Leadership and Discernment

Leadership requires discernment. Discernment requires intentionality, time, and accountability. We cannot simply discern for the moment if we have not been practicing discernment as a lifestyle. We cannot just call for prayer and fasting to discern God's will for one day while our general practice is to do whatever we want at any time we want. Depending on the gravity of the situation or concern, we may need to spend ample time to discern God's will. But if we are rushing or cramming, we may not be able to discern anything. We will just decide based on logic rather than true discernment. Last but not least, discernment is done with accountability to soul friends or companions. We do it before we make a decision, while we are making the decision, and after we've made the decision. If we are making major decisions without accountability, it only shows we are bent on doing our own will rather than God's will.

Discernment requires intentionality. This means that discernment requires training as a lifestyle. We cannot simply devote a day (or even several days) to discern God's will if we have not been doing it as a lifestyle. Jesus did promise in ‭John 10:3-5, "[3] The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. [4] When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. [5] But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” But this presupposes that we are His "sheep" who "listens". Listening to His voice requires intentionality just as listening to anyone requires intentionality. We have to learn that discipline over time. That in turn requires discipleship. Jesus said in ‭John 10:27, "[27] My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." Also, he said in ‭John 8:31-32, "[31] ...“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. [32] Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” To become familiar with God's voice, we need to practice discernment in our daily lives, and that requires intentionality.

Discernment requires time. Depending on the gravity of the situation, we may need to spend ample time to wait upon the Lord in order to hear His voice clearly. We cannot rush it. Sometimes, when we don't have clarity or peace concerning the decision, we may need to extend the time necessary to discern well. What we must not do is to take action before we can have assurance in our hearts that we have discerned God's wisdom.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "[5] Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; [6] in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." To submit to Him, we have to present to Him the decision that we are facing before we take action. Unless we are making a moral decision, all other decisions will require God's wisdom instead. Moral decisions simply require that we know God's moral will as revealed in the Bible. Once revealed, we have no other choice but to obey the Lord immediately and by faith. For all other decisions that Scripture does not address directly, we need God's wisdom instead. Normally, God will not tell us what to do but He will reveal His heart intentions concerning the matter. In some rare cases, He may tell us directly what He would want us to do through special guidance often without logical precedence. In that case, we must obey the Lord. But when there is no specific guidance, we must rely on the basic principles of discernment, which may include common sense and logic as well. Ignatius of Loyola gives helpful guidance concerning this situation.

Now, we need to be careful when it comes to pseudo guidance that is based on divine determinism. Usually, people will reason like this: "If it is not God's will, it will not happen." Or, "Since this or that happened, it must be God's will." This is a common misunderstanding when it comes to discerning God's will. It is based on the assumption that God controls everything, and therefore everything that happens is God's will. This is most certainly true if we are referring to God's sovereignty or after everything has been said and done on our part. In that sense, everything that has happened is God's will. But when it comes to actual discernment, this view absolves us of the responsibility to become mature children of God in our decision making. When it comes to God's sovereign will, we can take note of ‭Deuteronomy 29:29: "[29] The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law." God's sovereign will belong to the "secret things" mentioned in this passage. We cannot know it unless after the fact, i.e., after it has happened. The things revealed, on the other hand, are for us. We can know them and discern them by God's grace.

Finally, we must remember that discernment requires accountability. We need others to validate what we believe is God's will for us. This is also the reason why we need teachers and mentors who can help us discern God's will for us through the Scriptures. In writing to his disciple Timothy, the apostle Paul says in ‭2 Timothy 3:14-17, "[14] But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, [15] and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. [16] All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, [17] so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

We need to have spiritual friends, companions, or directors to help us to discern God's will. Consult with them whenever you feel that God is leading you toward a certain decision. Do not run ahead and take action without talking with and listening to those who are ahead of you and are walking in the ways of Jesus. Learn to wait upon the Lord. They will not tell you what to do (for that is not their role if they are true to their calling). They will simply ask you questions to ponder upon or consider so that you will not go ahead based on your thoughts, feelings, or desires alone. Even after you have made your decision, it's good to remain in contact with them for accountability. Negative or positive consequences can easily mislead us into thinking wrongly about God's will. When we are fully invested in our decision making, sometimes our pride blinds us to the reality of God's corrective guidance. We need to be continually open, and even indifferent when it comes to our preferences, while pursuing what we believe is God's will for us.

This way of discerning God's will is wonderfully shown to us by the apostle Paul and his companions in ‭Acts 16:6-10, "[6] Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. [7] When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. [8] So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. [9] During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” [10] After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them."

Notice the plural pronoun in this passage. Paul was not the only one discerning God's will in this situation. He and his companions were prayerfully listening to God's guidance. Again, we see the same thing in ‭Acts 13:1-3, "[1] Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. [2] While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” [3] So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off."

So, discernment is needed in effective leadership (as well as in discipleship and spiritual formation in general). Discernment must be intentional. It must be part of our lifestyle. It takes time to discern certain matters, especially if they are crucial or significant. Last but not least, discernment requires accountability. To be an effective leader, we must learn how to discern God's will together with others.