Discernment beyond words and appearances.

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for 
asking (James 1:5, NLT).

  To be able to discern is a crucial aspect of being wise in the decisions on which our life experience is built.  The decisions we make will affect our lives and our decisions affect the lives of those we are in relationship with as well as those in our sphere of influence.  So how do we learn to use discernment?  Some of our discernment comes from our learning from our own life experiences. Some come from our pursuits of knowledge and some discernment comes as we process and adapt the educating and guiding input of family, mentors and teachers.  A natural maturing and seasoning process allows us to have a discerning wisdom in most areas of our life experience.

     Still we can be often fooled by words and appearances.  This is an age old struggle. Flattery can fool us into walking into prideful downfalls.  Words can be spoken that are blatantly false but they become believable because we like the promise in them failing to discern the illusion in the outcome. Things can look alluring that are really destructive. People can appear trustworthy but are really charlatans. Bad can sound good and evil can look right.  Guilt can be hidden in the midst of appearing innocent and innocence can be lost in the circumstantial evidence and timing.  We have to be wise in our own living and we have to be wise in our areas of responsibility.  We need to absorb discernment from our life experiences and we need to assimilate knowledge from those that are true, all the while gathering awareness from all sources of learning.  We can do all this and much more and still be fooled by words and appearances.  Is there another source of help and insight available in our learning to be wise?

      God does want us to be foolish or be damaged by those that would lead us into evil or perpetuate evil upon us.  His Word needs to be read and absorbed. This will lead us to light, truth and life. His Word leads us in the walking upon the pathways of truth and it helps us to prosper and be blessed as we follow His ways discerning the untrue and destructive dangers of sin (Psalm 1). He will also come with enlightenment and grace when we appeal to Him in our need for  wisdom in any situation.  A simple prayer from the humble heart is the lifeline to the vast resource of the All-Knowing God as our Generous Father in heaven.  Jesus promises only good from our true and Good Father (Matthew 7:11). Jesus also promises perfect guidance from the Holy Spirit unto all truth (John 14:17). Let us never neglect the resources available to us as we discern beyond words and appearances.  

“Because you asked for wisdom … I will give you what you asked for! (1 Kings 3:11-12, NLT).

Suggested Reading … 1 Kings 3 (God’s gift of wisdom and its application in the life of  Solomon)