Hearing the Voice of God: Discernment


Discernment is the tickling apart of truth from deceit.

Discernment is the sharing authentically, and the noticing of emotion and reaction.

Discernment is laying aside our pride and our fear and releasing to objective observation.  It takes humility.  It takes open ears.  It takes clear hearts.

Discernment is well-done in community. Those who know you and who love you may be good sounding boards but they may also sway the decision to avoid their own pain, hurt, fear or baggage.  A trusted community with some healthy distance from the issue may yield the truest insights.

God does not delight in being un-accessible.  God is not a trickster.  God is not hiding. 

Deception comes from our hearts and from the evil one.

Can we clear away the “noise?”

Can we hear the heart of God?  What rings true?

The Bible can offer a measuring stick.  Jesus himself used scriptures in Matthew 4 to rebuke the deceit of Satan.

The wise and experienced can offer direction and counsel.  Wisdom and age do not necessarily go hand-in-hand but experience builds intuition (intuition being the quick, almost-not-thinking, reaction to current circumstances.  It relies very heavily on previous experience.)

Our prayers and our hearts can offer guidance – as long as we can be honest.  Can we admit our fears?  Can we admit our reluctance?  Can we confess our wounds?  Can we be truly vulnerable – at least with God?

Sometimes, there is no clear answer – Whether you turn to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice behind you saying, “this is the way, walk in it. (God will be with you) Isaiah 30:21.

Sometimes, we think we have the answer, but we need a course correction - David and Nathan in 2 Samuel 7.

Sometimes, the thing that looks wrong, is the correct course – Peter is instructed to eat unclean animals in Acts 10:9-16.

Sometimes, there is a very clear directive but we really, really, really don’t want to do it – Jonah found a ship going to the most remote trading city (Jonah 1:3).

Hearing the voice of God takes practice.  And, as with all practice, we will make mistakes.  We will get it wrong.  And that’s ok.  It’s ok to make mistakes.  It’s ok to get it wrong.  You are human – not God.  

And God does not delight in hiding.

God delights in connecting with you.

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