• Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Legal Information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Speaking
  • Healthy Spirituality Store
  • Resources
  • Bio
  • Healthy Spirituality Gift Guide

Discernment – The Next Right Thing

April 9, 2019 By Jean Wise

discernment

What is Discernment?

Discernment, doing the next right thing,  is making decisions while discovering and articulating how God is shaping our lives. Discernment is listening to God in faith to live fully in how he created us and called us to do in his work in the world.

Discernment isn’t easy. Sometimes life is confusing. The signs we see are real. Yet we still get lost in this world.

Discernment

discernment

I shared this road sign a number of years ago that was erected in a nearby city.  Imagine you are driving north in traffic. You need to know if you should turn or keep going straight. Quickly what does this sign mean?

I wrote on the blog post:

“East is still east and west is still west in my county, Here Ohio 15 runs north and south for the last 80 years, but that is not what the sign signifies.

In their wisdom of seeing the whole picture, the Ohio Department of Transportation replaced the road sign recently, striving for consistency throughout the state. State Route 15 is designated in Ohio an east-west route even though you travel north and south here.

Confused yet?

Look at all these signs as a whole – East goes in three different directions. You can travel both south and east at the same time. What a mess.

Spiritually, don’t you just want a sign sometime?

The world shows me puzzling and often misleading notices on how I should live. I want God to say out loud and very clearly, ‘Go this way.

The road of life we travel is full of detours, construction, and definitely baffling messages. My only clear map is God who sees the whole trip.”

I like the following definition of discernment:

To discern mean more than to understand or to make a decision. Dis mans apart and cernere mean to separate. Thus from all the options before us we ‘separate apart’ those that seen uniquely suited to us. We do that when making a decision as well but discernment implies that we take God’s will for us into account rather than simply our own desires.

Debra Farrington

Discernment – The Next Right Thing

Often on our life’s journey, we are confused. We are not sure where we are going. Where are all these experiences, opportunities, obstacles, lessons leading?

Discernment is a major spiritual practice we all need and continue to learn throughout our lives. This is one reason why Emily P. Freeman’s newest book, based on her wonderful podcast, are both called The Next Right Thing.

blankblank

This book is one I am highlighting, underlining, taking into my journaling time and bringing into my quiet time with God. A book full of wisdom and grace and permission not to worry so much about the final results of my decision making but to wonder and explore how I make the choices in life.

The Next Right Thing offers new perspectives for me and unique ways to experience discernment. Here are a few interesting points she writes:

  • Cornell University estimates Americans make more than 35,000 decisions every day, including over 200 about food alone.  No wonder our decision-making muscles are fatigued.
  • In the Gospels, Jesus models “doing the next right thing.” After each miracle, he gives a simple next step such as go and show yourself to the priest, pick up your stretcher. Jesus doesn’t say here is what the rest of your life will be like or the answer to every prayer – he simply provides the next step.  I never noticed that before reading this book. How reassuring!
  • In discernment here are two key questions: What is life-draining? What is life-giving? I used these two questions at the end of 2018 in my deciding whether to continue with the graduate school courses I began earlier that year. I realized my work for my church/parish and my writing was life-giving. They felt like sacred work – where I belonged. My classwork emptied my energy and depleted my spirit. Once I recognized this difference, I knew the answer and withdrew from school.
  • Discernment is a process that takes time. We must “let go of our timeline…and our expectations of certainty…Clarity cannot be rushed.”

These are just a few examples of the wisdom found in The Next Right Thing.  I am still savoring its words and slowly learning new insights.

The Next Right Thing is “shelf-worthy.” A book I will keep and reread.

God walks with us in discernment. Guiding. Listening. Surprising. Making decisions with faith is more about the relationship with God, than actually knowing the final destination.  Dallas Willard wrote: “The most important thing about you is not the things you achieve but the person you become.'”

What are you learning about the practice of discernment? Let’s share and explore this with each other.

I look forward to reading your comments.

 

 

Share this post:

Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn Share on Email

Filed Under: spiritual practices

Comments

  1. blankNancy Ruegg says

    April 10, 2019 at 5:34 pm

    I, too, never noticed that Jesus’ instructions to those he healed centered on “the right next thing,” and nothing more. How liberating! Thank you for giving us a taste of Emily’s book. If you’re highlighting, underlining, and journaling in response to it, Jean, it MUST be good!

    • blankJean Wise says

      April 12, 2019 at 7:34 pm

      It is such a good book. I bought an extra one for my daughter. Praying for you and Steve!

  2. blankElizabeth Cottrell says

    April 9, 2019 at 9:22 pm

    I have been listening to Emily Freeman’s podcast for a few weeks and have just gotten this book and dipped into it. It has already given me tools for handling a painful situation with a family member by insisting we look for “the next right thing in love.” The “in love” part makes all the difference, doesn’t it?

    • blankJean Wise says

      April 12, 2019 at 7:35 pm

      I love her podcast too. Been fun listening to her and now having her book. So glad it is helping you. Lead with love – the perfect answer

  3. blankMary Gallagher says

    April 9, 2019 at 12:34 pm

    I love how you break down discernment. So many things from this book have been a game changer for me.

    • blankJean Wise says

      April 12, 2019 at 7:36 pm

      Glad you are enjoying this book too. It is great and one I plan to reread over and over againl

  4. blankMartha J Orlando says

    April 9, 2019 at 9:52 am

    Really and truly, Jean, I need to read this book, too, and will order it as soon as I can. Discernment is a life time practice, isn’t it? And yes, I’m feeling right now like I’m trying to read that confusing road sign you posted here. Lord, how I could use some clarity just about now!
    Blessings, my friend!

    • blankJean Wise says

      April 12, 2019 at 7:36 pm

      Extra prayers for you right now, Martha.

Healthy Spirituality – a sacred space to nurture your faith, grow closer to God, and belong to a community, walking together on life’s journey. This blog is written by author, speaker and retreat leader Jean Wise

blank Read More…

Subscribe to Healthy Spirituality and learn more about spiritual practices such as prayer

This book will help you as you plan and attend a spiritual retreat

blankblank

Let’s Connect!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Medium
  • Pinterest

Search This Blog

Categories

Copyright © 2023 Lifestyle Theme · Genesis Framework by StudioPress Themes · Blog Set-Up By Blogelina