Discernment is Given by God
In 1 Kings 3, after Solomon asks God to give him a discerning heart, God replies by saying, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be” (3:11-12 NIV). This discernment from God led to Solomon’s extraordinary discernment of a child’s true mother,
Then the king said,
“Bring me a sword.” So they brought a sword for the king. He then gave an order: “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.” The woman whose son was alive was deeply moved out of love for her son and said to the king, “Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!” But the other said, “Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!” Then the king gave his ruling: “Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother.” When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice (1 Kgs 3:24-28 NIV).
In Daniel 2, Daniel hears about Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and seeks God’s understanding in the matter, and God reveals to Daniel the meaning of the dream, and Daniel praises God by saying, “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning” (2:20-21 NIV).
These passages show that God is the source of discernment. Because God values discernment and is pleased when his people seek it, God honored Solomon and Daniel’s request for discernment.1 Being people of discernment involves being in relationship with God and going to him in prayer. God has special roles for his people regarding discernment, and so he wants his people to stay close to him and seek his discernment. God gives his discernment according to his timing, and his people will know what they are called to do when it is time for them to act.2 Nouwen writes about our relationship with God and discernment by stating, “Once we are willing to see and be seen by God, we can look for signs of God’s presence and guidance in every appearance presented to our senses. Discernment becomes a new way of seeing (and being seen) that results in divine revelation and direction. This heart knowledge enables us to lead a life worthy of the calling (Eph 4:1).”3
Discernment through God’s Word
The psalmist says to God, “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Ps 119:130 NIV). God gives discernment through the Word of God. God has revealed himself in the Bible, and so when God’s people learn, understand and apply the Bible to their lives, they are receiving and exercising discernment. Thus, God’s people must be “properly disposed to hear God’s Word, and properly disposed to respond to that Word in the practical circumstances of our lives.”4 God’s people should seek to apply the principles of the Bible to their decisions in daily life. Every child of God is responsible for learning and being disciplined in the Word of God, so that they may learn discernment.5 This necessitates much time in the Bible in order to develop into the discerning people that God desires them to be.6 People must individually enter the silence and solitude of studying the Bible, but also they must hear the preaching of the Bible in church.
Discernment through a Renewed Mind
The prophet Jeremiah speaks for God about the New Covenant and the renewed mind that he will give his people. He states, “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people” (Jer 31:33 NIV). The Apostle Paul writes about the importance of a renewed mind in discernment. He writes, “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God” (Rom 12:2 CSB). In order to discern the ways of God, people must have a renewed mind in Christ Jesus. Spiritual discernment indicates a person who has been truly saved and has received a renewed mind. Christian maturity and discernment are closely related. “There are no Christians who are mature but undiscerning.”7
On the other hand, if there is a complete lack of discernment or a lack of concern for discernment, then this is a mark of spiritual death. Unsaved people are not spiritually discerning, and the ways and truths of God are foolish to them.8 God’s people can get caught up in sin, resulting in a lack of discernment. Therefore, “God’s holiness lies at the very heart of the need for discernment. Our passion for God’s holiness, our desire to keep ourselves pure from sin, will motivate our practice of discernment. The greater our understanding of God’s holiness, the greater will be our understanding of the importance of discerning truth from error.”9 Living holy lives with renewed minds will enable Christians to discern with clarity the events and life circumstances as possible signposts leading to a deeper understanding of how God is guiding and working in their lives. With renewed minds, Christians can walk by faith with discernment, trusting that God is guiding them to truth and to good decision-making.
Conclusion
As this series of posts has shown, every Christian has some level of discernment and is called to pursue discernment, which involves insight into spiritual realities as well as making sound judgements and good decisions in the ways of God. Discernment is given by God alone through the Holy Spirit, through the Word of God and through a renewed mind. People of discernment glorify God and learn to enjoy him more and more every day. Discernment is a “gift and practice that ascertains and affirms the unique way God’s love and direction are manifested in our lives, so that we can know God’s will and fulfil our calling and mission within the mysterious interworkings of God’s love.”[10
Tim Challies, The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment (Wheaton: Crossway, 2007), EPUB edition, Ch. 1.
Henri J. Nouwen, Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life (New York: HarperOne, 2013), EPUB edition, Ch. 7.
Ibid., EPUB edition, Ch. 1.
Luke T. Johnson, Scripture & Discernment: Decision-making in the Church (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996), EPUB edition, Ch. 6.
Nouwen, Discernment, EPUB edition, Ch. 1.
Jay E. Adams, A Call to Discernment (Eugene: Harvest House, 1987), 8.
Challies, The Discipline, EPUB edition, Ch. 1.
Ibid., EPUB edition, Ch. 1.
Ibid., EPUB edition, Ch. 1.
Nouwen, Discernment, EPUB edition, Preface.