Running Head: SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT AND VOCATIONAL COUNSELLING 1

Spiritual Discernment and Vocational Counselling Paper

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SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT AND VOCATIONAL COUNSELLING 2

Introduction

Selecting careers is one of the significant decisions student make in order to shape their

future. This specific decision is meant to influence them throughout their lives. The spirit of

making decisions upon multiple students revolve around what they want to be in future. In this

circumstance, it has emerged as one of the major challenges encountering high school students in

shaping their future (Bieber, 2010). The process of decision making becomes more vital over

oncoming years as the students are encountered with decisions about career, marriage, transfer to

a new place and particular job prospects. However, the discernment process becomes more

difficult for Christian youth who wishes to make decisions that are in agreement with God’s will.

Thus, massive numerous of Christian students are quite open to God’s guidance in their lives but

frequently become confused about how to discern what precisely God demands them to do

(Horton, 2010). This precise paper is meant to describe prayer, recognizing strengths and talents,

guidance of Holy Spirit and reading biblical scriptures, as the major factors that facilitates godly

decisions. It will also explore spiritual discernment using the Bull’s-Eye Approach. Additionally,

this paper will include my past and present experiences of discernment, practical application

about interacting with a client who is struggling to make decision in accordance to God’s will

and my personal position of this client’s plea. Most of the discussion will be based from the

Dennis Horton’s article.

Heading One: Personal Position

Based on the survey in Horton’s article, the factors that are very important to me when

making Godly career choices includes prayer, knowing my strengths, guidance of Holy Spirit

and reading biblical scriptures. While making career and personal decisions that are in

accordance with your personality and God’s will, one should pray for wisdom from God so that
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he or she can make wise decisions (Horton, 2010). Prayer can be defined as the communication

process that enables us to talk to God. To most of the people, prayer seems difficult, but it is

simply communicating with God. It is being in the point where individuality is put aside, faith is

raised and demands are made. Prayer is the foundation, source and origin of several blessings. In

this circumstance, when one is communicating with God, there is admission of requirements and

wishes, which makes one to ask assistance from God. Prayer is so crucial to everyone that God’s

requires us to do on the earth, and it is so significant to us, that He commands us to do it every

now and then. According to the Holy bible, we note that payer restrained the strength of fire

during the times of Meshach, Shandrack and Abednego. Prayer offers us a prospect to be in

touch with God after confessing our sins through his son, Jesus Christ our savior. Without any

doubt, prayer offers us help, peace of mind, knowledge, strength, gratitude and guidance. We

always pray since we know that God hears us and because we aspire to witness impacts. Mostly,

prayer alters the one praying because in prayer, you are in manifestation of God and as you bow

before Him, your general self is confessed. The Bible enlighten us in James 5:16 that the

heartfelt prayer of a righteous man make incredible power active in its working. Prayer its all

about earnestness of heart and putting the entire heart into it (Holy Bible: The new King James

version., 1982).

In fact, knowing your strengths, skills, abilities and personal achievements is a critical

factor while making Godly career decisions. Many career professionals always applaud choosing

a career that applies your strengths. Some of the strengths make tasks almost natural, simple and

realistic (Bieber, 2010). The point is that you can continue to accomplish and construct your

skills throughout your life. A number of students may not recognize their strengths and others do

not like talking about their strengths. Others may also think that they do not possess any of the
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strengths. It is significant to recognize your own strengths, deliberate about how you can relate

them in your career and discuss them with your mentors. In this case, identifying and using your

strengths will enable you to accomplish your goals and stay motivated. It is significant to

recognize what you enjoy doing, things that you excellently perform, and experiences or

occasions that makes you feel motivated and that you love them (Horton, 2010). Meaningfully, I

value considering the talents, strengths and natural strengths that God gave me and accepting the

effects of those gifts to the needs of those around me. In the main, we are enabled to adore our

God, treasure every person and work for the world.

Furthermore, guidance of Holy Spirit and reading biblical scriptures contributes in

making Godly decisions. The scriptures articulates us to ask for wisdom and He will give it to us.

Those who are guided by the spirit of God are considered sons of God. The Holy Spirit acts as a

helper, and teaches us all things and guides us into all truth. It has been my personal experience

that the moment I ask God for wisdom and waited on Him, He has always guided me. The bibles

tells us in James 1:5 that, every person who lacks wisdom, let him pray for it from God, who

provides kindly to everyone without reproof, and he will be provided. Considerate of God’s word

can helps us discern whether our yearnings originate from the Holy Spirit or not. Similarly, Matt.

7:7 encourages us to ask, it will be given to us, to seek, we will find, to knock, and it will be

opened to you. For everyone who asks gets, and the one who try to find treasures and to the one

who knocks it will be opened (Holy Bible: The new King James version., 1982). Not discerning

the uniformity of our choices with the personality of Christ opens the door to insincerity. I

personally give my best determination to be sincere while making decisions (Bieber, 2010).

Based on these factors, I consider Bull’s-Eye Approach to spiritual discernment, as

described by Horton. The reason I consider this approach is that it speculates God as the source
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of flawless detailed plan for every person and seeks to disclose that plan to one who believes in

Him. Regardless of the various designations, the aim of this approach remains is to discern

God’s comprehensive plan and then do according to it. Prayer is the foundation, source and

origin of knowing God’s detailed plan. In this case, determining the perfect decision between

superficially good options, Christians always pray for particular answers or guidance from God.

The Holy Spirit acts as a helper, and teaches us all things and guides us into the God’s plan

(Horton, 2010). Validation of the right decision may come naturally; provided by the Holy Spirit.

At other moments, the guidance may happen through an external sign or conceivably a blend of

prayer and Holy Spirit.

Heading Two: Past and Present Influences

Upon consideration, I really cannot think of much in my past that had an influence on my

approach to spiritual discernment. Trusting, praying, asking guidance from God, and acquiring

advice from my family have been a massive influence on the person that I am today. It has been

my personal experience that the moment I ask God for wisdom and waited on Him, He has

always guided me. A time in significant decision-making occasions, I have been making hasty

decisions and end up regretting those choices. Humbleness allows me to prepare my heart to be

ready for the guidance and wisdom that comes directly from God. My life was completely

altered when I began believing and trusting in God. At first, it was very hard to adapt a spiritual

life but the moment I started confessing my sins daily, praying constantly and fasting, my life has

not been the same again. Through prayers, I seek clarity and wisdom from God in order to

discern whatever choice I make is pleasing in the presence of God. Without any doubt, having a

prayer life have contributed a lot in making crucial decisions in my life.

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However, my family have offered me the lessons and values that guide me through life.

Since all of them are well spiritually, physically and financially informed, their lessons and

values have taught me to try my best, putting in mind that I can accomplish anything as far as I

follow my dreams. The moment that I have been low, my family has continuously been there for

me and has often enabled me to make right decisions. For instance, when I was a little child, I

desired to be a real and true worshipper. As years advanced, I improved a lot and I started to

train with the worshippers’ team of our church. Since that moment, I have worked firmer to

achieve the goal of becoming one of true and prosperous believers. My parents have always been

there for me via every step and have supported me via the entire process. Currently, I have been

appointed as the leader of the worshippers’ team in our church and this is what that have been

motivating me to make other crucial career decisions in my life. Overall, prayers and advice

from my family is what that have enabled me to create my real personality even when everything

looks to be set in stone.

Heading Three: Practical Application

According to my client, she is a Christian and in her third year of undergraduate, she is

having problem in choosing a career that is accordance to God’s will. This is not the first

moment I have witnessed such a case. The steps that I will take to help her navigate this impasse

is by making her desire wisdom and encourage her to pray frequently. Few seem to notice,

because Christians have been conditioned by years of noncritical and superficial teaching

(Gallagher, 2015). However, lack of spiritual discernment is what have caused many Christians

to make wrong career decisions in their life. Spiritual discernment is the key factor that can help

my client not to struggle while making career decisions. Primarily, the foremost step to help this

client is by encouraging and making her desire wisdom. In Proverbs 2:3-6, the bible tells us that,
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cry for discernment; lift your voice for knowledge, if you search for Him as silver, and seek Him

as for hidden treasures, then you will recognize the fear of the Lord and find the understanding of

God. For the Lord provides wisdom, from his mouth come considerate and knowledge (Holy

Bible: The new King James version., 1982). Thus unless the client is willing to observe all things

carefully, she cannot hope to have any defense against making ungodly career decisions.

It is important to note that no one has a control on truth. This means that I do not have

consistent solutions within myself and my heart is as vulnerable to self-deception as anyone’s is.

This is true to all of us regardless of how we are. Our solitary defense against making wrong

decisions is to be discerning, to examine all things, to test our deeds in accordance to scriptures,

to misgive our own emotions, to handle the word of God with great care and to hold our own

senses suspect. Al the same, after desiring wisdom, prayer is the key to make all things happen to

this client. Prayer, of course, naturally follows aspiration, and it acts as the expression of the

heart’s desire to God. First Kings 3:9 states that, give your servant a considerate heart to judge

your people to discern between good and evil (Norton, 2010). Without any doubt, prayer offers

us help, peace of mind, knowledge, strength, gratitude and guidance. When Solomon was asked

by God to say anything that he wants, he asked for wisdom and discernment. It was pleasing in

the presence of God that Solomon asked discernment and wisdom. However, contemporary

evangelism concentrated with self-esteem has produced a generation of Christians that are so

self-absorbed, thus unless you pray for guidance and counselling, you cannot discern (Bieber,

2010). In other words, their interest in spiritual things is concentrated on self, such that they are

interested only in getting their own felt desires fulfilled. Hence, prayer and desire for wisdom is

two key ingredients that can help my client to make right career decisions in accordance to God’s

will.
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Since I strongly believe in prayers, this is the key factor that can influence me to address

this client’s concerns. While making career and personal decisions that are in accordance with

your personality and God’s will, the client should pray for wisdom from God so that she can

make Godly decisions. Prayer is so essential to everyone that God’s requires us to do on the

earth, and it is so important to us, that He command us to do it every day in our activities. We

always pray since we know that God hears us and because we aspire to witness significances. It

has been my personal experience that the moment I ask God for wisdom and waited on Him, He

has always guided me. Mostly, prayer changes the one praying because in prayer since you are in

manifestation of God and as you bow before Him, your general self is confessed. Therefore, this

personal position and experience is what can enable me to address this client’s concerns.
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References

Bieber, N. (2010). Decision-making & spiritual discernment: The sacred art of finding your way.

Woodstock, Vt: SkyLight Paths Pub.

Gallagher, T. M. (2015). Discerning the will of god: An ignatian guide for spiritual directors.

S.l.: Crossroad.

Holy Bible: The new King James version. (1982). Nashville: T. Nelson.

Horton, D. (2010). Discerning Spiritual Discernment: Assessing Current Approaches for

Understanding God’s Will. The Journal of Youth Ministry, 18(4), 7-31.

doi:10.330339/38605763.2010.844106

Norton, D. (2010). The King James Bible: A short history from Tyndale to today. Cambridge:

Cambridge University Press.