The Lost Art of Discernment: Part 2 of 2

The formatting is acting up again; this week we seem to have some color ... lol

In a nutshell, it could be said that discernment is the “mindful consideration” of a subject. It is the conscious act of going beyond our individual, pre-conceived views, judgements and perceptions. 

Discernment is cyclical and consists of an external and an internal component. 

The external component of discernment pertains to actively researching a topic, to gain understanding. It is the practice of comparing and analyzing what we already believe we know, with information we read, see or hear.  

The internal component deals with comprehension and personal integration of our research, via meditation and personal reflection.  It is an interior search, it is the process of determining the Creator’s/God's will for us, and the ability to carry it out. 

(Discernment is) “Knowing what to do, how to proceed, and how to respond when the issue is not visible to us.”   Peggy Moerbe

King Solomon emphasized the importance of practicing discernment.  

My son, if you will receive my sayings and treasure up my own commandments with yourself, so as to pay attention to wisdom with your ear, that you may incline your heart to discernment; if, moreover, you call out for understanding itself and you give forth your voice for discernment itself, if you keep seeking for it as for silver, and as for hid treasures you keep searching for it, in that case you will understand the fear of God, and you will find the very knowledge of God.  When wisdom enters into your heart and knowledge itself becomes pleasant to your very soul, thinking ability itself will keep guard over you, discernment itself will safeguard you, to deliver you from the bad way, from the man speaking perverse things, from those leaving the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness. Proverbs 2:1-5, 10-13

Discernment helps us:

·        determine the value and quality of our individual views, judgements and perceptions

·        perceive subtleties (grasp and comprehend that which is not obvious)

·        discard any old or new information that is misleading or irrelevant

·        recognize truths that resonate within our hearts

·        practice humility

·        self correct

·        set our priorities straight

·        exercise good judgement

·        gain wisdom by making wise decisions, especially during stressful/trying times

·        cultivate a close relationship with the Creator/God

Discernment requires time and personal effort. As mentioned earlier, discernment is cyclical; there are many steps to take to complete a discernment cycle.  The process is the same, regardless of how many times we have gone through the cycle.  

Here is the process:

·        Abandon the notion that we always know what is best.  

·        Pray to the Creator/God for an open, receptive mind and heart: Because truth is constantly changing, it is important to have an open mind so we can let go of old knowledge that is no longer valid.

·        Ask the Creator/God for the help of the Holy Spirit.

·        Actively dig for information, as if searching for a buried treasure. 

·        Isolate and focus on the main points presented in our research; this will help us understand the development of the subject at hand.

·        Ask the Creator/God to help us understand/comprehend information found in our research.

·       Analyze new information: Put information received to the test; see if it is truthful.  How does this new information apply to us, individually?  Do the results of our research resonate as truth within our hearts?  If  not, do not automatically assume that it is false; we may simply not be ready to receive it yet.  Instead, continue researching and meditating on the subject at hand; in time, the truth will be revealed. 

“Beloved ones, do not believe every inspired expression, but test the inspired expressions.”  1 John 4:1

·        Pay attention to intuition; it does not lie.  Intuition is the spark of light within each of  us that provides us with an innate knowing/sense of awareness that comes to us without explanation or proof.

·        While digging for answers, wait for the Creator/God to respond.   

·        Meditate upon how new found information relates to the Creator’s/God’s purpose.

One who is trying to make spiritual progress should attempt to … see things objectively … without being influenced by  emotions or passions. Discerning whether something is the Creator’s/God’s will, or the (D)evil’s will, requires calm, rational reflection.  The Creator’s/God’s will brings us to peaceful, joyful decisions. The (D)evil’s will leads us to make quick, emotional, conflicted decisions. Paraphrase, St. Ignatius of Loyola 

·        Meditate upon how to integrate and apply new ideas into our lives

·        Practice honest self-evaluation: Do we need to make personal adjustments in our thinking/beliefs? 

·        Abandon our personal views/judgements/perceptions when it becomes obvious that we are wrong.

·        Integrate our new found truth(s) into our hearts.   

When we consistently practice discernment, integrate our new found truths into our hearts, and apply new ideas into our lives, we grow spiritually. Over time, we take on a new personality, and the current cycle of discernment is complete. Each completed cycle brings us closer to the truth. 

If we make the conscious effort to fill our minds and hearts with the truth, we will gain wisdom, insight, and discernment.  A humble person who puts forth this kind of effort will indeed be able to get to know the Creator/God.
 
Let us gives serious attention to what is really deep inside of ourselves. Let us use our minds to acquire accurate knowledge of the Creator/God. Let us meditate on these things and seek to apply them. By doing so,

You will know the truth, and truth will set you free. John 8:32

So it is, sealed in trust, faith and truth, in the Sacred Divine Light (Jesus Christ). Amen 

FORGIVENESS: Part 2 of 2

It is impossible to maintain successful relationships without forgiveness.  Without forgiveness, resentments and mistrust grow.  Resentments and mistrust act as toxic poisons and kill (destroy) relationships. Be quick to forgive.

Let the sun not set with you in a provoked state.   Ephesians 4:26

What if we are unable to forgive quickly?  Emotional wounds take time, love and patience to heal.  Love and patience help us to forgive someone whom we perceive is really trying.  

It serves us well to remember to ask the Creator/God to cultivate a forgiving spirit toward any offender who makes an honest effort to alter their thoughtless, unkind, harmful words and/or actions, and sincerely asks for our forgiveness. 

Hmmm … We ask for a forgiving spirit … What does that mean?

When we are on the receiving end of thoughtless, unkind, harmful words and/or actions, it can be difficult for us to allow these words and/or actions to pass through us,.  This is  due, largely in part, because reactions to personal offenses are usually emotion based reactions.  Emotional responses to perceived offenses can range from mild to strong; it is not uncommon for us to feel angry or betrayed; we may even desire justice or revenge. 

When we are hurt by others,  we often want to retaliate and hurt them back in some way, as pay back.   We can reduce anger and other negative emotions with understanding, open-mindedness, a willingness to forgive, and love for one another.  

When others offend us, being willing to forgive, out of love, keeps us from automatically assuming that anothers motives are bad.    

Above all things, have intense love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.  1 Peter 4: 8

Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely if anyone has a cause for complaint against another. Even as Jehovah freely forgave you, so do you also. But, besides all these things, [clothe yourselves with] love, for it is a perfect bond of union.  Colossians 3:13-14

Determining why we are upset reduces our emotional responses.  Using our rational mind to analyze offensive words and/or actions, and understanding the reason(s) for our reaction, allows us to consider what would be the most appropriate response. 

Do not hurry yourself in your spirit to become offended, for the taking of offense is what rests in the bosom of the stupid ones.  Ecclesiastes 7:9  

Taking time to calm down and view the situation from the position of an “objective observer” helps us to remain open-minded and respond more appropriately. When we remove our subjective, emotional selves from the picture and examine the scenario as objective observers, we find that many negatively perceived words and actions flow right through us.  The more  we practice taking our subjective, emotional selves out of the picture, the more we will see that most of the things that are said or done to us, is not personal; it is not about us.   This objectiveness helps us see that others typically are not being deliberately hurtful or thoughtless; our offenders are simply being their imperfect human selves. 

He that is slow to anger is abundant in discernment, but one that is impatient is exalting foolishness.  Proverbs 14:29 

The insight of a man certainly slows down his anger, and it is beauty on his part to pass over transgression  Proverbs 19:11  

Know this, my beloved brothers. Every man must be swift about hearing, slow about speaking, slow about wrath; for man’s wrath does not work out God’s righteousness.  James 1:19-20  

By maintaining a positive view of our offender, in spite of what they are saying or doing to us, we build them up, rather than tear them down.  When we reflect back to them what we perceive they are putting out, we give ourselves, and them, an opportunity to clear up misunderstandings; each is also given the opportunity to gain/maintain control over their own behavior.  What a gift!

Therefore keep comforting one another and building one another up, just as you are in fact doing.  1 Thessalonians 5:11

We each have that power within us to create love, joy, peace and contentment, within our own hearts.  Learn to forgive.  If anybody upsets us, don’t take it to heart, forgive them.  If we have any ill-feelings, any grudges, please forgive them.  Forgive them,  that's the only way we can go forward and go on with our life. Grandmother Agnes (13 Indigenous Grandmothers) 

 

So it is, sealed in trust, faith and truth, in the Sacred Divine Light (Jesus Christ). 

Amen 

FORGIVENESS: Part 1 of 2

Forgiveness involves the act of pardoning an offender, letting go of any resentment (based on judgment, revenge, persecution and/or anger), brought upon by a perceived wrong doing to us, by another, and giving up all claim to re-compensation.  The Greek term a·phi′e·mi literally means “let go of.”

Forgiveness is a gift that we give to ourselves; there is a strong relationship between forgiveness and mental health; forgiveness lightens our load and helps us maintain our own inner peace.  Forgiveness is essential, if we are to maintain peaceful relationships with others.  Through forgiveness, the bonds of personal relationships are strengthened.  When we forgive, our relationship with the Creator/God is strengthened and we are blessed with peace and contentment.

When we harbor feelings of judgment, revenge, persecution and/or anger, we slowly poison ourselves with toxic thoughts and emotions. As a result, we repeatedly suffer from poor health, broken relationships, stress, and/or communication difficulties. We lower our vibrational frequency to a level which limits: our ability to ascend to a place of inner peace, love and gratitude, as well as our re-connection with the Creator/God and the Divine Light/Jesus.  

Though we may have suffered at the hands of another, what has happened has happened ~ Let us not allow the behavior of others, to rob us of our happiness, by dwelling on negative thoughts and mentally ruminating over how we have been mistreated.  Let us not allow such thoughts to control our thinking.  Let us move on so we can be at peace, and heal.

Do not let yourself be conquered by the evil, but keep conquering the evil with the good.  Romans 12: 21

Some people with whom we are in personal relationship with, are repeatedly unkind to us.  Forgiveness does not mean that we approve of their behavior or minimize any damage created by their behavior.  Having said that, it is in our best interest to maintain a positive relationship with this person, by not keeping track of any wrong doings this person may have already done to us.  We all stumble in word and in deed on a regular basis. 

For we all stumble many times. If anyone does not stumble in word, this one is a perfect man, able to bridle also [his] whole body. James 3:2  

   

The offender, like each of us, is a victim of human imperfection.  With this realization, we can then allow ourselves to imagine the motivating pain and/or suffering behind the perceived wrong-doing behavior.  When we can imagine this, we can forgive more easily.   

One of the greatest things that any of us have, is prayer.  It is hard to stay angry with someone, for very long, when we are praying for them, so pray for the offender.  

“Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those persecuting you.”  Matthew. 5:44.

If a person asks for forgiveness, it will serve us well to keep in mind that, if the shoe were on the other foot, we would want the other person to forgive us.  It will also serve us well to do the same for our offender, no matter how often it happens.  Forgiving others for personal offenses, regardless of the number of times involved, is a Christian requirement; there is no arbitrary limit on forgiveness.

Then Peter came up and said to him: “Lord, how many times is my brother to sin against me and am I to forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him: “I say to you, not, Up to seven times, but, Up to seventy-seven times.”  Mathew 18:21-22

Pay attention to yourselves. If your brother commits a sin give him a rebuke, and if he repents forgive him. Even if he sins seven times a day against you and he comes back to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”  Luke 17:3-4

There are times when a person might intentionally hurt us; there are also times when an offender may not be remorseful or ask for forgiveness.  The Creator/God prescribed a way for seeking and receiving his forgiveness. A person must acknowledge and confess his/her wrong-doing, recognize that it was an offense not just to another person, but also against the Creator/God, feel deep heartfelt sorrow and remorse, be determined to change his/her ways, and to the best of his/her ability, fix any damage done. It matters not how far one falls, but the strength of his/her determination to set matters right, rise above the wrong-doing, and move forward.

When we encounter a non-remorseful offender, it is in our best interest to lovingly release the person to the Creator/God, leave the relationship, and move on with our life.  Although divine forgiveness is expansive and generous, the Bible states that we should not pray for those sinning against the Holy Spirit, with no repentance, as this is a deliberate practice of malicious, willful sin, for which there is no forgiveness. 

On this account I say to YOU, Every sort of sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the spirit will not be forgiven.  Matthew 12:31 

It is important to remember, that when we release a person to the Creator/God, and walk away, that we do so lovingly, and without judgment.  By imitating the Creator’s/God’s attitude toward forgiveness, we step out of the picture and allow the Creator/God, to examine the offender’s thoughts and heart and guide us on our path. 

Trust in Jehovah with all your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5  

Return evil for evil to no one. Provide fine things in the sight of all men.  If possible, as far as it depends upon YOU, be peaceable with all men. Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but yield place to the wrath; for it is written: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says Jehovah.”  Romans 12:17-19

So it is, Sealed in Faith in the Divine Light/Jesus ... Amen