Discerning the Movements of the Heart

The heart of man is ceaselessly crossed by thoughts, desires, impulses, and troubles. They do not all come from the same place, and they do not all lead to God. Discernment is the art of recognizing, among these inner movements, those that come from God and lead to him, and those that draw away from him. It is the work of a whole Christian life, for it is by this that one learns to follow the will of God rather than one’s own illusions.

The movements of the heart

No one chooses what arises within him. An idea presents itself, a desire awakens, a fear grips the heart, a joy lifts it up, an anger rises. These movements are the matter of the inner life. Some lead toward good: prayer, forgiveness, generosity. Others lead toward evil: resentment, discouragement, pride. Many are ambiguous, for the same thought can spring from a good desire or from a deceptive attraction. To discern is to learn to recognize them instead of following them blindly.

Where these movements come from

The Christian tradition distinguishes three sources for these inner movements. Some come from God, who draws the soul to himself by his Spirit, enlightens and strengthens it. Others come from our own nature, our temperament, our wounds, our spontaneous desires, which may be good or disordered. Others, finally, come from the tempter, the spirit of evil, who seeks to turn the soul away from God. To discern calls for recognizing where each thought leads: toward God, or away from him.

Testing the spirits

Scripture warns against the naivety that would take for divine everything that presents itself under a fair appearance: “Dearly beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits if they be of God.” 1 John 4:1. Every inner movement, even one that seems pious, asks to be examined. This examination protects from illusion: it keeps one from taking one’s own wishes, or the suggestions of the tempter, for the voice of God.

By their fruits

How is an inner movement to be tested? Christ gave the rule: “By their fruits you shall know them.” Matthew 7:16. The tree is judged by what it produces. What comes from God bears the fruits of his Spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is, charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, longanimity.” Galatians 5:22. A thought that leaves the soul at peace, humble, turned toward God and toward others comes from him. What comes from the evil spirit leaves instead trouble, bitterness, pride, and division, even when it first presents itself under seductive appearances. The fruit reveals the root.