Discernment is a major concern that many of us Christians have problems with. It is also known as understanding. Though we have the Holy Spirit once we are saved, we find it hard to know right from wrong and struggle with what’s right to do. Many people don’t listen to the Holy Spirit or their consciences, so they lack discernment. The idea behind discernment is simple: we need to trust God, who knows everything, so that we can make the right decisions and know what to do. We need to listen to God’s will, and act upon it all the time. That takes practice of course, but it is worth it. With discernment, comes wisdom (and vice versa), which is one of the most sought-after characteristics that a Christian can have. We, as humans, go through many hard times and good times. In hard times, it is difficult to know what to do or who to trust, do to nervousness and stress. In good times, it can be difficult to listen to God and His will since everything is going well. You need to learn to pray to God, listen to Him (not yourself), and read His word, which is the Bible. By dwelling on what He says, you will have seasoned decision-making skills that will help you discern from right or wrong.
Discernment verses:
1 Kings 3:9 KJV: “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?”
Psalm 19:12 KJV: “Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.”
Proverbs 3:5 KJV: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
Proverbs 1:5 KJV: “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels”
Proverbs 10:13 KJV: “In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.”
Proverbs 14:6 KJV: “A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.”
Proverbs 14:33 KJV: “Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.”
Proverbs 15:14 KJV: “The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.”
Proverbs 16:21 KJV: “The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.”
Proverbs 17:24 KJV: “Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.”
Proverbs 17:28 KJV: “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.”
Proverbs 18:15 KJV: “The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.”
