In his Spiritual Exercises (#169-#189), Ignatius of Loyola presents guidelines for making major decisions in a prayerful manner. You may find it helpful to review this entire section in order to appreciate the nuances of Ignatius’ approach. However, the core principles and actions of this method may be found in his considerations of the three times (or spiritual situations) in an important decision should be made.
 
In some regards, these different moments echo the different lived experiences you have considered during your reflections on “thin places”, holy wells, and the practical concerns when making the examen.
 
For Ignatius, the first time for making an election or decision is “when God our Lord so moves and attracts the will that without doubting or being able to doubt, the faithful soul follows what is shown, just as Saint Paul and Saint Matthew did when they followed Christ our Lord. (Spiritual Exercises (#175)” In this moment, like your experience of “thin places” in your life, there is no doubt what you are being asked to do and your response is already apparent as you approach the question. While you may choose to consult a spiritual advisor or soul friend to discuss the decision, or to engage in some form of conscious discernment, these are not necessary because of the certitude you experience in making this choice.
 
The second time for making an election is “when sufficient light and knowledge is received through experience of consolations and desolations, and through experience of the discernment of different spirits. (Spiritual Exercises (#176)” Here, you will find it helpful to discuss your decision with others who you trust or use the rules for discernment to consider your experience of consolation and desolation in relation to different aspects of the choice you are considering. Like approaching a holy well, this decision requires a conscious activity on your part to become fully aware of God's presence in different aspects of your decision.
 
The third time for prayerfully making a life decision is in a time of what Ignatius refers to as tranquility, when you experience neither consolation nor desolation on an emotional level. Instead, you consider the issue to be decided on a rational basis with faith that the gift of reason which you received from God will be adequate to the task of making the proper choice.

Note: The techniques suggested for this third "time of election" are designed for moments where the prayerful discernment of God's desires do not produce a clear sense of how to proceed. However, you may find it helpful to use these techniques periodically to confirm your spiritual leadings while clearly discerning God's desires for you as well as to become familiar with these techniques if you need them in the future.

With this in mind, Ignatius presents two ways to proceed in making the proper decision:
 
— In the first way, you first carefully consider the issue to be decided and the dispositions of spirit which should be appropriate to your decision before praying for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in making the decision.

For a consideration of this method, please click here.

 
 
— In the second way, you are asked to consider your inclinations concerning the decision in the hope that these reflections will move you away from indifference into the prayerful dispositions of the first or second times for making a decision.

For a consideration of this method, please click here.

 
At the heart of all three times for making a significant life decision lies a desire to love and serve God with as much inner freedom as possible, knowing that your life and all of the actions within it flow from God's love for you and the rest of creation.

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