2022-02-06
Psalm 55:22 NIV
When we’re stressed, the surge of negative emotions can be overwhelming. And unless you unburden your soul before God, it’s easy to make wrong decisions, succumb to wrong impulses, move in the wrong direction, and explode at the wrong people. The psalmist addresses this: “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you.” The extent to which you consciously lean on God, drawing strength from Him, is the extent to which you will lower your anxiety level.
It’s no coincidence that many of the psalms start with David crying out to God for help and end with him rejoicing because he vented his frustrations to the right person – God! The truth is, life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you respond to it. Your job, your finances, your marriage, your children, your health, and your future are all sources of anxiety, so you will never be totally free from angst.
But you can lower your anxiety level by following Paul’s advice: “All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus…Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so…we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times…but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort – we get a full measure of that, too” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5 MSG).
To quote a well-known pastor: “The more you pray, the less you’ll panic. The more you worship, the less you worry.”
Soul food: Isa 53:1-12; Acts 8:26-40
2021-12-20
Hebrews 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.
Zech 9-11; John 21:1-14; Ps 12; Prov 31:1-5
2021-12-19
1 Kings 3:9 NCV
‘The LORD appeared to [Solomon] in a dream during the night. God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you”‘ (v.5 NCV). Solomon said, ‘I ask that you give me a heart that understands, so I can rule the people in the right way and will know the difference between right and wrong’ (v.9 NCV). Next, we read, ‘The LORD was pleased that Solomon had asked this (v.10 NCV). But God hadn’t finished talking to Solomon: ‘I will also give you what you did not ask for: riches and honour. During your life no other king will be as great as you’ (v.13 NCV). Discernment made Solomon one of the greatest kings who ever reigned.
You’ve probably heard the saying ‘Go with your gut feeling.’ But discernment is much more than that. It doesn’t rely only on intuition, intellect, or experience. The writer of Proverbs says, ‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths’ (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV).
There are two kinds of discernment: natural discernment and spiritual discernment. The first can fail us; the second never will. When natural discernment can’t take us any further, spiritual discernment enables us to keep going with faith and confidence. How do we recognise the difference? James tells us, ‘The wisdom that comes from God is first of all pure, then peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help those who are troubled and to do good for others. It is always fair and honest’ (James 3:17 NCV). That’s what we’re aiming for, and that’s what God will give us when we ask Him for discernment.
Jer 31:31-37; Heb 8:1-13; 2 Cor 3:1
2021-12-18
1 Chronicles 12:32 NCV
William Orton, the president of Western Union, rejected an offer to buy the patents for the first telephone. The University of Southern California’s film school rejected an application (possibly several times) from Steven Spielberg. The technology company HP was offered the design of the first Apple computer, but chose not to take it up. What did all of these people and organisations have in common? They showed a lack of discernment and missed some great opportunities as a result.
When it comes to seeing life’s opportunities and solving life’s problems, we need discernment. It enables us to see what others don’t, fill in the missing pieces, and get to the heart of the matter. If we can see the root cause of a problem, we have a much better chance of solving it. That means when we stay in the area of our core gifts, our discernment will be stronger. So if we want to tap into our discernment potential, we should try to work from the areas of our strengths and giftings.
But there’s something else we can do: pray for discernment. It’s one of the nine ‘gifts of the Spirit’ promised to us in Scripture (see 1 Corinthians 12:7-10). Some of Israel’s greatest victories were won when David was king. And when we take a look at some of those who were part of his army, we read, ‘There were two hundred leaders from Issachar. They knew what Israel should do, and they knew the right time to do it.’
Discernment enables us to see doors of opportunity where others can only see brick walls. It will show us what we should do. So let’s ask God for the gift of discernment.
Zech 5-8; John 20:19-31; Ps 67; Prov 30:29-33
2021-12-05
Acts 9:6 NKJV
Paul believed he was doing God’s will by imprisoning and killing Christians. And when he discovered his true calling, it was in a dramatic way. “As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ And he said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ Then the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So he, trembling and astonished, said, ‘Lord, what do You want me to do?’ Then the Lord said to him, ‘Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do'” (vv. 3-6 NKJV). That day his ministry began; one that was destined to change the world! And as his life neared its end, he could say, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19 NKJV).
Your vision must not be born out of your need to impress others or be like them. You’re called to do God’s will, not your own or someone else’s. The Bible says, “Ephraim [was] oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked by human precept” (Hosea 5:11 NKJV). Your vision must be the result of divine guidance and not “human precept.” You must be able to pray, “Lord, you gave me this vision, and I’m trusting you to provide what I need.” The apostle John writes, “This is the confidence…we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14 NKJV).
Soul food: Jos 1; Ps 27:11-14; 2 Tim 2:1-13; 1 Cor 16:1
