c. You may choose to pray together in one place or you may spread out and pray independently.
d. Always remember the power of prayer is multiplied when combined with fasting.
e. Consider some of the ways God may choose to “speak” to you:
i. The Spirit may lead someone to a scripture that speaks clearly to the issue.
ii. The Spirit may give someone divine insight (a “word of knowledge”) or spiritual discernment (“Is it from
God, Satan or the flesh?”) into the issue.
iii. The Spirit may confront and change personal biases.
iv. The Spirit may give you peace or cause unrest in your spirit in regard to a possible solution.
6. Report back to one another.
a. What was your experience as you listened?
b. What new insights did you gain?
c. What do you believe God is saying about the issue?
7. If more than one option remains or a new option emerges, weigh the various options. You may choose to engage
in an exercise of:
a. Pros and cons.
b. Anticipated fruit
c. Consolation (peace) or desolation (no peace).
8. When one option appears to have strong support, it is time to assess the group’s readiness to decide. Three
possibilities:
a. The group is ready to test for agreement.
b. At least one person expresses a desire for more prayer or discussion on the matter.
c. The group is not ready to proceed under the current conditions.
9. If the group is ready, test for agreement.
a. Each member of the group is asked to declare one of four convictions:
i. I support the stated option with no concerns (agreement).
ii. I have concerns but support the stated option (agreement).
iii. I have concerns but do not believe the Lord would have me oppose the stated option. Therefore, I will stand
in agreement with the group (agreement).
iv. I cannot support the stated option (disagreement).
b. The aim is 100% agreement as defined by (i), (ii), or (iii).
c. It is important to understand that agreement means the group will stand as one in success or failure. Second-guessing
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or blaming is not allowed once agreement is reached.
10. If the group is not in agreement, choose a course of action:
a. Repeat the whole process.
b. Take time for further prayer and reflection before reconsideration.
c. Drop the issue indefinitely.
d. While the aim is 100% agreement, there may be an occasion in which the group decides to move forward with
less than 100% agreement (i.e., one member seems bound to a personal bias while the remainder of the group
is united) but doing so is risky and weakens the strength of the group’s decision.
11. Once a decision is reached, the group may choose to put the decision to the final test of peace over a period of a
few days (Colossians 3:15).
a. Consolation (peace).
b. Desolation (no peace).
12. If consolation is the result, the decision is sealed.
The book “Discerning God’s Will Together” by Danny E. Morris and Charles M. Olsen was helpful in the development of this guide.
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