From Contemplation to Action: The Spiritual Process of Divine Discernment Using Elijah and Elisha as Models

Contemplation is a spiritual process involving long thoughtful steady serious and attentive consideration or observation in order to achieve closer unity with God and to discover and understand Gods will for the contemplative. Contemplation gives rise to activity and activity in turn gives rise to more contemplation. The result of contemplation is often called discernment seeing clearly what is at first not very clear or obvious understanding what is not immediately obvious resulting in accuracy of spiritual perception. Divine discernment is contemplation in action; it results in insight inspiration and an awareness of inner truth upon which one must act. While there are countless models of contemplation leading to action the ninth-century BCE prophets Elijah and Elisha are the examples used in this book. Both are seers messengers and heralds of the LORD. They appear in activity when they are needed and they disappear into solitude and silence when they are not.