Why Discernment Is Important in Life and Faith

Discernment is a crucial aspect of life and faith that helps us navigate complex situations and make informed decisions. It's about being able to distinguish between good and bad, right and wrong, and truth and falsehood.

In life, discernment is essential for building strong relationships. By being able to read people's intentions and behaviors, we can avoid toxic relationships and surround ourselves with positive influences. This is especially important in our faith, where we're often called to discern God's will and make decisions that align with our values.

Discernment also helps us avoid making impulsive decisions that can lead to regret. By taking the time to reflect and consider our options, we can make choices that are in line with our goals and values. In our faith, this means being mindful of our actions and their impact on others.

By exercising discernment in our daily lives, we can live more intentionally and authentically.

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Discernment involves making discriminating judgments, distinguishing between, and recognizing the moral implications of different situations and courses of action. It includes the ability to "weigh up" and assess the moral and spiritual status of individuals, groups, and even movements.

Discernment is not just about judging others, but also about discerning the will of God and understanding how He is active in daily life. As the Bible says, "The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth" (Proverbs 17:24).

Discernment requires a spiritual understanding and an experiential knowledge of how God is active in daily life, acquired through disciplined spiritual practice. It involves faithful living and listening to God's love and direction so that we can fulfill our individual calling and shared mission.

Here are some definitions of discernment from various sources:

Discernment is simply living in light of our transforming relationship with God, as Thomas Green puts it. It's about having a sense of how things look in God's eyes and seeing them in some measure "uncovered and laid bare" (Hebrews 4:13).

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Discernment is crucial for making wise decisions that benefit our salvation. It's a key to Christian freedom, setting us free from bondage to others, our own uneducated conscience, and unbiblical patterns of life.

Discernment acts as a means of protection, guarding us from being deceived spiritually. It helps us distinguish between truth and error, and without it, we risk being "tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine" (Ephesians 4:14).

Discernment is also essential in spiritual warfare, as emphasized in Ephesians 6:11. It allows us to recognize and understand the tactics of spiritual enemies, and respond appropriately with the spiritual armor provided by God.

The Bible is the only thing that can combat falsehood and evil, giving us the power to discern right from wrong and live by God's truth. Discernment is not just about making decisions, but about becoming the person God wants us to be.

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Here are some principles for living a discerning life:

Discernment is harder in today's world, with the proliferation of technology and the noise it brings. But it's more important than ever, as the world is groaning for discerning people and a discerning community.

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Discernment is closely tied to spiritual maturity, so if you want to be a discerning Christian, you need to be a mature Christian growing in your faith, understanding the Bible, and growing in your knowledge of the Lord.

Spiritual understanding is a privilege God gives us, allowing us to see the world and ourselves through his eyes. He gives us the Bible as a lens to see the world as he sees it.

To cultivate discernment, seek out mature Christians who can guide you in your faith journey. Ask them how to become a growing, mature, and faithful Christian.

Discernment is not just about making decisions; it's about living out what you know and who you're becoming. It's about responding to God's invitations and living a life that honors him.

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As you grow in your faith, you'll become wiser and better at telling the difference between right and wrong, good and evil. This will help you make decisions that reflect your love for God and others.

Discernment requires ongoing transformation, as the Holy Spirit shapes you into a new creation. Your decisions form your heart, and engaging in this transformation is essential for discerning well.

In today's world, it's essential to be discerning, as we're constantly bombarded with messages from various sources. By cultivating discernment, you'll be better equipped to navigate these messages and live a life that honors God.

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Discernment helps us identify the truth among God's people by distinguishing between the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. This is crucial for spiritual growth and understanding.

According to 1 John 4:4-6, we can discern the spirit of truth versus the spirit of falsehood by paying attention to God's teaching in His Holy Word. This is because those who know God listen to us, while those who are not from God do not.

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Fellowship with other believers is not the primary focus, but rather fellowship based on truth. Jesus' High Priestly prayer in John 17 emphasizes this, praying that we are one as He and the Father are one, and that we are set apart both individually and corporately in the truth of the Word.

The Bible teaches that we are a priesthood, a holy nation unto God, and we will either exalt or profane God's name based on whether we distinguish between holy and profane things. This is seen in Ezekiel 22:26, where God's priests failed to distinguish between the holy and the profane, leading to profanity among the people.

By discerning truth versus error, we stay on target, stay upon truth, and help others keep Christ the focus. This is essential for spiritual warfare, as emphasized in Ephesians 6:11, which urges believers to put on the full armor of God to take a stand against the devil's schemes.

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Discernment is not just about knowing what to do, but about being transformed from the inside out, so we can walk confidently in God’s truth. This transformation comes from spending time in God's Word and letting it shape the way we think and see the world.

According to 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, every Christian's responsibility is to be wise, examining everything carefully and holding fast to what is good. Abstaining from every form of evil is also crucial.

The Bible teaches that discernment is not optional for the believer, but a required skill. Apostle Paul instructs that those of spiritual maturity should be able to "have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Heb 5:13).

Discernment is about understanding what is good and what is evil, as Apostle Paul teaches in Hebrews 5:14. Solid food is for the mature, those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice.

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In 1 Kings 3:9, King Solomon asks for an understanding mind to govern God's people, so he can discern between good and evil. This shows that discernment is essential for leadership and decision-making.

We can test everything and hold fast what is good, as instructed in 1 Thessalonians 5:21. This requires being in prayer, seeking God's direction, and immersing ourselves in Scripture.

Discernment is closely tied to spiritual maturity, and as Christians, we need to strive for that maturity to become discerning.

God gives us the privilege of spiritual understanding through the Bible, which serves as a lens to see the world as He sees it. This understanding allows us to live lives that honor God.

To become more discerning, we must grow in our faith, understanding the Bible, and increasing our knowledge of the Lord. This growth comes with age and experience.

As we mature, we become wiser and better at distinguishing between right and wrong, good and evil. It's essential to surround ourselves with mature Christians who can guide us on our spiritual journey.

By seeking guidance from mature believers, we can learn how to be growing, mature, and faithful Christians.

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