Discernment in the Journey
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him" – James 1:5
One of the greatest gifts God gives us through prayer is discernment. It is not always the most talked-about benefit of prayer, but it is one of the most important. If we are going to step into all that God has for us, we have to be able to tell the difference between what is for us and what is against us. Without discernment, we can be led by emotion, influenced by the wrong voices, or distracted by opportunities that look good but are not God’s best.
Discernment is the ability to see beyond the surface and understand what is really going on. It is a spiritual insight that comes from God, helping us recognize His direction, spot deception, and choose wisely. This is why prayer is essential. It keeps us in constant communication with the One who sees the entire picture. While we can only see what is right in front of us, God sees the full scope of every situation.
Through prayer, our spiritual senses sharpen. We learn to pause before making decisions and seek God’s perspective. We start to notice when something does not align with His Word, even if it feels right in the moment. We also gain the courage to say no to things that are not part of His plan, even when they are tempting.
Discernment protects us from detours that could delay or derail our calling. The enemy often tries to distract us with shortcuts that seem easier, but those paths usually lead us away from God’s best. When we pray and listen for God’s voice, He helps us filter out what is not from Him and focus on what is.
If you are praying for God’s blessings, also pray for discernment. Ask Him to give you clarity on what is from Him, what is from your own desires, and what is from the enemy. The more time you spend in prayer, the more you will recognize His voice and follow His lead. God’s best for your life is worth protecting, and discernment is one of the ways He equips you to guard it. Stay prayerful, stay watchful, and trust Him to guide you every step of the way.
One of the greatest gifts God gives us through prayer is discernment. It is not always the most talked-about benefit of prayer, but it is one of the most important. If we are going to step into all that God has for us, we have to be able to tell the difference between what is for us and what is against us. Without discernment, we can be led by emotion, influenced by the wrong voices, or distracted by opportunities that look good but are not God’s best.
Discernment is the ability to see beyond the surface and understand what is really going on. It is a spiritual insight that comes from God, helping us recognize His direction, spot deception, and choose wisely. This is why prayer is essential. It keeps us in constant communication with the One who sees the entire picture. While we can only see what is right in front of us, God sees the full scope of every situation.
Through prayer, our spiritual senses sharpen. We learn to pause before making decisions and seek God’s perspective. We start to notice when something does not align with His Word, even if it feels right in the moment. We also gain the courage to say no to things that are not part of His plan, even when they are tempting.
Discernment protects us from detours that could delay or derail our calling. The enemy often tries to distract us with shortcuts that seem easier, but those paths usually lead us away from God’s best. When we pray and listen for God’s voice, He helps us filter out what is not from Him and focus on what is.
If you are praying for God’s blessings, also pray for discernment. Ask Him to give you clarity on what is from Him, what is from your own desires, and what is from the enemy. The more time you spend in prayer, the more you will recognize His voice and follow His lead. God’s best for your life is worth protecting, and discernment is one of the ways He equips you to guard it. Stay prayerful, stay watchful, and trust Him to guide you every step of the way.
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9 Comments
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I have an old friend who i haven’t just known for a long time but is also literally very old. lol. He’s the first person who taught me about discernment as well as the difference between that and judging. You put it so well here Pastor Ed. Discernment is without attachment. I find it best when I don’t even put words to it. Simply learn and make better decisions. Lately I’ve been feeling less like smooth sailing and more like when you skip a rock across the surface of the water. I’m still getting it. It seems smooth at times but pretty bumpy in reality and kind of wonder at times whether I’m gonna land on my feet lol. Thank you for this though. It gives me some simple direction that I need right now.
Thank you Pastor Ed!!! Love this word which is full of love, guidance, and wisdom!!
thanks Pastor Ed for sharing this devo
Thank you for the Word every day Pastor Ed! I love beginning my day with God's word and His spirit speaking through you!!
Amen! May Our Heavenly Father my daddy, send us a revival. I pray for the generations to come, they really don’t believe in Our Heavenly Father and His son Jesus. I pray for more discernment and faith in my life. I pray for my family and all of us that have circumstances of any kind. Prayers for Pastor Ed & family & our congregation. Blessings??
Thank you. I act on emotion a lot and don’t think clearly sometimes. I was awoken last night and God made the situation I was just in very clear from his perspective. I need to abide and trust in him again like never before.
Thank you for being so transparent, Vilma. It's only then that others can fully RELATE to us. When we take the "mask" off. How exciting the our LORD woke you up out of your sleep in the still of the night to whisper His personal message to you that obviously touched your heart and gave you CLARITY!! I'm going to pray for you that the desire of your heart (to abide and trust in Him again like never before) becomes a reality starting TODAY. I will join you in starting and ending every prayer to Him with the affirmation of that desire. I believe what Paul said in Philippians 1:6 "and I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns" (NLT) Love, prayers, and encouragement from your Sister in Christ ~ Linda
I love the part, "the more time you spend in prayer the more you will recognize his voice."
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nMy heart desires to hear him.
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nStay watchful makes me think of "watch and listen like a watchman." Not allowing distractions to keep me from him.