How to Practice Discernment

How Do I Know if I Can Trust My Desires in Discernment?

(Learn to Discern, Principle #14) One of the most frequent issues that arises almost every time I talk about discernment is the role of personal

How Do I Know if I’m Actually Open to Hearing God? (Part II)

(Learn to Discern, Principle #13-B) Most of us, at one time or another, have found ourselves caught in the loop of wondering: is God speaking

How Do I Know if I’m Actually Open to Hearing God? (Part I)

(Learn to Discern, Principle #13-A) Have you ever found yourself asking God to speak to you, while hoping He’ll only say one particular thing? “God

Acknowledge What You Are

(Learn to Discern, Principle #12) “God has a plan for your life!” How many times have you heard this proclaimed? At church, on retreat, by

Fear Is a False Friend

(Learn to Discern, Principle #11) An American friend of mine once found herself engaged in a conversation about family pastimes in Italian. “My mother gardens,”

Embrace Silence

(Learn to Discern, Principle #10) When was the last time you spent 10 minutes in total silence? No noise, no distractions, no background ambiance: just

Seek Wise Guidance

(Learn to Discern, Principle #9) Have you ever found yourself looking for help with difficult decision, only to leave the conversation feeling like the other

The Sign You’ve Been Looking For

(Learn to Discern, Principle #8) Have you ever prayed for a sign? Maybe you were in the midst of a confusing situation, or discerning different

You Can’t Be Where You Aren’t (or: Start Where You Are)

(Learn to Discern, Principle #7) Have you ever been lost in an unfamiliar place, maybe a new city or a national park, and realize that

Try it Out

(Learn to Discern, Principle #6) When working as a university professor, I had more than one conversation with a student that followed these lines: Me: