Spiritual discernment is the ability to see life from God's perspective. It requires that we know how He thinks and acts. The Bible is His unchanging, infallible revelation of Himself. However, the Lord doesn't simply give us a list of facts about His character and ways. All throughout the pages of Scripture, He illustrates who He is and how He operates.
Although an ancient book, the Bible is in no way obsolete. Its stories may have taken place centuries ago, but its principles and applications are still relevant, offering discernment about situations and guidance for decisions.
God's Wordᾢwhich Ephesians 6:17 refers to as "the sword of the Spirit"ᾢ is active and piercing, like a surgeon's scalpel. The words don't simply sit on the page; rather, they penetrate our heart and judge our thoughts and motives. This convicting quality is why some Christians avoid reading the Bible. They prefer to live on a surface level but never understand why they react to situations the way they do. If we don't want to keep making the same mistakes, it's essential that we become discerning about ourselves. The way to do that is by approaching the Word of God with an open spirit. Then God will bring to light our hidden motives and unrecognized sins.
Spiritual discernment involves seeing not just circumstances but also ourselves from God's perspective. Have you learned to embrace the piercing sword of Scripture, or have you avoided doing so because it makes you uncomfortable? Remember, whenever the Lord uses a surgical knife, His purpose is always to make us healthier.
At one time or another, everyone feels confused, uncertain, or misled. When that happens, we can live victoriously and confidently only by possessing spiritual discernmentᾢthe ability to see life from God's perspective. We need His help to distinguish between right and wrong, good and best, truth and error.
Each day we make many decisionsᾢsome trivial, others critical. The Lord doesn't want us to form judgments based on mere appearance or human reasoning. But the world is so full of deceptive information that we, on our own, couldn't know what to believe. And so God has given us the Holy Spirit to help us see the reality of each situation as He does.
We can fully trust the Lord with our relationships as well. Since He knows every person's heart, the only way we can wisely interact with others is to be sensitive to the leading of God's Spirit within us.
Although the Father gives each of His children the capacity for spiritual discernment, many Christians are unaware of it. They stumble through life, doing the best they can, but fail to use this wonderful provision. Others may not think they need it. They make choices according to their own knowledge and reasoning, never giving the Lord a second thought. Unless we cooperate with God in the development of His gift of discernment, it will lie dormant within us.
A discerning spirit begins with a humble, teachable attitude. If you've been handling decisions, situations, and relationships through your own wisdom, confess this to God. Then ask for His perspective and search His Word for direction. Your wisdom will grow, and discernment will protect you.
God's Spirit indwells believers at salvation, which means His power is available from that moment (Eph. 1:13). God created a simple way for us to access that strength every single day.
First, we must accept the truth that in and of ourselves, we are powerless to live out God's will. No matter how capable we may be, our own strength and wisdom are insufficient. Sometimes Christians become prideful about the good they have done or the number of years they've been saved. Imagine how much more we could serve the Lord if we would humbly get out of God's way and let Him work through us.
Second, we surrender our entire life to the guidance and governing of the Holy Spirit. In other words, we choose to conduct our spiritual walkᾢas well as our vocation, finances, family, and relationshipsᾢas God desires. His Spirit is not going to release supernatural power into a life that is continuing in rebellion.
Third, we exercise faith, which means demonstrating belief and trust in the Lord. Faith is the "switch" that releases the Spirit's power. It's like saying, "I believe You've got a plan, God, so I'm going to trust You to give me what I need in order to do Your will." Then He will move heaven and earth to provide for your need, whatever it may be.
Merely memorizing and reviewing the steps isn't enough. Instead, commit to these principles as a way of life. Get used to thinking, I can't but God canᾢ I'll submit to His will because His plans are for my good and His glory. That's the kind of life that overflows with the Holy Spirit's power.
Bertha Smith, a missionary to China, once pronounced some of the most discouraging words I'd ever heard: "Charles, I want to tell you that you're as good as you'll ever be. You're as good as you've ever been, and you won't ever be any better than you are."
I had grown up believing a falsehoodᾢthat believers were to pour effort into turning their flesh around and doing right all the time. Thankfully, Bertha wasn't finished. "God never intended for you to get better, because you can't improve flesh," she said. "But the Holy Spirit, who is living inside you, will enable and live through you."
She was right. My flesh hasn't changed one bit. But as the Holy Spirit releases His supernatural power in my life, I find myself going beyond what is inherent to the nature of man. And the indwelling Spirit intends to do the same with every follower of God.
Although the works of the Holy Spirit are many, four are basic to the life of faith: The Spirit illumines the mind, enabling believers to understand the things of God; He energizes physical bodies to serve the Lord; He enables the will to follow through on doing what is right; and He quickens emotions to feel and express the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).
Bertha Smith passed on an important truth to me: Flesh is insufficient. Only the Holy Spirit living inside us has the strength and wisdom to live out the Christian life victoriously. That's why God gave us His Spirit, through whom we reap all the benefits of a righteous and godly life.
God has revealed Himself to mankind and provided all that is necessary for a relationship with Him. Yet many people foolishly refuse His offer.
By choosing to live without God, a person will spiral downward into sin and a skewed view of the truth. As ignorance overpowers the capacity for intelligent understanding, an ever-darkening heart develops. The individual hungers for something to fill his emptiness but fails to recognize that only the Lord can satisfy his longing.
Desiring to fill his spiritual void, the person will look for an idol to worship. It won't be a statue of wood or gold, but rather something on which to focus his affections. "Idols" occupy a person's passion, time, and energy; in today's world, they often take the form of money, prominence, and relationships. The "worshipper" begins to indulge in earthly pleasures and desires, yet nothing can satisfy the emptiness. Eventually, as Romans 1:28 makes clear, the Lord will turn such a person over to a depraved mindᾢone that can no longer make right judgments.
Remember, the heavenly Father desires a relationship with us. He even gave His own Son to make this possible. It is man who rejects Him and begins the journey toward godlessness and emptiness.
Look around. Notice the manifold evidence that points to a holy, loving God who desires an intimate friendship with you. Don't put off accepting His offer of relationshipᾢthe consequences of rejection are far too dangerous, and the benefits of saying yes are beyond what you can imagine (Eph. 3:20).
