Worksheet: Praying for Discernment in the Presence of God
Worksheet
Praying for Discernment in the Presence of God
Course Title: Coaching Ministry Foundations
Topic 10: Welcoming God into Life Coaching Ministry
Presentation Title: Coaching in the Presence of God
Reading Title: Praying for Discernment in the Presence of God
Case Study Title: The Pause Before the Question
Worksheet Purpose
This worksheet helps Life Coach Ministers practice prayerful discernment in coaching conversations. Students will learn how to pray before, during, and after sessions; use the Christian Philosophy 15 aspects as a discernment lens; test impressions by Scripture; invite prayer with permission; and encourage faithful next steps without pressure or manipulation.
Part 1: Opening Scripture Reflection
Read the following passages from the World English Bible.
Matthew 18:20
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them.”
James 1:5
“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.”
Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 119:105
“Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.”
1 John 4:1
“Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God.”
Reflection Questions
What does Matthew 18:20 teach about God’s presence in ministry coaching?
Why should a Life Coach Minister regularly ask God for wisdom?
How does stillness help the coach move from performance to presence?
Why must spiritual impressions be tested by Scripture?
What does it mean that God’s Word is a lamp for the coaching path?
Part 2: From Performance to Presence
A Life Coach Minister may feel pressure to say the right thing, ask the perfect question, bring the best Scripture, or produce a meaningful breakthrough. Prayer helps the coach surrender that pressure.
The coach is not alone.
The person being coached is not alone.
God is present.
The Holy Spirit is active.
The coach is not the source of transformation.
Personal Reflection
What kind of pressure do you feel when someone shares a deep struggle?
Do you tend to fix, advise, explain, rescue, or withdraw?
What does it mean for you to “carry the moment, not the outcome”?
Write a sentence of surrender you could pray before a coaching session.
My surrender prayer:
Part 3: Prayer Before the Session
Before a coaching session, the Life Coach Minister should pray with humility and openness.
Complete the following prayer prompts.
Lord, prepare my heart to:
Holy Spirit, help me listen for:
Father, keep me from:
Jesus, help this person receive:
Lord, confirm our discernment through:
Now write a short prayer you could pray before a session.
Part 4: Prayer During the Session
Prayer may happen at the beginning, middle, or end of a coaching conversation. It should be invited, not forced.
Write a permission-based prayer invitation for each situation.
A person begins to cry.
What could you say?
A person feels confused about a decision.
What could you say?
A person shares something they have never told anyone.
What could you say?
A person says, “I don’t know what God wants me to do.”
What could you say?
A person is hesitant about praying aloud.
What could you say?
Part 5: Short Prayer Practice
Sometimes a short prayer is more helpful than a long prayer. Write a one-sentence prayer for each need.
For wisdom:
For peace:
For courage:
For confession:
For grief:
For a next step:
For boundaries:
For Scripture guidance:
Part 6: Prayerful 15-Aspect Discernment
The Christian Philosophy 15 aspects help the Life Coach Minister see the whole person. Prayer helps the coach discern which aspects matter most in the moment.
Use this chart to practice.
| Aspect | What the Coach May Notice | Prayer for Discernment | Possible Coaching Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantitative | Frequency, amount, duration | Lord, help me notice how much and how often this is happening. | How often does this happen? |
| Spatial | Place, setting, environment | Lord, show us where this issue appears most clearly. | Where does this usually happen? |
| Kinematic | Movement, rhythm, repeated pattern | Holy Spirit, reveal what pattern keeps repeating. | Where do you feel stuck? |
| Physical | Body, sleep, health, fatigue | Lord, help us honor the body in this discernment. | How is this affecting your sleep or energy? |
| Biotic | Life stage, family season, bodily life | Father, help us understand this person’s season of life. | How does this season shape what you are carrying? |
| Sensitive | Emotion, pain, fear, grief, desire | Holy Spirit, help us listen compassionately to the heart. | What emotion feels strongest right now? |
| Analytical | Beliefs, assumptions, confusion | Lord, reveal any false belief that needs truth. | What are you believing about yourself or God? |
| Formative | Skills, habits, practices | Lord, show what habit or skill needs growth. | What practice would help you take a faithful step? |
| Lingual | Words, stories, labels, communication | Lord, guide the words that need to be spoken. | What needs to be said? |
| Social | Relationships, roles, community | Father, show who else may need to be involved. | Who could support you wisely? |
| Economic | Time, energy, money, stewardship | Lord, help us discern wise stewardship. | What resource needs to be protected or managed? |
| Aesthetic | Harmony, fittingness, rhythm, peace | Lord, show what a more peaceful rhythm might look like. | What would a more fitting pattern look like? |
| Juridical | Justice, boundaries, responsibility | Lord, help us see what is fair and responsible. | What boundary or responsibility needs to be honored? |
| Ethical | Love, forgiveness, sacrifice, courage | Jesus, show us what love requires here. | What would love look like in this situation? |
| Faith | Trust, worship, surrender, hope | Father, reveal where trust is needed. | Where is God inviting you to trust Him? |
Practice Reflection
Which three aspects do you naturally notice first?
Which three aspects do you often overlook?
How can prayer keep the 15 aspects from becoming mechanical?
How can the 15 aspects help you avoid shallow advice?
Part 7: Testing Discernment by Scripture
Not every impression is from God. Not every strong feeling is the Holy Spirit. Not every thought that comes to mind should be spoken.
A Life Coach Minister tests discernment by Scripture, humility, wisdom, and love.
Use these questions to test a possible insight.
Possible insight or impression:
Does this agree with Scripture?
Does this reflect the character of Christ?
Does this honor both truth and grace?
Does this respect the person’s agency?
Does this stay within my role as a Life Coach Minister?
Does this produce peace, repentance, courage, wisdom, or faithful action?
Could I be trying to control the outcome?
What Scripture could confirm or correct this discernment?
Part 8: Avoiding Manipulative Spiritual Language
Life Coach Ministers should avoid pressuring people with phrases like:
“God told me you must do this.”
“The Holy Spirit says I am right.”
“I know exactly what God wants from you.”
These phrases may sound spiritual, but they can become controlling or manipulative.
Rewrite each statement in a humble, permission-based way.
Statement 1: “God told me you need to forgive your father today.”
Better wording:
Statement 2: “The Holy Spirit says you are afraid.”
Better wording:
Statement 3: “I know God wants you to quit that job.”
Better wording:
Statement 4: “You need to pray right now or you are resisting God.”
Better wording:
Statement 5: “God revealed to me that your problem is pride.”
Better wording:
Part 9: Truth, Grace, and Action Through Prayer
Prayer helps the coach discern Truth, Grace, and Action.
Truth asks: What needs to be honestly named?
Grace asks: Where does this person need to receive God’s mercy, comfort, forgiveness, or identity?
Action asks: What faithful next step is wise, specific, and Spirit-led?
Choose a coaching situation.
Presenting issue:
Truth: What needs to be named honestly?
Grace: What does this person need to receive from God?
Action: What is one faithful next step?
Scripture: What passage could guide this discernment?
Prayer: Write a prayer for this person.
Part 10: Case Study Reflection
Review the case study “The Pause Before the Question.”
Natalie came to Miriam saying, “I think I’m losing my joy.” Through prayerful listening, Miriam discovered that Natalie’s struggle was connected to people-pleasing, fear of disappointing others, over-serving, childhood patterns, emotional weariness, and a distorted view of God’s expectations.
Reflection Questions
What did Natalie think her problem was at first?
What deeper issue surfaced as Miriam listened prayerfully?
How did Miriam pray before the session?
How did Miriam invite prayer during the session without pressure?
Which 15 aspects were most important in Natalie’s situation?
How did Matthew 11:28–30 confirm the discernment?
What truth did Natalie need to name?
What grace did Natalie need to receive?
What faithful action did Natalie choose?
How did Miriam release Natalie to God after the session?
Part 11: Coaching in Sacred Space
In coaching ministry, certain moments may become sacred.
A silence may become holy.
A tear may become an offering.
A confession may become a doorway to grace.
A Scripture may come alive.
A short prayer may bring peace.
A simple question may open the soul.
Reflect on the following.
How do you usually respond to silence?
Why might silence be sacred in a coaching session?
What should a coach avoid doing when a person begins to cry?
How can prayer help the coach steward a tender moment?
What does it mean to “take off your sandals” inwardly in a holy moment?
Part 12: Prayer and Boundaries
Prayer does not erase boundaries. Prayer may reveal the need for boundaries.
Use these questions for discernment.
Lord, am I still the right person to walk with this person?
Is this issue beyond my role?
Is dependency forming?
Is there a safety concern?
Who else should be involved?
Should I continue, redirect, refer, pause, or release?
Write a prayer asking God for boundary wisdom.
Part 13: Prayer After the Session
After a session, the coach may continue praying, but should not carry the person anxiously. The coach releases the person to God.
Complete this prayer.
Lord, thank You for:
I release this person to:
Help me follow up with:
Keep me from carrying:
Remind me that You are:
Now write your own after-session release prayer.
Part 14: Practice Scenario
Read the scenario.
Darren is a 41-year-old father who says, “I feel like I’m failing spiritually. I pray for a few days, then stop. I promise God I’ll do better, then I fail again. Maybe I’m just not serious enough.”
Use prayerful discernment to respond.
What might Darren believe about God?
Which 15 aspects might be involved?
What truth may need to be named?
What grace may need to be offered?
What Scripture might help?
What faithful action could be small and specific?
Write a permission-based prayer invitation.
Write a short prayer for Darren.
What boundary should the coach remember?
Part 15: Personal Prayer Rule for Life Coaching Ministry
Create a simple prayer pattern you will use as a Life Coach Minister.
Before the session, I will pray:
During the session, I will remember:
When I sense an insight, I will:
When I am unsure, I will:
When I use Scripture, I will:
When I close the session, I will:
After the session, I will:
Part 16: Ministry Sciences Reflection
Ministry Sciences recognizes that biblical truth, human design, spiritual discernment, relational presence, and practical ministry skills work together in real-life transformation.
Reflection Questions
How does prayer connect the coaching conversation to God’s presence?
How do the 15 aspects help the coach see the whole person?
Why is Scripture necessary for confirming discernment?
How does prayer protect the coach from performance?
How does prayer protect the coach from control?
How does prayer help the coach encourage faithful action?
How does prayer help the coach remain within healthy boundaries?
What does it mean that God is the true source of transformation?
Closing Prayer
Lord, teach me to coach in Your presence. Help me surrender my need to perform, fix, impress, or control. Give me wisdom through Your Spirit and confirmation through Your Word. Help me notice the whole person with humility and love. Teach me to pray before, during, and after each conversation. Let me speak truth with grace, encourage action with wisdom, and honor boundaries with courage. May every coaching conversation point people to You. Amen.