Discernment in Christian Contemplative Practice
Testing Inner Experiences Against Scripture, Tradition, and Moral Fruit
Discernment of spirits is the essential Christian practice of testing inner experiences—thoughts, feelings, images, and movements of the soul—to determine whether they come from God, from the self, or from sources that would lead away from truth. It is not optional but foundational to all authentic contemplative prayer.
Why Discernment Is Non-Negotiable
Throughout Christian history, the greatest contemplatives have warned that inner experiences—no matter how vivid, peaceful, or seemingly divine—can deceive. The enemy of souls can appear as an "angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14). The heart can convince itself of what it wants to believe. Even genuine graces can be misinterpreted.
"Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God."— 1 John 4:1
This is why every major contemplative tradition has developed rigorous frameworks for discernment. The question is never "Did I have a powerful experience?" but "What fruit does this experience produce in my life?"
The Four Classical Tests of Discernment
Christian tradition has refined four primary tests that any inner experience must pass:
1. Conformity to Scripture and Doctrine
Does the experience align with revealed truth? An inner voice that contradicts Scripture or established Christian doctrine is never from God, regardless of how peaceful or compelling it feels.
Warning sign: Experiences that claim to "transcend" or "go beyond" Scripture are suspect.
2. Production of Virtue
Does the experience produce lasting growth in humility, charity, patience, obedience, and love of neighbor? Authentic encounters with God always lead to moral transformation—not just good feelings.
Warning sign: Experiences that produce pride, self-satisfaction, or contempt for others.
3. Peace and Order
Does the experience lead to lasting peace and inner order, or to anxiety, restlessness, and confusion? God's movements produce deep peace even when calling to difficult things. Deception often leaves subtle agitation.
Warning sign: Urgency that demands immediate action without reflection or counsel.
4. Confirmation by Authority
Does the experience find confirmation through spiritual direction, the community of faith, and submission to proper authority? Private revelations that cannot bear examination or resist oversight are dangerous.
Warning sign: Resistance to sharing experiences with a spiritual director or wise guide.
Consolation and Desolation: The Ignatian Framework
St. Ignatius of Loyola developed one of the most sophisticated frameworks for discernment, centered on two key terms:
Consolation
Interior movements that draw the soul toward God: increases in faith, hope, and love; deepened peace; spiritual joy; tears of repentance or gratitude.
Note: Consolation is not the same as feeling good. It can include sorrow for sin or difficulty that draws one closer to God.
Desolation
Interior movements away from God: turmoil, anxiety, temptation, loss of faith, restlessness, attraction to what is worldly or base.
Note: Desolation is not the same as feeling bad. One can experience difficulty while remaining oriented toward God.
Ignatius's key insight: In times of consolation, we should prepare for desolation to come. In times of desolation, we should never make important decisions but wait for consolation to return. The enemy attacks differently depending on our spiritual state.
Practical Guidelines for Discernment
- Never interpret during prayer. Wait until prayer is over to reflect on what happened. Real-time interpretation is notoriously unreliable.
- Write it down, then wait. Record experiences factually, without interpretation. Return to them days or weeks later with fresh eyes.
- Seek counsel before acting. Share significant experiences with a spiritual director or trusted guide before making any decisions based on them.
- Watch the fruit over time. One experience proves nothing. Look for patterns across weeks and months.
- Maintain healthy suspicion of self. The heart is "deceitful above all things" (Jeremiah 17:9). Humility includes distrusting our own interpretations.
- Value dryness as much as sweetness. Periods without consolation are normal and often purifying. Do not chase experiences.
Warning Signs in Contemplative Practice
Stop or radically simplify your prayer practice if you experience:
- Experiences you feel compelled to keep secret from spiritual guides
- Sense of being "specially chosen" or having unique access to God
- Growing contempt for "ordinary" Christians or "lesser" forms of prayer
- Urgency to act on inner promptings without reflection
- Increasing isolation from community and accountability
- Inner voices that claim authority equal to or above Scripture
- Anxiety or disturbance that persists after prayer
- Experiences that produce pride rather than humility
Any of these should prompt immediate consultation with a trained spiritual director.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if an inner experience is from God?
Test it against Scripture, observe whether it produces virtue over time, check if it leads to lasting peace, and submit it to wise counsel. No single test is sufficient—all four must align.
What if I'm not sure whether something is consolation or desolation?
Uncertainty is normal. Document the experience without interpretation and wait. Patterns become clearer over time. When in doubt, seek counsel and do not act on the experience.
Can the enemy cause experiences that feel like consolation?
Yes. Ignatius specifically warned about the "angel of light" who can initially produce peace and sweetness, but whose movements ultimately lead away from God, humility, and obedience.
Is it safe to practice contemplative prayer without a spiritual director?
Basic forms of prayer (lectio divina, praying with Scripture) are generally safe. Deeper contemplative practices carry real risks without oversight. The saints consistently recommended direction, especially for beginners.
What's the difference between discernment and skepticism?
Discernment is humble openness combined with careful testing. Skepticism dismisses all inner experience. The goal is neither gullibility nor cynicism, but wise receptivity under the authority of Scripture and tradition.
Discernment Across the Traditions
Each contemplative tradition has developed its own vocabulary and emphases for discernment:
Ignatian Discernment
Consolation and desolation, Rules for Discernment, examen, movements of spirits.
Carmelite Discernment
Teresa's warnings about visions, John's suspicion of spiritual experiences, detachment from consolation.
Orthodox Discernment
Prelest (spiritual delusion), nepsis (watchfulness), absolute requirement of spiritual fatherhood.
Explore Discernment Topics
Dive deeper into specific aspects of discernment in contemplative practice:
False Mysticism
Historical examples of rejected mystical claims and how the Church evaluates them.
Quietism
The condemned heresy of radical passivity and how it differs from authentic contemplation.
Spiritual Bypassing
Using spirituality to avoid psychological work—a modern danger in contemplative practice.
When to Seek Help
Distinguishing spiritual crisis from mental health crisis and when professional support is needed.
Ecclesial Accountability
Why the Church oversees mystical claims and how this protects individuals and the faithful.
Related Articles
- Christian Contemplative Prayer — Overview of the three great contemplative traditions.
- Ignatian Spirituality — Where the modern vocabulary of discernment was refined.
- Teresa of Ávila — A master teacher of discernment in the Carmelite tradition.
- Centering Prayer — Modern contemplative practice with discernment guidelines.
- Contemplative Prayer and Psychology — How contemplative practice intersects with mental health.