[Season 1] Episode 4: Discerning
Proverbs 20:24 says, “A man's steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?” It can be puzzling to wrap our head around the idea that there is human agency in our choices, yet God supremely reigns over everything. In discerning, we determine to know what’s good, and even in a broken world, there can be delight in discerning His good, pleasing, and perfect will. Listen as guests Liz Lee and Michelle Tze talk with us about what discernment is, why we need it, and how we get it.
Guests
Liz Lee was born in Hong Kong and raised in San Francisco, California. God has led her to teach English in Osaka, Japan, be a stay-at-home mom of 2 children for 10 years and more recently to return to teaching elementary school in SFUSD. She also helps with women's and young mom's ministries at Sunset Church.
Michelle Tze was changed forever when a friend explained that Jesus’ death on the cross was not just a martyr’s death but actually what she needed to be made right with God. She and her husband have been living and serving for 10+ years in a group of people needing the same message, but communicated in their own language and worldview. The Tze’s have three kids and if you join them at the dinner table you may be asked to give your opinion on a variety of topics including, "If Adam and Eve didn't eat the fruit, would we be here right now?" "Who is your favorite: Anna or Elsa?" and "Can you eat pepperoni or do you live with Muslims too?"
Introduction
Interview: Liz Lee
[02:48] Reflecting back on decades of choices
[08:50] Getting to know who God is to discern His will
[10:45] The value of Christian mentorship
[14:28] Scripture verses on sticky notes regarding discernment
[20:01] Training her children in discernment
Interview: Michelle TZe
[23:26] Voices that we take into the decision process
[28:01] Extreme Christian approaches to discerning God’s will
[29:15] Allowing your worldview to come from Scripture
[32:02] Reframing our decision in light of the biblical narrative
[33:04] How unprocessed experiences hinder us
[38:44] A fatalistic attitude towards God’s will can reveal an underlying disappointment with God
Scripture
Application
Evaluating our spiritual desire to want God’s will for our lives and knowing what voices we are listening to
Walking with God day by day as key to knowing God’s will
Seeking wise counsel in the community of other Christians in our decision making
Allowing God to heal us and deal with our brokenness as we struggle to discern and obey His will
Acknowledging that we all make decisions different according to our personality type, but regardless of approach, faith is needed
Framing our decisions within the greater biblical narrative
Other Resources
“All That’s Good: Recovering the Lost Art of Discernment” by Hannah Anderson