Nurturing Your Sense of Discernment

In these last days, one of the greatest gifts that must be developed and nurtured in every individual in the body of Christ is the grace of discerning good from evil. Many of the things in life are neither black nor white but rather in shades of grey.

[Hebrews 5:14 KJV] “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil”.

Many of the things you are looking at are not what they appear to be. The person standing next to you is not who you think they are. People wear hair that is not theirs, a skin tone that is not original, butts and boobs that are not theirs; there is so much drama, hypocrisy, and deception around us today. Each of us must, therefore, develop our perceptive ability to discern good from evil.

Many people are not straight forward, they put up all kinds of appearances and charades. The times are dangerous and it takes real discernment to survive in this day and age. This is a day and age when you can’t just look at things and believe they are all that there is to it. May the Lord grant each of us great discernment.

Many have erred and missed their destiny because they did not have the grace of discernment and perception.

In 1 Samuel 14, we read how the king David would have been deceived and trapped by Joab if he did not have the grace to discern. Joab looked for a wise woman and put words in her mouth to trap the king, David. It took King David’s discerning heart to tell out the hand of Joab in the matter of the wise woman. You will be deceived and trapped if you don’t develop your ability to discern. There are many people who are engaging the service of wise men and women to deceive you. I pray for you that you shall not be trapped.

2 Kings 2:13-25, but for the wisdom to discern, Solomon would have risked losing the kingdom to Adonijah. Adonijah spoke to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, about his own desire to marry Abishag. But Solomon was smart enough to understand that if Adonijah could ask for Abishag, then he will ask for the kingdom one day. When Bathsheba, the  spoke to Solomon, he immediately could discern that Adonijah had spoken to her. Discernment is God’s great gift to His children to unlock the secret codes of the evil one.

Samson could have lived longer to fulfill his destiny if he could discern that Delilah had been contracted by the lords of the Philistines. The lords of the Philistines had spoken to Delilah. Lack of discernment and understanding can cost you your vision, life, freedom, and honour. Samson was reduced to a laughing stock because he did not discern who Delilah had become.

Apostle Paul would have failed in his ministry to Sergius Paulus if he had not perceived the sorcery of Bar-Jesus. Bar-Jesus was using sorcery to turn the deputy away from the faith, but Paul perceived hid actions and thwarted it. You need a lot of discernment in ministry because people have become very sophisticated.

The slave girl who brought gain to her masters would have smeared the ministry of Paul with dishonour, if he had not discerned her sorcery (See Acts 16:12-16) There are many people who come around with ulterior motives. Discernment is important for identifying motives and intents.

Many have crushed their destinies and have missed the move of God because they were without discernment. I pray that the Lord will give each of us the grace of discernment to tell good from evil. I pray that you will gain a deeper understanding and perception. Remember, some things are for men with understanding and discernment only. You will not miss the way, and you shall make it.

So, four simple steps to develop discernment are;

1. Use the word of God constantly:

The Bible tells us that strong meat is for those who by constant use have exercised their sense to discern good from evil.

2. Pay attention to your internal dynamics:

In Acts 16:12, apostle Paul reacted because he was grieved in his spirit. One of the easiest ways to discern good from evil is whether you have peace or not about the issue. When you don’t have peace about it, remember it requires scrutiny. Samson should have proved further when he felt vexed in his spirit. Vexation of spirit is an important lead.

3. Read in-between the lines:

Read in-between the lines. Nehemiah, in Nehemiah 6:10, read in between the lines and knew that the prophecy was fake. You must discern what has not been said, you must read what is not clearly written. There are many things that people will not tell you, yet you must hear it. When people are speaking, listen to what they have not said, listen to what they are not saying, listen to their body language.

4. Don’t believe in vanity:

When it sounds too good and looks flawless, it’s likely to be a charade. The Bible says “let him that is deceived not believe in vanity”. The Gibeonites really looked like travelers; the wise woman Joab sent looked too desperate. Don’t believe in vanity. Probe and probe thoroughly.

Stay blessed, I love you!

Noah Simpe Bediako

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