Discernment

People with discernment normally do the right thing in any situation that arises.  Based on their knowledge of God and His ways, spiritually discerning people have the capacity to separate and sift what is best from what is generally understood to be good.  

When humans were created, we were meant to live in relationship with God forever.  God gave humans free will to choose to love and obey Him.  Even though humans chose to disobey God and their relationship with Him was cut off, eternity remains in our hearts where it was planted when we were created. 

God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.  (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT) 


Many humans continue to function in this world as though they will live forever. They don’t consult God with regards to what is best for them.  They think they intuitively know what that is but end up suffering painful consequences for the many unhealthy choices they make.  The truth is that without God’s wisdom, none of us know how to live purposefully in this life, or what will happen to us in the next. What are we to do?

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NIV) 

When we surrender our lives to Jesus, God’s Holy Spirit comes to live in our hearts, and He will teach us the truth about life that we could never come to understand on our own. It is this truth that results in us “having discernment”.  It is more than our conscience speaking to us, or “trusting our gut.”  This is God revealing truth to us, so we can live well.  As we spend time in God’s word each day, He gives us a discerning heart to know His ways and put them into practice.

Deal with your servant according to your love and teach me your decrees.  I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes. (Psalm 119:124-125 NIV)

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I confess that You are the only wise God.  Teach me Your ways so that, together with You, I can discern and choose what is the best path for my life. Amen

Audio for Discernment

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