Gathering Data

Discernment Practice 3: Gathering Relevant Data

The quality of your decision is directly influenced by the quality of the data you gather.

In discernment, this step is vital, as it ensures that your decisions are based on thoughtful and relevant information.

This information is both Facts and Feelings. What makes discernment unique is that the process of data gathering itself can be set within the context of prayer, allowing you to invite God into the process and seek divine guidance in the midst of your research.

You are invited to pay careful attention to your desires, attractions, feelings, as an important part of the data gathering process. 

Preparation for Prayer:

Pause and invite God’s presence as you begin this reflection.

• Ask for God’s gracious help in seeking the relevant information for your discernment. Let your prayer be a plea for wisdom and clarity as you gather the facts you need.

• Consider various kinds of information that will bear on your decision. Reflect on the types of data that will help inform your discernment:

• Information about yourself—your personality, history, life experiences, and spirituality.

• Information about your relationships—how your family, friends, coworkers, might be affected by your decision.

• Information about the groups, agencies, or church ministries you belong to or interact with that will play a role in the decision-making process.

Reflection Question:

What type of information do I need to gather to make an informed decision?

What voices-people and aspects of my life or relationships should I pay the most attention to?

Plan how you will gather this information.

• Once you’ve considered the types of data you need, make a plan for how to gather the relevant details.

• What specific steps will you take to gather this information, and where will you keep it? Write your plan out in your journal to ensure that your process is intentional.

 Reflection Question:

• What steps can I take to begin gathering the necessary information?

• How can I organize this process to ensure it is thorough and effective?

Begin gathering the necessary information.

• As you move forward, gather the facts that will inform your decision.

• Keep a record of the information you find, and organize it in a way that is accessible for ongoing reflection.

• Remember, this step may continue over time, so stay open to new insights as they arise.

 Reflection Question:

• As I gather information, what surprises or challenges arise? 

Offer the process of data gathering back to God.

• Once you’ve gathered the relevant information, offer this reflection and the sometimes tedious task of data collection back to God.

• Speak to God about what you’ve discovered—how it shapes your understanding of the situation, what it reveals about you, and how it affects your relationship with God.

 Reflection Question

• How does the information I’ve gathered affect my discernment?