Spiritual discernment

Janette Denley asks: Whose work are we doing?

by Janette Denley 2nd September 2016

As Quakers, our Society cannot function effectively until each member and attender understands fully, and is both willing and able, to practice spiritual discernment.

Whilst of late the word discernment has been written, spoken about and quoted on many occasions, there seems to be little awareness of what it means and how it is practised. The dictionary definition, and that of Roget’s Thesaurus, refers to it as discrimination, which is acceptable at a human level, but lacking when applying to that of the Spirit, and when sought by Friends trying to find what God needs of us in the work He has planned for us, and in our testing of concerns at all levels.