Discerning God’s Will

 “We continually ask God to fill

you with the knowledge of his will

through all the wisdom and 

understanding that the Spirit gives.”

Colossians 1:9

Discerning God’s will means learning to listen to God’s voice in our hearts and follow what He wants for our lives. Through discernment, we practice being an active and engaged listener, strengthening our relationship with God through prayer and trusting that God would only lead us down a path of happiness and fulfillment.

Discerning God’s Will requires the three Ds: desire, data and, finally, discernment.

• Desire: Emotional awareness. Are you excited or afraid? Learn to be honest with yourself.
• Data: Gather information on what the options are, where they are coming from, and what they would mean for your life.
• Discernment: Choose the option that increases faith, hope and love in your life.

People often look for signs from God outside of themselves as they determine their paths, but everything we need to know is in our hearts. Discerning God’s will involves sifting through your desires and using the data and information you’ve gathered on each choice before making your decision. When you see the option that brings an increase of faith hope and love to your life, you can have faith and trust in your decision, knowing it’s from God.

~ omvusa.org - By Father Shawn