56. Q&A: God's Direction or My Own Desire? Discern His Will in Opportunities and Relationships

In today’s episode, I explore the essential topic of discernment in faith. How can we truly know if an opportunity, relationship, or experience is from God? I share personal stories, including moments of both excitement and disappointment, and how these experiences have taught me to trust God’s timing and direction more fully.

Tune in as I discuss practical ways to recognize God’s guidance, make aligned choices, and deepen your relationship with Him.

Key Points for Discerning God’s Will

1. Prayer and Seeking Guidance
Begin with prayer and an open heart. Ask God to reveal His direction and be willing to hear His answer, even if it requires letting go of personal plans. (Philippians 1:9-10)
2. Scripture Alignment
Ensure your decisions align with biblical principles. God’s Word provides wisdom and a clear standard, guiding us back to His character. (Isaiah 30:21)
3. The Fruit of the Spirit
Assess the results of your choices: do they bring peace, joy, and other fruits of the Spirit? True guidance from God leads to positive spiritual growth. (Galatians 5:22-23)
4. Peace and Conviction
Pay attention to inner peace. God’s peace often confirms His will, while unease or conviction can signal the need to pause and reassess. (Philippians 4:7)
5. Wise Counsel
Seek advice from trusted mentors or fellow believers. Gaining perspective from others can reveal angles you hadn’t considered. (Proverbs 15:22)
6. Long-term Perspective
Look at situations over time rather than rushing. God’s plans often become clearer with patience and consistency. (Proverbs 4:18)
7. Desire for God’s Will
Be honest about your motivations, allowing God to refine your intentions. True alignment with God’s will brings fulfillment beyond personal ambition. (Proverbs 16:2; Psalm 139:23-24)
8. Testing the Spirit
Test feelings and messages to ensure they align with Scripture and God’s character, protecting against influences that lead us away from Him. (1 John 4:1)

Call to Action

Feeling unsure about a decision? Write down your questions this week and pray over them. Share in the comments what resonated with you about discerning God’s will, or email me at hello@alexandraalvarezcoaching.com. You can also join the conversation in our Facebook group for additional encouragement and support.

If you’re looking to deepen your relationship with Christ but aren’t sure where to begin, book a free 15-minute Discovery Call with me at bit.ly/curiousforchristdiscovery.

Closing Verse:
Proverbs 3:5-6 - “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Thanks for listening! Your support means the world. Join our Curious for Christ Facebook Group and become an Insider for weekly inspiration and encouragement.

Transcript

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Welcome back at Curious for Christ Wednesday Q& A. This week I will be answering the question, is it from God and how do I find out? This topic is one of discernment, my friends, and so we will be discussing what discernment means, some practical ways that we can find out and discern whether Something that happens, a relationship, an opportunity is from God, and then we'll wrap it up. I have had moments when I felt unsure if something was from God. Just recently, I got a casting request for a commercial in London that was set to shoot during my birthday week. It felt like a gift from God. So I poured my heart into the audition. I was convinced that he, God, was opening a door. But when the callback never came, I must admit, I was disappointed, and I questioned even if I knew what was from God anymore. But then when I reflected on that experience and gave it to God. I see that God showed me something deeper. I realized I hadn't fully surrendered my acting, my passion for acting and my acting dreams to Him. I was holding back in my business a little bit, hoping that acting would bring some success too. And through this casting experience, Letting go of my plans and trusting his timing is where I'll find real peace. And he needs to show that to me over and over. That is why it's so important to be grounded in God. Also, there were moments in my marriage when I misjudged my husband's intention. After talking with friends and a counselor, I realized I was seeing through a lens of Past hurts, not truth. But as I chose trust, my perspective and our connection shifted. I could see his side and the whole picture better. So let's go and let's explore together the importance of discernment. Welcome to curious for Christ. Do you ever find yourself lying awake at night? Wondering about God's plan for your life. Maybe you wake up with big dreams, but feel unsure where to start or what your next step should be. If you're curious about exploring your faith and finding purpose, then you've come to the right place. Hi, I'm Monica, Sandra. I too felt lost unsure of the direction my life was taking. I yearned to understand my purpose and have someone guide me. But I kept telling myself I was too busy, the timing wasn't right. And my lack of clarity prevented me from being consistent until I found Christ. He brought peace into my life and we field the way to find purpose by anchoring myself. In him. In this podcast, we'll journey together, exploring the Bible to gain a deeper understanding of him. and cultivate your own personal relationship with Christ. So open up your Bible, put in those ear buds and listen up because God is speaking to you. He is making everything new and you don't want to miss it. Let's get started. Discernment is crucial for a faithful life. As Christians, we definitely need to align our lives with God's purpose, or we may go astray and never find out what his plan and purpose is for us. We want to make sure we recognize his voice among all the others, all of the noise. And not everything that seems good is from God. There are counterfeit blessings or distractions that seem great but are a shortcut to God's plan. They speak to our desire to get what we want in our own timing. It is a shortcut and these false promises over promise, but always under deliver. So if we are not ready, we will end up having to go do that thing again with God this time. And so why not start right away, the right way. Discernment is not about making decisions only, it is also about deepening our relationship with God. James 1 verse 5 says, If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. So this definitely encourages us to ask for wisdom from God who is eager to provide it. It's a reminder that we don't have to make decisions alone, and it encourages us to ask God for wisdom when we lack wisdom. Segment two, what are some practical steps for discernment? I have eight, and they're all equally important. It's not just one over the other. They all will help you discern better. So number one, prayer and seeking guidance. It's very crucial to present all of our questions to God in prayer and seek his direction. We also need to pray with an open heart and an open mind. Philippians 1, verses 9 through 10 says, And I pray this, that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless to others. In the day of Christ. So pray. Number two, scripture alignment. We need to check whether the situation we are facing aligns with biblical principles. Here is a great scripture here from Isaiah 30 verse 21. It says, whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, this is the way. walk in it. God's nature can help us discern his guidance. So make sure to go to the bible and research for examples or scriptures related to what you're going through. Number three, the fruit of the spirit. We can evaluate the outcome based of a situation of how we're feeling or what it is bringing in to our lives based on the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5 verses 22 and 23. When I feel restless, I know I may be outside of God's boundaries for me right now. With my business, for instance, I'm constantly adjusting my posture. Am I ahead of God? What is the fruit in this decision? Am I glad? Am I joyful? I am where God wants me to be right now. How can I find peace in? Which leads me to number four, peace and conviction. So inner peace can often be a gentle confirmation from God that we're aligned with his will. This peace is not just an absence of stress or worry, but a profound sense of calm and assurance that remains even in uncertain or challenging situation. In Philippians 4 verse 7, It speaks to this. God's peace transcends all understanding. Meaning, it doesn't always have to make sense, given our circumstances. But yet, it reassures us that we are where we're meant to be and it will be okay. Let's talk about inner peace and confirmation. When we make decisions or seek direction, experiencing deep abiding peace can be an indicator that we're following God's guidance. Feeling an unease or conviction, on the other hand, can serve as a warning or correction. The Holy Spirit may use a sense of discomfort or restlessness or even gentle conviction to alert us that something is amiss. And when we feel uneasy about a decision, it may indicate that we need to pause, to pray, to reassess. In John 16 verse 8, Jesus tells us that the Spirit convicts us. of sin and righteousness, helping us discern right from wrong. So if we're moving away from God's will, that conviction can feel like a tension or a resistance. We always have to align with God's word, of course, be in prayer and asking advice. All these go hand in hand. So, talking about asking advice, number five, wise counsel. It's very important to seek advice from trusting believers and mentors. In Proverbs 15, verse 22, it says, My husband and I, we rely a lot on advice for our marriage, our finances, our children, our temptations, I mean pretty much everything. And the ultimate decision of course is ours, but I think that just that, God has blessed it. just seeking advice because it has allowed us to be consistent, to have more peace, more confidence we felt also more equipped to make decisions that were not easy. And so God blesses when we are humble and we seek others advice. Number six, long term perspective. When discerning God's guidance, it's helpful to evaluate situations over time. Rather than rushing to decisions based on temporary emotions, we can observe how things unfold and whether peace remains as we continue seeking God. So often decisions that align with his will bring clarity and confirmation constantly over the long term, rather than just in fleeting moments. And so, it is a walk, and by walking closely with God and making choices in line with His Word, we find that our path gradually becomes clearer. As Proverbs 4, verse 18 says, The path of the righteous is like a morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. So, consistent alignment with God's will doesn't always bring instant answers, but it builds a foundation of peace and purpose that grows stronger over time. So, number seven, desire for God's will. We must align our hearts with God's desires. And that means prioritizing His purposes over our own ambitions. And this is important because true fulfillment comes from living out His plans rather than pursuing personal goals that might not align with His will. So, being honest about our motivations is very crucial. It helps us recognize if we're seeking self interest or genuinely desiring God's best and trusting in that. So, we need to take the time to pray and reflect, on what areas where our will may need to surrender to His. Proverbs 16 verse 2 says, All a person's ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. God knows the true intentions behind our actions. Being honest about our motivations allows us to align our goals with His will. And Psalm 139 verses 23 and 24 says, Search me, God, and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. This prayer invites God to reveal any wrong motivations within us, and to guide us toward His eternal purposes. And last but not least, number eight, testing of the spirit. 1 John 4, verse 1, advises us to test the spirits to see whether they are from God. This means evaluating whether a message or feeling aligns with scripture and reflects God. God's character. For example, for a job decision, consider if a new role honors God's principles and strengthens your faith. Or for a relationship, ask if the person encourages you in godly growth or brings joy to your life. negative influence instead. For big life changes, changes seek confirmation through prayer, scripture, and a lasting sense of peace. So testing the spirit helps us discern God's guidance. It keeps us aligned also with his will. So that's it. Segment three, I would like to, uh, summarize a little bit all the key points that we discussed. There were many. So here's a recap of the eight main points to gain discernment in decision making. Number one, prayer and seeking guidance. Engage in consistent prayer, asking for clarity and openness to God's directions. Scripture alignment, number two, ensure that decision align with biblical principle. Number three, the fruit of the Spirit. Evaluate the outcomes based on the fruit of the Spirit, from Galatians 5, 22 through 23. Reflect on whether your decisions bring about joy, peace, and other positive outcomes. which indicates alignment with God's will. Number four, peace and conviction. Inner peace can confirm that we are aligned with God's will despite our circumstances, while feeling of unease may signal the need to pause and reassess. Number five, wise counsel, seeking advice from trusted believers and mentors as Proverbs 15, 22 teaches that plans succeed with counsel. So we need to surround ourselves with wise input which can enhance our decision making. Number six, long term perspective. So we need to assess situations over time. It's not a race. It is a marathon. Number seven, Desire for God's Will. Align your heart with God's desires, prioritizing His purposes over yours. And number eight, Testing the Spirit. Evaluate whether feelings or messages align with scripture and God's character, as it is instructed in 1 John 4 verse 9. One, because this testing helps ensure that we are discerning correctly. So I hope this was helpful to you. Please share in the comment what stood out about discerning God's will this week, I would suggest you write down all your questions or the decisions that you need to make and to pray over them. You may also email me. where you have doubts and I will make sure to send you scriptures relevant to that specific question you have and I will pray for you. So email me at hello at alexandraalvarezcoaching. com hello at alexandraalvarezcoaching. com Also, as far as finding a community, I invite you to join my Curious for Christ Facebook community for support and, make sure to book a discovery call with me at bit. ly forward slash discovery call. curiousforchristdiscovery, B I T dot L Y forward slash curiousforchristdiscovery if you are looking to deepen your relationship with Christ, but do not know where to start. This call will ensure to bring clarity into what the next steps should be for you. So this is it. Embrace the journey of discernment as part of your walk with Christ. It is a very important topic because it ensures that you are actually walking in Christ footsteps and not your own Christ being the author and perfecter of your faith. So I will leave here right now with a scripture from Proverbs three, verses five and six trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean, not on your own understanding in all your ways, submit to him and he will make your path straight. Bye for now. Hi, and thank you for joining me for our Wednesday Q& A. Clarity is key, so if you have more questions about God, the Bible, faith, or how to apply it to real life situations, please Feel free to email me at hello at alexandraalvarezcoaching. com. It's hello at alexandraalvarezcoaching. com. A L E X A N D R A A L V A R E Z coaching. com. And if you're enjoying the show, I'd really appreciate it. If you could leave a review, that's how I know what's resonating with you. So just go to Curious for Christ on Apple podcast or Spotify, Scroll down and click write a review. Don't forget to follow the show so you're notified when our next Q& A is out. Thanks again and I'll see you next week.