addition, we need to listen with our feelings. Whatever emotions are stimulated within us at a meeting are telling us something–perhaps about ourselves, perhaps about what is being said, maybe about both. Times of quiet make it possible to hold emotional reactions in prayer and await guidance. The group as a whole can be invited to sit before God with its feelings. Meetings in which honest, quiet prayer and sharing are the norm knit people together in Christ.
Our intuition and imagination are other vehicles for listening. If the tone and pace of the gathering are sufficiently reflective, pictures may emerge in our imagination or passages of Scripture may come to mind. These may provide more insight than thousands of words. A vivid image can be shared with the group and explored for meaning.
Finally, we need to listen to the group as a whole as well as to the individuals within it. Are there things not being said, questions not being raised? If so, why? Is anyone dominating the group? Are some
