When you hear the word "discernment", what do you think of? I used to think that it was choosing between good and evil. But the Bible says that we all know the difference between good and evil (Genesis 3:22). We all know when we're doing something wrong, even if we do it anyway. But yet I know that not all of us have discernment. So what if discernment is not choosing between the good and the bad, but choosing between the good and the best?
Merriam-Webster defines discernment as "the power to distinguish or select what is true or appropriate or excellent." We all know what we should not do. But do we all know what we SHOULD do? I know I don't always. College, career paths, marriage, areas of ministry...sometimes I'm faced with so many options my head starts spinning. And the thing is, all of them are good options! What makes working in a non-profit organization in Atlanta better than working in the government sector in D.C.? Why should I choose volunteering in a soup kitchen over working in the church nursery? Out of a plethora of good options, God wants us to choose the best. And the thing is, His best is probably not the same for every person. Which is great....but it also means that we can't piggy-back off of someone else's decisions. God wants us to seek Him and to seek His best in our lives. Tune into what He's saying to you. That's discernment - that's the task of a Christian life.
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ...to the glory and praise of God.
Merriam-Webster defines discernment as "the power to distinguish or select what is true or appropriate or excellent." We all know what we should not do. But do we all know what we SHOULD do? I know I don't always. College, career paths, marriage, areas of ministry...sometimes I'm faced with so many options my head starts spinning. And the thing is, all of them are good options! What makes working in a non-profit organization in Atlanta better than working in the government sector in D.C.? Why should I choose volunteering in a soup kitchen over working in the church nursery? Out of a plethora of good options, God wants us to choose the best. And the thing is, His best is probably not the same for every person. Which is great....but it also means that we can't piggy-back off of someone else's decisions. God wants us to seek Him and to seek His best in our lives. Tune into what He's saying to you. That's discernment - that's the task of a Christian life.
Philippians 1:9-11
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ...to the glory and praise of God.
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