Episode 11
11 | Discernment the Basics: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Moving Forward with God
Are you feeling a bit stuck in your decision-making process?
You’re definitely not alone! Today, we’re diving into the nitty-gritty of discernment, and trust me, it’s all about inviting God into your choices—big or small. Forget the notion that you need to wait for some grand sign; I've got a simple, step-by-step approach that helps you move forward with confidence. We'll chat about how to pray, seek, surrender, decide, and then take action—because let’s face it, God can’t steer a parked car!
So grab your favorite cozy blanket, a notebook, and maybe a snack, and let’s get comfy as we explore how to align your life with God’s will and ignite your unique purpose.
I pray that this episode blesses and encourages you!
Michelle
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Transcript
Because discernment doesn't end in stillness, it requires motion.
Speaker A:God, he cannot steer a parked car.
Speaker A:You have to start moving.
Speaker A:You make the decision and you move forward, trusting that God will guide you along the way.
Speaker A:Let's be real.
Speaker A:Trying to figure out what God wants us to do can feel confusing.
Speaker A:Do you wait?
Speaker A:Do you act?
Speaker A:Do you need a sign?
Speaker A:The truth is, discernment doesn't have to feel so overwhelming.
Speaker A:In today's episode, I'm breaking down a simple step by step way to invite God into your decisions, big or small, so you can start walking in alignment with his will without overthinking it.
Speaker A:Grab your notebook and pen and let's dive in.
Speaker A:Are you ready to break free from feeling stuck, gain clarity and take intentional steps towards discovering your unique purpose, all while following God's guidance to become the person that he created you to be?
Speaker A:If so, you are in the right place.
Speaker A:Hi, I'm Michelle, a mom, wife, Catholic discernment mentor and spiritual coach.
Speaker A:I been where you are, feeling lost and uncertain about my purpose.
Speaker A:But through a Catholic based strategy of discernment, I found clarity, confidently embraced my calling and learned to hear God's voice in my life.
Speaker A:And now I want to help you do the same.
Speaker A:Grab your pen, get your notebook and get comfy, Open your heart and mind and invite God in.
Speaker A:It's time to ignite your purpose and start living the life God created you for.
Speaker A:Let's do this.
Speaker A:When I first began seeking my unique purpose, I came across a program that helped me uncover some clues about it.
Speaker A:However, it ended with now discern your purpose to ensure that it truly was the path that God was guiding me on.
Speaker A:So this left me feeling confused and lost and unsure of where to turn next or how to discern whether this was indeed the calling God had for me.
Speaker A:I understand what you're going through.
Speaker A:That uncertainty of knowing the right way or method to discern your purpose.
Speaker A:It took a lot of research and effort on my part to just figure out the steps involved in discerning my unique God given purpose, which was aligned with the Catholic process of discernment.
Speaker A:That journey eventually led me to a deeper understanding of what discernment truly is.
Speaker A:And that's what I want to share with you now.
Speaker A:Not just what I learn, but how you can begin to approach discernment with clarity and peace.
Speaker A:At the most basic level, discernment, it's the decision making process that invites God in.
Speaker A:It's the process of seeking God's will for your life no matter if it's A big or small decision.
Speaker A:At times we turn to God when it's a big, a life changing decision, but not as often when it's, you know, like on the smaller things.
Speaker A:Now, to clarify, when I say small things, I don't mean things like choosing between strawberry or apple jam on your toast.
Speaker A:That's totally up to you and you do not need to invite Jesus in when you make that decision.
Speaker A:And as you discern a decision, remember that God, he will not answer you with a loud voice and a neon sign saying, I want you to do this.
Speaker A:He's in the whispers or he may speak through others.
Speaker A:A scripture passage or a gentle nudge from the Holy Spirit discernment.
Speaker A:It's inviting God in as we pray, seek and surrender, decide and take daily actionable steps.
Speaker A:Since this episode is all about the basics, we'll just briefly walk through each one.
Speaker A:Step 1 Pray it starts with an open and honest conversation with God.
Speaker A:Your prayer might sound something like Jesus.
Speaker A:Here's what's weighing on my heart.
Speaker A:I don't want to make this decision without you.
Speaker A:I want to know your will for me in this.
Speaker A:This may also look like journaling or both.
Speaker A:Journaling, when you invite God in, is telling him what's on your heart and it's a form of prayer.
Speaker A:Step two Seek in prayer.
Speaker A:We are seeking and God is listening and seeking.
Speaker A:You are listening and God is speaking.
Speaker A:This means quieting yourself to listen for how God might be responding.
Speaker A:It might be through a message of scripture, a conversation, a song, a homily or nudge from the Holy Spirit.
Speaker A:Seeking is active.
Speaker A:You're spending intentional time with God, reading His Word, being open to the ways that he might speak to you and trusting that he will guide you.
Speaker A:Step three is surrender.
Speaker A:It's surrendering control over to God.
Speaker A:You're letting God lead you.
Speaker A:This is included in your conversation with God.
Speaker A:God, I give this to you.
Speaker A:You know what I need better than I do.
Speaker A:As you're seeking your unique purpose.
Speaker A:This can be as simple as saying, God, I leave this up to you.
Speaker A:You know me better than I do.
Speaker A:You know what is best for me because you've already seen my future.
Speaker A:It's in the waiting for God to answer you as you tell him what's on your heart and that you're seeking as you're surrendering yourself to him and what he wills for you.
Speaker A:But as we get ready to talk about the next step, I do want to caution you from remaining in the surrendering step and not moving forward.
Speaker A:So many of us, we tend to just remain in this step without ever taking the next step.
Speaker A:Step 4 Decide.
Speaker A:So after you've prayed, you've sought God's guidance and surrendered the outcome to him, the next step is to make a decision.
Speaker A:This is where you'll take all the information you've gathered, the things you've prayed through, the insights you've received through the scripture conversations and those nudges from the Holy Spirit.
Speaker A:And you lay it out.
Speaker A:You sort through it.
Speaker A:You ask yourself, what decision can I make right now with what I know?
Speaker A:This doesn't mean you'll have every answer or feel completely competent, but it does mean that you're trusting God with what you have right now.
Speaker A:Step 5 Take action for clarity.
Speaker A:And then you need to take that next step.
Speaker A:Even if it feels small, even if you're not 100% sure.
Speaker A:Because discernment doesn't end in stillness, it requires motion.
Speaker A:God, he cannot steer a parked car.
Speaker A:You have to start moving.
Speaker A:You make the decision and you move forward.
Speaker A:Trust in that God that He will guide you along the way.
Speaker A:If it's the right direction, he'll continue to open those doors.
Speaker A:If not, he'll redirect you.
Speaker A:But the key is you have to move.
Speaker A:Don't stay stuck in indecision.
Speaker A:Constantly question if you've heard God perfectly.
Speaker A:Step out with him and trust he'll redirect you if needed.
Speaker A:This is why you hear me through all my episodes, reminding you that you must take daily, consistent action.
Speaker A:Because discernment, it isn't just a one time decision.
Speaker A:It's a rhythm.
Speaker A:It's a relationship.
Speaker A:It's a.
Speaker A:It's continually leaning in and listening, trusting and stepping forward again and again.
Speaker A:Once you've made your decision, don't just sit back and wait for the decisions to unfold.
Speaker A:Take a step today, even if it's a small one, and tomorrow you take another one.
Speaker A:Clarity comes when you move forward as you're walking with God and letting him guide you.
Speaker A:STEP 6 Clarification Sometimes after taking a step forward, you may feel unsure if what you're sensing is truly from God.
Speaker A:And this is when it's important to pause and ask him for clarification.
Speaker A:God, I stepped forward believing this is a step you want for me to take.
Speaker A:But if this isn't what you want from me, please make it clear for me, Please.
Speaker A:Or God.
Speaker A:I believe this is a step you want me to take, but please let me know by and fill in the blank.
Speaker A:I have actually used that one frequently and quite a bit.
Speaker A:Tell him like I think this is what you want me to do, but please let me know by opening this door and I'll say what it is.
Speaker A:And then he actually has opened up those doors.
Speaker A:So then I know I'm on the path and I'm continuing on the path.
Speaker A:Because he does, he continues to open those doors.
Speaker A:This discernment process, it isn't always linear.
Speaker A:You may cycle back to prayer, seeking or surrender as you listen for his voice again.
Speaker A:And that's okay.
Speaker A:It's a relationship, it's not a checklist.
Speaker A:This episode was meant to just be a basic overview of discernment.
Speaker A:There's more that we really can unpack, especially when it comes to discerning your unique purpose.
Speaker A:But I hope this is a simple framework that gives you a starting point.
Speaker A:And remember, God wants to guide you.
Speaker A:He will guide you.
Speaker A:You just have to keep showing up and inviting him in and taking the next faithful step forward.
Speaker A:Let's quickly recap what we covered today.
Speaker A:Number one, discernment invites God into your decision making.
Speaker A:It's not just about figuring things out on your own.
Speaker A:It's about seeking God's will in both big and small decisions.
Speaker A:And number two, you want to start with prayer.
Speaker A:Speak honestly with God about what's on your heart.
Speaker A:Prayer opens the door to his divine guidance.
Speaker A:And number three, then you seek.
Speaker A:In seeking, you shift from speaking to listening.
Speaker A:God speaks through scripture, others, quiet little nudges and even circumstances.
Speaker A:And number four, surrender the outcome.
Speaker A:Let go of control and trust that God knows what's best.
Speaker A:Surrender creates space for peace and obedience.
Speaker A:And number five, you want to make a decision and take action.
Speaker A:Don't stay stuck.
Speaker A:Move forward with what you know, trusting God to guide and redirect as needed.
Speaker A:Number six, ask for clarification when needed.
Speaker A:If you're unsure or confused after acting, just go back and ask God for clarification.
Speaker A:Discernment.
Speaker A:It's a cycle and it's not a one time moment.
Speaker A:Let us pray.
Speaker A:In the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Lord, I invite you in into this decision.
Speaker A:I don't want to make a move without you.
Speaker A:Speak to my heart and give me the courage to take the next step even if I don't see the full path.
Speaker A:Help me to trust that you're leading me and to stay close to you as I move forward to your will and not mine.
Speaker A:In the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Knowledge is power.
Speaker A:But true change happens when it is paired with consistent daily action.
Speaker A:Told you.
Speaker A:I remind you in every episode and we cannot gain clarity if we're not taking daily action to help us move forward.
Speaker A:So with that said, I would like for you to just set aside 10 quiet minutes today, just you, your journal and God.
Speaker A:And start by writing down the decision you're trying to make or an area where you need guidance.
Speaker A:Then, in prayer, just talk to God about it.
Speaker A:Be honest and open.
Speaker A:Write what's on your heart and then spend a few quiet minutes listening.
Speaker A:Because remember, listening is key.
Speaker A:We need to give God that chance for him to speak to us and what scripture comes to mind?
Speaker A:Reflect upon.
Speaker A:What feelings or nudges do you notice?
Speaker A:Jot those down.
Speaker A:This is the beginning of your discernment process.
Speaker A:Please share inside the Facebook community Finding youg Purpose, Discernment and Strategy for Catholic Moms which of these steps do you find difficult when it comes to discernment and why?
Speaker A:Remember, my beautiful sister in Christ, that God uniquely created you for a unique purpose.
Speaker A:You were made to do great things.
Speaker A:God is within you and you will not fail.
Speaker A:Go out and ignite your purpose.
Speaker A:God's not done writing your story.
Speaker A:I look forward to continuing this journey with you.
Speaker A:I'll meet you next Tuesday for another conversation.
Speaker A:Until then, may God bless you.
Speaker A:Thank you so much for joining me today.
Speaker A:I pray that today's episode blesses and encourages you.
Speaker A:If so, would you please share it with someone you know that would be blessed by it?
Speaker A:If you felt inspired or you learned something Today, please take 30 seconds to leave a written review on Apple Podcasts.
Speaker A:This is the number one way to let me know that you are liking the show and for me to reach other Catholic women like yourself.
Speaker A:If you're feeling uncertain or you're lost on your discernment journey, you're not alone.
Speaker A:Join us over in the free Facebook community Finding youg Purpose, Discernment and Strategy for Catholic Moms, where Catholic women just like you are sharing, supporting and growing together in faith.
Speaker A:I look forward to continuing this journey with you.
Speaker A:I'll meet you next Tuesday for another conversation.
Speaker A:God Bless.
