The Discerning Life

An Invitation to Notice God in Everything

By: Stephen Macchia

Narrated by: K.C. Bragg

Spiritual discernment is a key theme in the Scriptures. From the Garden when Adam and Eve turned away from the simplest terms of a relationship with God, to the Garden when John the Apostle wrote the book of Revelation to a distracted people anticipating eternity, discerning God has been the heart of the matter. In modern times, however, we have forgotten the basic premise of practicing a preference for God, out of which we then are invited to live for God. Instead, we have implanted strategic planning, head-to-head battling, and will-of-God knowing in its place. In The Discerning Life, Stephen A. Macchia seeks to upend the one-eyed and limited Christian understandings of spiritual discernment and invite you to reconsider how to prioritize the care of your soul, the grace of your community, and the mission of your life, church, and organizations. When we have a fuller understanding of how spiritual discernment matters to the whole of our lives, we will in turn encourage others to follow likewise and then lean fully into the mission, mandate, and message of the whole counsel of God.

Appendixes that include a discernment process and a forty-day prayer and reflection resource are available in the audiobook companion PDF download.

GOD SHOWS UP DELIGHTFULLY IN ORDINARY DAILY LIFE—-ALL THE TIME!!

Thank you, Dr. Macchia for sharing so many ‘God sightings,’ from your own daily life to show the reader how God is always here and is always showing up for us as well! What a delightful idea that we can enjoy living in the Kingdom here and now if we will slow down long enough to notice Him HERE AND NOW!!!
There are so many things which vie for our attention, even good things, BUT, they may be pulling us away from spending ( “wasting”) time that actually should be spent NOTICING God!!

I especially appreciated hearing about the parallel between the care of our home and the care of our own soul.

Furthermore, this book dismantled my erroneous idea of spiritual discernment being what we only employ to solve the BIG issues or big questions for which we are seeking GOD’S WILL. It is MUCH more than that! If we look for God in everything and everywhere, HE is there and shows up with His POWER, PRESENCE, PEACE and PROVISION!!!

There is so much to feed on in this book, that I chose to listen to it several times over a mont’s time span on Audible. . I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this simple, yet profound book.

Be a peacemaker

Midway through I struggled with author's ideology. I look to the Rev Keith Mannes for truth, who unlike the author's resume, stood up for biblical truths through acting in opposition to the political Red blackened moral record and bent character.