Discerning God's will

In He Leadeth Me, Ciszek writes: "God's will can be discerned by the fruits of the spirit it brings, that peace of soul and joy of heart are two such signs…the movements of God's grace must always be accepted and understood in virtue of the life of faith, because ultimately the truth of every mysterious action of His grace is discerned in the light of faith rather than by the powers of reason or intellect." (Page 30)

How do I discern God's will for my life? It seems to me that overall I am constatnly challenged to listen better as I discern God’s will for my life. up to now what has worked most effectively for me is a process. First there is a nudge that something or some direction is appropriate. This is an area that needs quiet attentiveness and often distractions interfere with my reception of God's message. Second, I test the concept against scripture. Third, I review past circumstances and activities of God in my life to see if the directon is consistent with what God has done or does this nudging build on previous guidance. If all of these line up I go through this same process with someone else listening to me and cheching to see if I am slipping into personal deception. If it might entail personal sacrifice or lifestyle change then my wife is the first person I test this with. Finally, I step out in obedience either by direct action or by preparation for the new endeavor. Depending on the situation this might take months or only moments.

How do you discern God's will for your life?