Mark’s story is a reflection on discernment and surrender. He reminds us that good decisions flow not from impulse or self-interest, but from a heart aligned with God’s Word, grounded in prayer, and willing to wait and listen.

Prayer Is the Battle: Fighting Life’s Wars on Our Knees

Mark begins with a question that touches every follower’s journey: How do I know if I’m making the right decision? His answer starts not with logic or circumstance, but with the heart. Before acting, he says, we must first examine our motivation. Is this choice driven by God’s leading—or by our own desire to get what we want?

Without that internal honesty, it’s easy to convince ourselves that our will and God’s will are the same. We can even do the right thing for the wrong reason. That’s why Mark encourages a simple but powerful habit before making any decision: pause. Ask, What’s motivating this? That short reflection often reveals more than we expect.

The second key principle Mark highlights is the power of waiting. In a culture built on speed and urgency, waiting is countercultural—but it’s also sacred. Whether it’s a major life choice or an everyday impulse, a pause allows space for perspective. He compares it to avoiding a scam: when someone pressures you to act before you think, it’s often a trap. The same applies to spiritual life—rushed choices can cloud discernment. Waiting, on the other hand, makes room for God’s wisdom to surface above the noise of emotion or impulse.

The third and deepest part of Mark’s reflection centers on yielding—a posture of full surrender. He describes Formation Church’s call to deny self, surrender fully, and follow daily not as a slogan, but as a way of life. True spiritual discernment happens when every decision is filtered through three anchors:

• The Word: God’s voice will never contradict Scripture. What we believe He’s saying should always align with what He’s already revealed.
• Prayer: Time in prayer tunes our hearts to God’s rhythm, allowing us to distinguish His voice from our own desires or the world’s noise.
• Alignment: Wisdom emerges when our motives, actions, and values come into alignment with both God’s Word and His character.

Mark acknowledges how easily our personal preferences can distort what we hear from God. Sometimes, even when He speaks clearly, we reinterpret His guidance through what we already want. That’s why surrender is essential—it clears space for genuine obedience.

He puts it plainly: “If you deny yourself, surrender fully, and follow Jesus daily, I can guarantee that God will speak to you.” The real question, he adds, isn’t whether God is speaking—but whether we’re truly willing to listen.

Mark’s story is a quiet but profound invitation—to slow down, to check our hearts, and to yield every decision to the One who knows us best.