Spiritual discernment is a crucial aspect of the Christian life that involves the ability to distinguish between what is true and what is false, what is good and what is evil, and what is of God and what is of the devil. It is a process of seeking guidance from God through prayer, studying the Bible, and listening to the Holy Spirit. The importance of spiritual discernment lies in the fact that it helps believers to avoid deception and falsehood, stay on the path of righteousness, and make wise decisions that honor God. In the history of the church, one man named Ignatius of Loyola offered wise counsel concerning spiritual discernment. He calls them Rules of Discernment. I want to go through these "rules" and offer my personal reflections as a pastor. Join me as we talk about these matters of the soul so that we can grow in faith together.

A home is a crucial place for spiritual formation, where parents can create an environment that nurtures their children's faith through practices like prayer and reading the Bible together. By doing so, children can develop a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives, and families can make a positive impact on their communities. Let's talk about this.

The Bible is very important for our spiritual walk and growth. Unfortunately, not everyone has an easy time reading or studying the Bible. Many people struggle due to language barriers, lack of access, or simply not having the time to study it. Despite these struggles, there are ways to overcome them.

Practicing true repentance is a critical part of spiritual and relational growth, leading to peace, healing, spiritual growth, and a more fulfilling life. It involves acknowledging wrongdoing, feeling genuine remorse, confessing sin, making a sincere effort to change, seeking forgiveness, and cultivating a heart of gratitude, humility, and compassion. It's more than just saying, "I'm sorry."

Spiritual discernment helps us to understand the meaning and significance of events, experiences, and encounters. Noticing and evaluating our emotional responses to them are the building blocks of true spiritual discernment. This helps us in making decisions, solving problems, and navigating difficult situations. Taking the time to discern the convergence between them helps us to identify patterns, recognize God's leading, and draw meaningful conclusions toward a more faithful response.

God called us and saved us so that we may experience real life in Christ. Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10) Unfortunately, many followers of Christ today are not experiencing this. They are looking forward to it in the next life someday but not now. How can we experience real life today?

You probably have heard the saying, "You are free to choose but you are not free to choose the consequences." This is especially true when it comes to our choices regarding Jesus. Whether we believe and follow Him or not is our choice. But we cannot escape the consequences if we choose the latter rather than the former.

Our desires are important. But we must learn how to discern them.

Choosing between a vocation or a career is an important matter of the soul. Most of us decide on these matters without discerning God's will.

Yes, it is our 25th anniversary! As we remember what has happened to us so far over the past 25 years, it is good to thank God for His grace. We have so many fond memories. But we also have not-so-good memories, events, and experiences, that we may want to forget rather than remember. Can we still give thanks even though they are not so good? How?