Discernment of Spirits

Look at the impulses that come from God and the impulses that drive us away from God.

The impulse that pulls us towards God is the good spirit.

The impulse that pulls us away from God is the evil spirit.

We are not talking about exorcism or anything like that, but we all feel the tension between selfish and selfless, stingy, and generous, mean and kind. We feel these poles within us.

It is possible to discern the spirits – what is coming from God and what is not coming from God.

Techniques for discerning spirits 

If you are a person who is trying to lead a good life, a person who is trying to move from good to better, then these techniques maybe of assistance to you.

For people in this frame of mind the good spirit works gently and consoles. It builds you up, it gives you hope, it lifts you up. The good spirit encourages you; it makes things seem easier, it is the voice if hope and positivity.

If you are moving along that path God is going to want you to continue and encourage you.

The evil spirit by contrast, for a person who is trying to move from good to better, is going to cause anxiety, set up false obstacles and tempt you to despair. 

Anytime you feel like everything is just useless – that is the voice of despair, and it is not coming from the good spirit. 

Any voice inside you, any inclination, any feeling, or anything outside you that gives you courage, peace, tranquility, calms you down – that is coming from God.

You have the resources; you have the mental and physical resources to get through this crisis.

You will survive – it will be difficult, but you will survive.

Be calm with your situation. Use your brain, use your intelligence – you will be able to handle this. - That is God’s voice.

The way God communicates with us is like a drop of water on a sponge. It is gentle and very quiet. It is continuous – consoling- encouraging.

By contrast the evil spirit is like a drop of water on a stone- very hard. You get panicky- news from elsewhere sets up obstacles.

Do not listen to that voice. Even it is rational and everyone else is freaking out, that is not coming from God. 

In short: Good Spirit – Hope. Bad Spirit- Despair.

The bad spirit acts in us in certain ways.

Ignatius of Loyola uses three images. Spoiled Child, False Lover, Army Commander 

Pay attention to what is going on inside you.

The evil spirit acts as what Ignatius calls the spoiled child. The child who is throwing a tantrum. Feelings of rage. There is nothing wrong with feeling angry, but rage is a kind of babyish voice inside us. That is the evil spirit.

The second way the evil spirit acts is a as a false lover. The false lover does not want his or her secret letters to be revealed – what does that mean for us?

The evil spirit does not want to be revealed so when you recognize this dynamic it is an invitation to talk to someone about some of the struggles you are going through.

You are only as sick as your secret.

The third way the evil spirit acts is as an Army commander who knows your weakest point. 

Do not listen to this voice- trust the voice of hope.