It’s a big word—discernment, a word we mostly associate with deciding to enter ordained ministry. We don’t usually go around asking each other, “So, how’s your discerning with God going today?” But, you know, that might not be a bad idea, because discernment isn’t just for clergy, and it isn’t just for special occasions.
Discernment is about listening for God’s guidance regularly—something each of us can do. It’s about learning to hear with your heart. Think of it as God’s invitation to you to help in the work of creation, and not just once in a while, but all the time.
This message is adapted from “Listening to God: Everyday Discernment” written by Debra K. Farrington in the September 2004 issue of Lutheran Woman Today (now Gather) magazine. The article was excerpted from a Women of the ELCA resource, Listening to God: A Guide for Discernment.