How to Discern Pretty Much Anything
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ก.ค. 2020
- How to discern God’s will is one of Fr. Mark-Mary’s favorite topics. He has some principles he uses to guide his discernment.
He narrows these principles down to four: needs, responsibilities, desires, and capacities.
Needs: We need to be intimate with God’s word. He has already given us his word, but often we haven’t read it before discerning. Have a regular relationship with the Word of God. The primary place we should look to learn his will is in Scripture.
Responsibilities: School, your career, or your living situation are examples of responsibilities that you should consider when figuring out God’s will for you. God probably isn’t calling you to travel the world as a missionary if you’re the father of five kids under seven. If you’re a student who needs to study, God probably is not calling you to go on a service trip with friends.
Desires: Even though they shouldn’t determine everything, your desires do matter. If a desire doesn't go against the other principles, then do it.
Capacities: If you want to do service and grow in your relationship with God, understand your limitations. If you’re honest about your capacities, God will understand. Maybe you just don’t have the capacity to make that extra commitment. Whether or not you can do something is important, and if you can’t that’s nothing to be ashamed of. God is probably calling you to something else. If you push yourself too much you may end up hurting yourself and others.
Lastly, we can all do a better job serving the needs of the poor. When discerning, do not forget what you can do for them.
Remember, we are pilgrims. Little by little, we’re going to make it.
Also, check out Jackie and Bobby Angel’s book, Pray, Decide, and Don’t Worry: 5 Steps to Discerning God’s Will. (ascensionpress.com/collection...)
Ascension also has other great free resources on discovering God’s will for you. You can find them here (media.ascensionpress.com/?s=d....
❓Have ideas for future videos ❓ Topics you want to hear about ❓ Questions you want answered ❓Make sure to put #AskAscension in your comment 👍
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1. Word of God
2. Duties and responsibilities
3. Needs of the world, my family and community
4. Capacity - considering your limitations and asking: "can I do this?"
And also
5. "do I want to do this?"
Thank you so much for these guidelines Fr. Mark Mary!
Very well summed up.
BUT! JuliaToute? JESUS wants you to be a christian! NOT a lost roman catholic pagan!
no?@Lance Alonte! for? that is a waste of time!
BUT! he's only copied it from above?@@pascalmoisan3055?
@@josephcorrigan9160thats the whole point-we write Gods words on our heart to remember
I discerned becoming a Dominican nun about 2 years ago, contacting several different convents and visiting one that was relatively close to where I am from. I absolutely loved the times that I visited that monastery, praying with the nuns and learning about the Dominican charism. However, I have certain difficulties that have ended up hindering me from becoming a nun or religious sister. It is incredibly difficult to come to terms with the fact that I am just not cut out for it!
I wanted to serve the Lord with everything and with my whole life, and I still do....One thing I've learned, though, is that you have to serve Him in His way, otherwise you are doing your will more than His.
Just wanted to share my story.
I discerned and loved the dominicans as well. I ended up with an amazing husband instead. Truly he is wonderful and it was my deepest desire. You can have a whole interior life and still be married/single. It is lovely to pray all day but sometimes God is not calling you to that. I hear you though, the Dominicans of Hawthorne we just incredible!
Thanks a lot!! I need to hear this
BUT! there? is NO! dom. charism? jellojenna6? BUT? JESUS wants you to be a christian!
I can relate. After two vocation retreats and more recently a visit to a convent - all years apart in my long discernment - I know would be too grieved from missing being out in the world. That’s why I’d have to choose consecration. This video helped me humbly accept my limitation.
Thank you for sharing your experience. God bless 🙏
I made a commitment to work for my non-Catholic ministry full-time However, for the last 4 months, I’ve been drawn to study the. Catholic Faith. ABBA Father, may your Will be done 🙏🏾
You will be so surprised..you will not turn back..or look back. God bless
Praying for you that you choose the path He has for you.
I'm so happy for you! May the Lord guide you and open your heart to listen to Him.
Brow Catholic faith is about humbeling yourself and having a big heart and suffering for others while praying and worship the lord quitely and only the lord knows your 💓
Let the Lord guide you.
I'm going back to this video every now and then. Really helpful and hopeful. Thank you so much! God bless!
I could use some prayer. I am between my life as a protestant and my life as a catholic right now. I have to wait because of COVID but it's needed. Since I was going to school to be a pastor in the protestant world, it only makes sense that now I pursue becoming a priest. Same plan, different church.
I think I'm being lead to the FSSP. I've never once been in a catholic church, but I've seen online the high mass that they do in my area and it's incredible, and the FSSP is very attractive to me in regards to my needs and my desires as a worker for Christ.
That's where I'm at. Since God has lead me to pursue catholicism, my faith has been completely renewed, and so his voice is being heard very strongly. I'm hoping for prayer that I get connected with the parish I will be attending soon, even though COVID is happening. I so desperately want to speak to a learned catholic in person because there isn't a single catholic I know personally. I'm sitting here just waiting for the chance to talk to a catholic who can help me understand what's going on in the masses I keep watching, hoping to be a part of them soon. I just have so many questions and such a huge desire to be with a catholic. Everyone I know right now is either indifferent or keeping their distance from the issue because it isn't easy for them. Talking to someone who can talk back would be such a huge deal for me. Thank you for your prayers. I'm hoping I could get some prayer that I meet with someone from the parish in my area soon.
How wonderful. Stay steadfast in your desire to grow closer to Our Lord and while you wait, I would recommend praying the Holy Rosary. It is a powerful devotion that we use to meditate on the life, death, and glory of Our Lord, Jesus, while asking His Blessed Mother, Our Mother Mary, to pray with us. We meditate on different mysteries of His life to show our love and devotion to all parts of His time on Earth, but also to seek the virtues within the mystery that we can imitate in our own lives while trying to live lives free of sin. There are many good instructionals and beautiful videos to follow along with on TH-cam to help you get started. You will certainly be in my prayers on this. 💗 Dominus vobiscum!
Contact the Catholic Church, you can set up an appointment with the Priest and speak with him. Praying for you in your journey. Catholic Faith is beautiful.
There is book called A Biblical Walk Through The Mass by Edward Sri, published by Ascension. It explains the roots of the Mass, why the Mass is the way it is, & a thorough explanation of each part of the Mass. There are also video installments here on TH-cam of the book, taught by Edward Sri. An online site called Catholic Answers, which has apologists explain things & answer questions, is also another resource; if you read the forums, you will see questions from others who have probably had similar questions as yours. Another very good thing is to watch each day's Mass as if you were in church, right here on EWTN's TH-cam channel. Depending on where you live, perhaps you could have a meeting w/ a priest in an outdoor setting in a garden, wearing masks to be safer from virus? I feel certain any priest would love talking w/ you. Deacons are very helpful as well, many of whom are Spiritual Directors. I'm just a regular ol' Catholic who prays for more people to be part of the Church, & for those who feel a calling to serve. 🙏
Yes praying the rosary, especially all 20 mysteries is very powerful. Blessed are you that are called to priesthood. Meditating and contemplating the mysteries helps you listen to the Holy Spirit inside you.
The Eucharist in the Catholic Church will be your deciding factor!! You + Jesus being offered to God the Father !! All anxieties of the world become as nothing ----- literally exchange of 💓 heart's!
The Spirit of the Lord is upon you God Himself HAS ANOINTED you filling you with His Holy Spirit of Wisdom Love and Healing setting you free and clearing your mind of what is not from Jesus !!🙏🙏
I think a lot of us are attracted to priesthood after the pandemic lockdown, a lot of priest have lost their lifes due to Covid-19. I am sure God will fill those places with young priests, strong and willing to serve Jesus’s herd.
It hit me when you said to be humble enough to admit "can you handle it".... I'm deserning putting my kids back into school from homeschooling. With my weakness.... its taken a toll on my health. I want to homeschool but feel I physically can't anymore. Thank you for helping with my thought process. God bless
Can this be a series? I've been praying so much for this so much. To stop whatever you're doing just to clearly hear, discern, and follow God's will takes patience and humility.
Agreed!! Would love a full series on this.
Me too!
Me too
Yes please a series on this
Suggesting you all check out Fr. Timothy Gallagher’s extensive series on Discernment of Spirits
I have the desire to become a nun. I am praying to God to lead me to the right congregation. 🙏 Sometimes I thought I would want to be a pink sister so I can devote myself into prayer and be separated from the chaos of the world but I realized that God must have made me to become a nurse so I could serve His people. I hope and pray to give my whole life to Him only someday... But Thy will be done...
This is a very important topic.
I would like to see a series on this topic addressing different specific situations of discernment in depth.
I agree. This video was a huge help for me, but having more in depth coverage of discernment processes/fundamentals would probably be pretty helpful.
the guy only does little sound bite videos. lengthy meaningful solid discussions don't happen.
Please pray ! We need to pray for the world. God help us.
I ask in Jesus's Name for prayers of discernment in my life. Thank you. God bless you.
I’m a 26 yr old single women & I know Gods plan is what will make me truly satisfied, happy & fulfilled. It’s definitely a constant battle and at times I feel incredibly lost. I pray rosaries, divine mercy chaplets, try to go to more masses during the week & am trying to learn more about my faith but I still feel lost & that I’m not doing what God wants me to do. I definitely need to put my trust and accept Lords will for my life and to stop worrying and being afraid. (Easier said than done). Praying for all vocations and anyone going through discernment of any kind.
"In accepting my limitations ... it doesn't disappoint God." Wow. I'm sure that's true, but I've never heard it said like that.
This is a huge issue in Protestantism of which I’ve been a part of my whole life. Gods calling is always arbitrary, and there is never anyone can say to you otherwise. For example, I know someone who believes they are called to be a missionary in foreign countries. This person has a wife and 5 children, but they are expected to follow along in the calling, and their needs are secondary to Gods will in this mans life. I’ve seen this scenario played out over and over, to the point that children are being put in harms way or sent to be a sort of missionary of their own because the parents feel God wants them to. And no one can question that God is calling them, because who can question such a thing? I wish there was more common sense in the lives of the many Christians I’ve known.
At the moment i have a strong pull to pray rosary for mothers inpurgatory who had abortions but never confessed it .
Our needs will always be provided for..... our wants will never be satisfied.
God grants your wants if it fits His plan for you and God wants you to have the best. What you want may not necessarily be good for you and He knows it. He will give you more then what you could fathom. Pray, keep your Faith , and He will answer when the time is right. Just be ready to recognize it and go after it when opportunity present itself.
Glad it worked out that way for you then. That's nice.
Im not catholic or even very religious, But I believe in God, and Jesus. Ive seen evil, real true evil. And Im very poor, bad health kinda at only 40, So I cant afford a vehicle to get to a church way out here in the country, hard to get a ride anyway. Its difficult. Anyway's Mark is real wise and give's great advice, life advice.Not just Spiritual.. Great video's
This I don’t understand. Due to this pandemic our finances was down and our bills pile up. But this PEACE that i am feeling is awesome.
Asking for prayers, my heart doesn’t know what to choose currently.
I’ve never been so early for an ascension presents video!
that most be incredibly exciting
I was so taken up by that talk I actually felt like I was sitting in the same room as you and that you were talking only to me. Thank you Fr. You're very easy to listen to. Your message is clear. God bless you too.
Thank you for this video. For me, even the word ‘discern’ is just painful. It’s hard to understand that He cares about my desires-I just want to be pleasing to Him and be a good daughter. Knowing that what I want and like plays a part with everything else has always been an obstacle for me.
@Christos The Lords understanding is beyond all human understanding, be the best you can be in life, we all know right from wrong, this gives you your morals and integrity, not to worry he does truly love you !!! We make mistakes in life, and we learn from them, he understands this completely, many blessings to you!!! P.S. your desires are from the Lord he gives them to you, and your hopes and dreams!
Just as a loving earthly father wants to bless his children, so to, how much more does our infinitely loving Heavenly Father love you and want to bless you! You are His beloved daughter and He cares about every detail of your life 💕
Christos I’m not sure I understand what you mean. Do you mean feeling like you keep misunderstanding Him when you try to be faithful to a desire He puts in your heart, or like you’re not sure which desires are from Him and which are disordered and need healing and refocusing? I’ve felt those before!
Chaplain Chris Thank you for the blessings! And thank you for the kind words and reassurances-they are much appreciated. :) I think it’s because I’m still trying to heal from a mindset of wanting/feeling like I have to be perfect in order to be loved, or wanting to be worthy of receiving such love. I know it’s a gift and I can’t earn it, that no one can earn such a gift. I guess I’m just one of His kids who yearns to give Him back a gift of love as well. Abba bless you too! Take care 😊
The Diaz Family Thank you for that reminder. 🌻 I think you raise a very good point on earthly parents, who are the first reflection of our Loving Abba. Earthly parents aren’t perfect, no matter how hard they try for their children (or don’t try), and I think there’s probably an aspect of fatherhood and/or motherhood we all have to learn about and experience from Abba Himself. Being the oldest I’m used to giving up desires for my siblings and used to taking on the brunt of expectations and traditions. It’s hard for me to voice what I want sometimes to others without feeling incredibly selfish, and even to discern what my desires are, since I always end up overthinking and wondering if it’s okay to want anything. I think in that sense I am so used to being an independent person and taking care of others that in some ways I’ve forgotten how to be a child and how to ask for things I want and voice my feelings. Voicing out feelings has usually if not always resulted in them being brushed off or being logically whittled down to being foolish. Ack, sorry for my long reply!! But yes, I know that Abba smiles tenderly at me and walks with me every step of the way to learning more about Him. 😊 Abba bless you and take care!!
Thank you so much for saying that we need to know that being honest about our limitations doesn’t disappoint God. What a kindness for you to remind us of that. Thank you.
Thanks for your videos brother. I'm not Catholic but the day is coming soon when divisions between denominations will disappear. Jesus is King!
God is ALWAYS talking!
Few choose to listen...
Hey Father Mark-Mary,
I am currently obtaining my GED and eventually going to enter Seminary to become a Priest. 😀
I humbly ask of your prayers so that I may obtain my GED (Pass it the First time) and be accepted into seminary for studies.
Thank you Fr. Mark-Mary
Your little Brother,
Andrew Iverson
Former Franciscan Brother
Fr. Mark Mary, you'll be a wonderful priest. You are so good at explaining things in the simplest terms. Reading God's Word and praying the Rosary is my daily routine. God bless you and keep you safe down in Honduras. You are doing His work and He will bless you richly.
I love how practical these videos can be. I’m a mom of seven, so the practical implementation of these ideas is clutch.
I wish the world worked like this... People honouring their commitments.
“The cry of the poor” 🙏🏽♥️
Thank you for such a useful video! Right now I've lived in isolation in my hometown for almost a decade, and now I felt like I was called to move one hour away, with good Christian friends where there are a lot more church opportunities but also a higher crime rate. I don't want to be that person that stays inside her bubble and doesn't live the life God wants me to. My prison has gotten too comfortable! Discernment! Amen!
This was perfect in my struggle to figure out what God wants me to do vs what I want me to do. He could not have made it more clear for me. Thank you!
This is wonderful, thank you so much Father Mark-Mary!
I started reading my Bible yesterday (been reading so much other Catholic books) its the Ignatius study Bible with commentary Scott Hahn (and even read the foot notes commentary) thank you so much again for the video. It spoke to me immensely! Even have the Saint Joseph edition New American Bible to compare. BOOM! Im starting from the beginning of the New Testament.
Thank you Fr. Mark-Mary....what you have said connected with the Word of God that i read few minutes ago....The world is in chaos right now and we need to focus on God to be able to survive both spiritually and physical. Amen.
One must stay committed to life learned lessons & overcome all obstacles, limiting one's closeness to God.
Wow. I want to be/think/learn like YOU now, and have been feeling that since I first heard you speak. Thanks you SO much. God bless you.
JESUS CHRIST bless!!! Awesome vid as always!
Thanks Father!
I've always wanted to be a wife, mother and nun... but feels like God is saying "no"...for all of them, at least for now. 😬
1. Purity of intentions
2. Capacity to become
3. Capacity to remain
Don't worry. It will work out. God bless you.
@@chefEmersonWilliams Thank you! God bless you too!
Please pray that the government forgive all navient college loans for struggling legal law-abiding Americans. Thanks and God bless you 😘
Thank you for this wonderful video Father! It was all great information, but what especially stood out to me is when you said to consider the needs of the poor....I dont remember anyone else suggesting to do that with discernment...so important! Thank you!!
I love this guy and his videos
Thanks Father Mark. I’m 58 years old and the last one really me hit hard. I can give a lot more to the poor and needy.
Thank you for your guidance, your clarity! This helped me SOOO much! May God Bless you!
"Be honest about your limitations" . Great advice. Thank you, Fr. Mark Mary.
Fr Mark, watching You mature in your video presence has been awesome. I’ve become a real fan of your videos. From someone educated by Jesuits, being a fan of a Franciscan is saying a lot! Haha!! Keep up the great work father! Vivat Jesus
The concept of "capacities" is important. I am so much happier when I recognize I have limited capacities.
Thank you Fr. Mark-Mary for your teachings.
Some people do not give any thoughts of what they are going to do and it hurts them and others, while some give too much thinking and in the end achieve nothing because they want to secure everything.
Please help us with your prayers too Fr. Mark-Mary, may we are all led by the Holy Spirit always, God bless and thank you.
To repeatedly say ( thereby hammer breaking- up the rock/ problem)
" The Spirit of the Lord is upon me God Himself HAS ANOINTED me He has filled me with His Holy Spirit of Wisdom, Love and Healing setting me free of all negativity blocking what's God's plan for me"
Thank You Jesus for hearing our prayer 🙏
your so wise, I love monks, God Bless you this talks are wonderful
God has opened my mind to understand things that others have labored to discover but failed to, but God opened the path towards knowledge for me in such a way that I can receive understanding that is for me alone, I am not even able to share it with others apart from that God does it and it is amazing
Thank you, Father Mark Mary, all your videos are so thoughtful - I want to do God's will for me - I want to hear him so I'm going to read the bible and listen.
Thank you Father Mark-Mary. your guidance on discernment really clarified the issue for me.
Great Video! Thank you for sharing!!
Thanks. Your advise on how to make better decisions couldn’t have come at a better time in my life.
This was beautiful Fr Mark-Mary
Boy this is timely for me. Thank you
I very much appreciate Fr Mark-Mary tackling this very challenging and pressing topic. One note on commitments: From my own experience, I will add that sometimes we get ourselves into commitments that were not required of us to do. Consequently, we get bogged down by a sense of duty fulfilling a commitment that is not ours to fulfill. Plus, sometimes we get saddled with commitments imposed on us by others that were improperly laid on our shoulders. For these two cases, I think, if we sense we have a calling from God to live another sort of life, then we should not deny that calling on account of these sorts of commitments. Certainly, in some cases, we have a responsibility to complete a commitment or at least provide for its completion. But if we are called by God to do something else, then nothing should stop us.
Thank you 😊
Thank you so much for your amazing advice. The Lord is truly within you. May Jesus Christ be with us all! 💛
Thank you. 🙏
Amazing video! You definitely swim well in the waters of this topic. It is perfect guidance. God Bless you Father Mark Mary
Good 5 step process. But I think when we Catholics hear 'poor and needs of the world' we are thinking of the physically poor etc. But right now, the world is SPIRITUALLY poor. If there are enough Americans serving full time as priests, religious, campus missionaries etc, please send some to Asia.
Awesome words!!!
I have literally been waiting for a video like this !!
Very helpful to me on a personal level. Thank you!
So helpful.
Thank you..
Discerning about taking my in-laws in since I already have my dad with us
So helpful, thank you!
Thank you for your wisdom!
Well explained.
So helpful, thank you. Working on discernment lately, maybe not as hard a I should, for my career path.
This is no. 1 Your best video!
Great advice! I needed to hear this.
thank you father!!
Im happy that I finded this channel
Fr Mark Mary, u r awesome!! Bless u!!
Thank you
Thank you so much Father.
That was amazing!!
I enjoyed it
Thankyou!!
Thank you Father Mark-Mary.
Thank you. Sometimes we need to break things down.
Thank you for your words. I always want to follow the Lord and ask for His mercy in leading me on the right path but sometimes I get in his way.
Thank you for unraveling confusion.
I really needed this! Thank you.
Thank you. This video is on point and real-world useful
Love Father Mark-Mary. 🙏
Very helpful, thank you
Thank you Father🙏🏻🕊🔥
REALLY enjoyed this. Thank you Father! God Bless...
Great advice, simple and straightforward. Thank you.
I love you, Fr. Mark-Mary
Thank you from a Protestant in NC.
Thank you for this beautiful video, Fr. Mark!!🙏🏾🙏🏾
Wow fantastic video. Very clear, exactly what I need right now
Thank you Father, very helpful!
Thank you for sharing your insights! Very informative! God bless you and your vocation. Thank you for being faithful to your calling!
This was *wonderful*, thank you Fr. Mark-Mary!