Spiritual discernment (Christianity)

Particular practices, religious or otherwise, may be valuable at one time and not at another. This includes praiseworthy practices like fasting, silence and solitude. Discernment should be employed to be sure which practice is valuable at a given time. This discernment is taught through contemplation; the more one gives one's self to loving God in contemplation, the more surely is one aware of which activities and ways of life are in harmony with this love. Discernment is also learned by consulting with a spiritual director. Eventually one will increasingly come to know when to speak and when to keep silent, for example.

Spiritual discernment is nurtured by exercising spiritual disciplines and leads to right use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It has to be practised with respect to all experiences arising on the spiritual path. Emphasis may wrongly be given to superficial emotions at the expense of true religious experience. Faults in external behaviour can be traced to inner attitudes. False paths may be followed when evil appears disguised as good. In every case the religious experience may be evaluated by the resulting way in which the person lives; the main signs to look for are those of charity (love).