Spiritual discernment meaning
What comes to mind when you hear the word “spiritual discernment”?
Perhaps you are considering a spiritual approach to major life choices, such
as marriage or a new job.
It can be viewed as a supernatural means of distinguishing between good and
evil spirits on earth.
You might think of it as wisdom to interpret and practice the Bible.
The fact is that, depending on the circumstances, spiritual discernment may be
much more than listed above.
Let's take a look at what spiritual discernment is and what it means for the
Christian life.
What does it mean to be spiritually discerned?
According to the official definition of Christian discernment, "a
decision-making process that makes discoveries that can lead to future
actions."
For Christians, discernment is a process by which God helps man to make the
best choice. "Discerning" comes from the Latin "discern", meaning "to
separate" or "to separate". It is the ability to discern good and evil, truth
and untruth, wisdom and folly in the Christian life.
Discernment is useful in many situations in our lives. The ability to evaluate
events and make decisions conscious of the moral implications of each
alternative.
However, it must be acknowledged that discernment does not happen
automatically and requires effort and attention. We do this by assessing the
moral and spiritual status of each individual, group or movement.
In the Bible, in Matthew 7:1-2, Jesus exhorts us to be discerning and
discerning, and not to judge. “As you judge others, so you will be judged, and
your measure will be yours.”
Avoiding judgmentalism is the key to accurate discernment.
Jesus' awareness went deep into the heart of the situation during his life.
Christians should be able to distinguish in the same way. In the mission of
Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit reaffirms that discernment comes only through
unity with God and His message.
The purpose of discernment is to live according to the thoughts of God, both
practically and spiritually. This is what it means to see and act on things
through the eyes of God.
Why is discernment necessary?
Spiritual discernment is sometimes mistaken for the God-given ability to
distinguish between good and bad spiritual powers. Wisdom, on the other hand,
is a measure of insight, enabling us to distinguish right from wrong, not just
good from evil.
When you know and follow God's Word, you will learn to distinguish between
good and evil.
This is, in a way, the essence of the identification process. The ability to
distinguish the voice of God from the people of the world and the ability to
know right and wrong.
When making decisions about our lives or others, we often do not listen to
heavenly intervention.
There are two kinds of decision making. They are head-based (determined by
reasoning) and mind-based (determined by emotions) (determined by ethos,
meaning emotions).
The majority of people who judge by heart are rational, cold-hearted, and
objective. People who make decisions by heart are considered passionate,
sensitive, and in touch with their emotions.
Both logos and ethos have their pros and cons, and it is risky to judge based
on either one. The combination of these two ways of thinking is discernment.
This allows us to make informed judgments based on reasoning and not overlook
information, as well as show empathy and understanding of other people's
points of view.
There are many examples of discernment in the Bible.
There are many examples of discernment in the Bible. It can be argued that
Jesus used his insight to heal and educate people while on earth.
Here are some Bible verses that deal with discernment.
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are
from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world”.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be converted by the renewing of your
mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, which is good and
acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).
“And I desire that your love, along with wisdom and all understanding, may
abound so that you may discern what is good and be pure and blameless until
the day of Christ” (Philippians 1:9-10).
“For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged
sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow,
and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
“To another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the
ability to discern spirits, to another various tongues, to another
interpretation of tongues” (1 Corinthians 12:10).
“Knowledge begins with the fear of the Lord, but fools despise wisdom and
instruction” (Proverbs 1:7).
Since the Bible makes it clear that discernment is an important subject, let's
talk about how you can develop it in your own life.
How can we develop spiritual discernment?
Now that you have a better understanding of what spiritual discernment is, how
can you improve it? Thankfully, there are many ways to develop spiritual
discernment.
You practice using the best strategies available when you want to be good at
anything. You get better at your talent as you practice it.
After all, practice makes perfect.
To gain spiritual discernment through the Holy Spirit, we must do more than
read or imagine about it. We really have to put it into practice.
There are several ways to develop discernment that may seem difficult at
first.
Ask God in prayer.
Consistent conversation with the Lord is one of the simplest ways to develop
spiritual discernment. If you really think about it, there is only one God who
gives you true spiritual insight, so it is natural to seek God's help.
The more we turn to God for help along the journey, the more it becomes clear
that the gift of discernment enables us to make rational decisions. When we
have confidence in our choices, our connection with our Heavenly Father is
strengthened. Because when we trust in Him, we also trust in ourselves. The
reverse is also true.
Take the time to read the Bible.
Reading examples of spiritual discernment in the scriptures is another simple
way to improve your spiritual discernment. It can sometimes be difficult to
understand what God is trying to teach us, but it becomes clear as we study
His Word.
Jesus spent most of his life making choices about others and himself, with
long-term consequences. During his Last Supper, Jesus warned that many of his
disciples would eventually result in his own death.
Another example can be found in John 2:13-19. Jesus was angry with the
merchants selling goods in the temple. “Destroy this temple, and in three days
I will rebuild it,” he said when Jesus asked about the authority to cleanse
the temple.
It was only after Jesus was resurrected that his disciples realized that Jesus
was talking about his own body and not the temple.
Take your time and pay attention.
There are times when we need to sit and listen to God. This is what
concentration prayer is all about. We can take a walk and think of God's Word.
We want to accept what God is saying to us through the Bible, signs, and our
own personal experiences. This is what it means to hear the word of God.
Another way is to seek spiritual advice from people who have a deep
understanding of God. When seeking advice, you should seek advice from people
who have the expertise, experience, and insight necessary to provide sound
advice.
Simply discussing with a friend who may or may not have the experience needed
to provide great advice will not consistently provide an intellectual response
and positive results.
How do I know if I am discerning?
The Bible says that our lives will reflect discernment if we are intelligent
and walk in the way of the Lord. "Who is wise among us?" Let them know this.
Who has discernment? Make sure they understand. Jehovah's ways are perfect.
The upright walk in it, but the wicked stumble upon it” (Hosea 14:9).
The Holy Spirit empowers and makes possible all spiritual talents, which are
used to edify the Church.
The gift of discernment is not something that can be demonstrated by knowledge
and intelligence in the workplace, nor is it something that can be
demonstrated by the conviction of unbelievers. If the Body of Christ is truly
a gift, it is given to uplift and encourage it.
Are you a student of God's Word to develop a discerning heart? Are you a
person who spends time studying God's teachings in order to realize the truth
and rightly discern, teach, and apply it?
Hebrews 5:14 says, "But much food is for those who are mature, having trained
themselves to discern good and evil by constant use, training themselves to
discern good and evil by repeated use."
When we see the world, we take data from all directions, digest it, and then
decide how to process it. Some people seem to forget what they observe and
learn. Others perceive their surroundings and appear to be one step ahead.
They make wise judgments, have an almost miraculous ability to identify who to
trust, and always have the right advice for the situation. They seem to have
some kind of knowledge.
This ability is known as discernment and is a kind of wisdom that comes from
both insight and taught experience and knowledge. In the Christian faith, it
is a way to gain insight into the nature of situations, people, and things
that come from the Holy Spirit.
It is possessed by those with the spiritual gift of discernment, but knowledge
and discernment may be endowed with those who pray for it. Discernment is a
tool that God gives Christians throughout their lives, but it must be
understood and followed in order to be useful to the believer.
The most basic form of judgment is wisdom. By definition, it is "the property
of understanding and comprehending the obscure, the ability to distinguish,
the act of sensing or discriminating something." It is a similar concept in
Christian religion, but divided by the Holy Spirit, and many denominations
believe that this can help people determine if they have a demonic or heavenly
influence on someone, place, or event. It is also a gift that can be
requested, accepted, or rejected.
One of the most difficult aspects of defining discernment in the Bible and
getting information about it is that the term discernment is not always used
in all English translations. Often versions use different terms. Wisdom,
insight, discernment, attention, temptation, and sense are all synonyms. When
the reader reads this word, he knows that the subject is discernment.
Conclusion
Prayer is the foundation of true discernment. Believers should seek the
counsel and discernment of the Holy Spirit in the same way as Solomon did. God
gives grace to those who ask. “The LORD looks down from heaven on men, and see
if there is anyone who understands God and seeks him” (Psalm 14:2).
It is also the desire to learn from experienced and knowledgeable people. The
book of Proverbs is written as a father teaching his son what true wisdom is.
Discernment can be developed by praying to God, seeking advice from a
knowledgeable Christian, and reading the Bible.
The difference between the life of a believer and the life of an unbeliever is
how we use this understanding. Even though Solomon had all the knowledge of
mankind, he did not use it when arranging marriage, and in the end made the
bride worship the god she wanted, causing spiritual ruin to the entire nation
of Israel.
When a Christian uses his spiritual knowledge to hear the voice of the Holy
Spirit, he will display a clever, Christlike character. Jesus showed
discernment because he was the standard of his life. He was also a lecturer on
the subject. He stressed the need to avoid worldly knowledge that could cloud
accurate judgment.
They were so preoccupied with their expertise that the wise Pharisees and
Sadducees (then religious leaders) did not recognize Jesus Christ as the
Messiah. On the other hand, people who society would have considered
illiterate, unsophisticated, or stupid recognized reality. Jesus said,
"Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I thank you for hiding this from the wise
and the prudent and revealing it to little children." (Matthew 11:25b, Matthew
11:25b, Matthew 11:25b, Matthew 11:25b
The higher a Christian's intelligence and discernment, the greater his faith,
the better he can discern the will of God, the right, the good, and the more
he expresses his love for God and man like Jesus did. .
