How to increase your spiritual discernment?
First, we have to understand a few key things with spiritual discernment.
Spiritual discernment isn't automatic.
Spiritual discernment is a process.
Spiritual discernment takes discipline.
Once we can understand these concepts, we're ready to start growing in the grace & knowledge of God.
but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)
Discernment is the ability to rightly judge a situation or person.
Now, the Lord is the one that judges whether we go to heaven or not.
It is our job to spiritually discern whether what we do in our lives is from God or not.
You can either serve the Father of lights (James 1:17) ... or the father of lies (John 8:44).
The ability to discern shows the level of spiritual maturity we have.
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:12-14)
Here are the 3 ways to grow in spiritual discernment.
#1 Holy Spirit.
We need the Spirit of God.
He is our guide, comforter, teacher, & SO MUCH more.
It is the Holy Spirit that searches the deep things of God & gives us spiritual discernment.
9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:9-11)
#2 Word of God.
God's will is found in God's word.
We believe the infallible accuracy of the scriptures & the truth behind it (2 Timothy 3:16).
Our part is to test everything we hear against the scriptures.
Like Apostle Paul & the Bereans, who heard the word & searched the scriptures daily. (Acts 17:11)
Gods word discerns our thoughts & heart.
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
#3 Intercessory Prayer
The ability to spend time with God in intercession.
Allowing the Holy Spirit to move you in how to intercede & be used... is a powerful way of increasing discernment.
It's moments where we fully surrender & allow the Spirit of God to take over!
30 He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30)
You'll come out of those moments sharper in the spirit than EVER!
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27)
Let go & let God.
Serving Jesus is more than a moment or an event, its a lifestyle.
May the Lord continue to sharpen your discernment in the spiritual realm.
In the MIGHTY name of Jesus!