Question Regarding General Discernment

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LuxDei

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Hello all,

I just had my first meeting with my spiritual director this past Monday, and time flew by so fast that I couldn’t get an answer to one really important question to me.

I have heard a lot of people talk about discernment as if God’s will might be in opposition to our own. I can, of course, see how this could easily happen if one is not seeking holiness, praying often, etc.

However, what if one IS a deeply faithful Catholic with an active prayer life who tries to use each day to respond better to God’s grace and become holier? (I might not always succeed…In fact I often don’t with that last part, but I’d put myself in this second category.)

The idea that God might be disappointed in me (or rather, that I might not be living up to what God wants for me) for following the promptings of my mind/heart while maintaining an active prayer life and a quest for holiness makes me very nervous. I don’t think I understand what other method we HAVE for discerning God’s will except to prayerfully listen to those promptings, but then how would one be sure that it was GOD’s will and not your own will that was causing them? And how does one know if they’ve waited and prayed about it long enough before they make a decision?

Thanks in advance 🙂
 
Be assured all that is not sinful is God’s Will…only sin can separate us from God and His Will. God’s Will is not something fixed to the exclusion of all else and a religious vocation is an invitation not a command. I can always decline the invitation but it would entirely discourteous and I may need to examine my conscience carefully on that score. The invitation was not extended for no reason and one does well to remember Who it is extending that invitation.
Could a person in completely good faith choose a way of life that was contrary to God’s Will - no, not unless it was sinful.
The idea that God might be disappointed in me (or rather, that I might not be living up to what God wants for me) for following the promptings of my mind/heart while maintaining an active prayer life and a quest for holiness makes me very nervous. I don’t think I understand what other method we HAVE for discerning God’s will except to prayerfully listen to those promptings, but then how would one be sure that it was GOD’s will and not your own will that was causing them? And how does one know if they’ve waited and prayed about it long enough before they make a decision?
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You need to discuss the above with your spiritual director. If the time with him/her passes and you cannot ask all you wished to ask - be patient and ask it next time. God is aware. God would not expect you to make a decision before you were absolutely sure…He would not ask that of us.

How does one know they have prayed about it long enough before making a decision - that question I would direct to your spiritual director also.

At times there is no clear answer , and this is where spiritual direction comes into play in the discerning of an answer process.
A director, who is the one who knows your spiritual life and whole interior workings, is in the best position to work with you on these things.
The idea that God might be disappointed in me (or rather, that I might not be living up to what God wants for me) for following the promptings of my mind/heart while maintaining an active prayer life and a quest for holiness makes me very nervous
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Sorry I cannot be more helpful, but you really need to direct the above ponderings to your director also.
God is not disappointed in you, He Loves you and dances for the Joy of you and most especially since you are living a prayerful life and questing for holiness - because you love Him. It is not out of fear? He is intimately aware of the questions you are asking of yourself and your desire to please Him. Be assured He is not disappointed in you. I am wondering if perhaps you may be disappointed in yourself for some reason or other… and projecting this onto God?

God’s Blessings and may He grant you His Peace…Barb:)
 
If you continue to pray and live in a state of grace, God will form and change you so that you are drawn to and long for your vocation. If you stay close to Him, He’ll show you. Seeing a spiritual director is a good idea. God will show you the way and even if you stray a little after inclinations that are not right, God is not mad at you. He’ll help you and guide you to your true path if you pray and surrender to His will, little by little.

Peace 🙂
 
Sarah245 said:
If you continue to pray and live in a state of grace, God will form and change you so that you are drawn to and long for your vocation. If you stay close to Him, He’ll show you. Seeing a spiritual director is a good idea. God will show you the way and even if you stray a little after inclinations that are not right, God is not mad at you. He’ll help you and guide you to your true path if you pray and surrender to His will, little by little.

Peace 🙂
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Excellent Post:thumbsup:
 
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