Pray for discernment (3)
2021-12-20Hebrews 5:14 NCV
In the 1940s, Switzerland manufactured 80 per cent of the world’s watches. Then in the 1960s, when an inventor presented a concept for a new type of watch to the leaders of a Swiss company, they rejected it. All the other Swiss companies he approached did the same. They lived by the philosophy, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!’ But the inventor believed in his design, and took it to a company in Japan. The name of the company was Seiko, the design of the watch was digital, and guess what? Sales of digital watches soon outstripped the traditional analogue ones. One discernment-driven decision can change the course of our entire life. And our discernment can also end up blessing others.
Here are two things we need to know about God-given discernment: 1) It’s shaped by Scripture. ‘Anyone who lives on milk is still a baby and knows nothing about right teaching. But solid food is for those who are grown up. They are mature enough to know the difference between good and evil’ (v.13-14 NCV). Spending time in God’s Word, reading it, studying it, reflecting on it, and asking questions about it will help us develop our level of discernment.
2) It’s sharpened by use. The more we use it, the more competent we become. We’ll sometimes make mistakes when it comes to exercising discernment, but just like a muscle, the more we flex and stretch it, the stronger it grows.
And here’s one last thought about discernment: the Bible refers to ‘discerning of spirits’, or attitudes and motivations (see 1 Corinthians 12:10). What a great advantage to have! Let’s pray for the gift of discernment and use it at every opportunity.