Spiritual Virtues: Discernment

Develop the ability to clearly obtain GOD’s direction; do not plot your own course.

“The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of GOD but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.” 1Co 2:14

Most people are familiar with intellectual and experiential knowledge.  We have all received from these sources many tidbits of information that shape our lives.  If you are reading this writing, for example, you have used your intellect to study and learned to read.  You also have the experience of being with others while learning to read that no doubt added to your knowledge of interacting socially.  Less widely known is a third type of knowledge; spiritual.  While intellectual knowledge comes through study, and experiential knowledge by exposure, spiritual knowledge comes by revelation from the spiritual realm.  Discernment is the tool used to receive this information. 

There are many different things in this world that we can and should discern; such as true or false information, right or wrong actions, good or bad intentions, even holy or evil spirits, but none of these are our focus regarding the Spiritual Virtue of discernment.  For our purpose discernment refers to hearing the voice of GOD, following HIS lead, feeling HIS prompting, basically receiving whatever HE wants to reveal.  This can come through different methods such as visions, dreams, spoken words, thoughts, feelings, as well as simply pictures in your mind.  Learning to connect with the Spirit of GOD within us, and probably more importantly, trusting that we can hear HIM as HE wants us to, is essential.  “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27

The bible is our absolute foundation of truth.  GOD will NEVER speak in conflict with HIS word.  Neither will HE speak new doctrinal revelation, because HIS word is perfect and complete.  However, we cannot receive specific personal instruction such as “Stop!”, “Go this way.”, or “Avoid that person!” from reading the bible.  JESUS said HE could only do what HE “sees HIS FATHER doing”…that didn’t come to HIM from reading scripture.  Paul, discussing his intentions, also said such things as, “If the LORD permits” and “If it be the LORD’s will”, again, not read from a book.  They followed the direct leading, prompting, and personal instructions of the spoken word of GOD.  While maturing Christians need diminishing step by step instructions, we are soon entering a season that this need will be even greater than it was in the very beginning.

There is no biblical formula for learning HIS voice.  As with anyone else, it takes spending time together for us to learn personal things about HIM.  However, I do not believe it is by accident that GOD had me put the spiritual virtue of discernment hot on the heels of faith and humility. “Without faith it is impossible to please GOD”, “GOD opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble”; clearly it is out of favor that HE reveals anything to us. 

Sin in our lives can interfere with our ability to discern HIS voice, so be sure to confess, repent, renounce as necessary as a preparation.  Worship music may be helpful, praying in tongues (if you do that) may be a good preparation, but I believe more than anything else, expect that you will hear from HIM.  People learn to discern GOD’s voice through different practices.  Most suggest it includes quieting themselves and scheduling intentional time to listen.  Having a pad of paper to write on can be helpful.  Not as much for writing down what you hear, but writing down distracting thoughts that will keep your mind busy otherwise.  Once written down, it seems we have our mind’s permission to stop thinking about it. 

Assignment:

Schedule some time to briefly talk, but then to listen.  Try some of the things listed above to help.  When this begins to get comfortable, ask HIM to also speak to you throughout your day with the small things of life, “Which way should I go home; Which line should I get into; What should I say to this person?”  See if you begin to notice GOD opportunities that you may have otherwise missed.