Discernment Boosts Confidence
The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.
Proverbs 19:8 NIV
Siri is the best, especially when it comes to navigation. Girlfriend just knows! She tells us where to go, how to avoid stuff, and gets us to our destination in the most successful way possible. This is great for someone like me who has trouble knowing my right hand from my left (not even kidding). Siri provides insights, or a discernment in direction, that I simply don’t have—and because of her direction, I’m confident that I’ll get to where I’m going without any hiccups.
Discernment is mentioned a lot in the Bible. It’s the ability to perceive and understand things clearly—properly distinguishing between what’s right and wrong, what’s good and bad.
Discernment is also 100 percent from God. The Holy Spirit prompts us to do what is right, and He will never lead us astray. Spiritually mature discernment allows us to decipher between what our human desires want and what God wants. It’s God’s way of showing us how things really are, instead of how we want them to be. Discernment is also important when adhering to the voices of influence around us. Our circle matters—listening to people with a track record of wisdom and successful outcomes is much better than listening to people with a history of ignorance and poor choices. We must be careful to not surround ourselves with “yes people” who affirm everything we say and do. Instead, we must include “no people” in our circle too—ones who love us enough to boldly say something before we take a disastrous turn.
The most confident people I’ve ever met are people with high levels of discernment. They show no signs of insecurity because discernment has given them a prosperous life—in relationships, in finances, and in ministry. Discernment leads to confidence, one that changes everything—because this kind of confidence doesn’t come from self-love, it comes from chasing after God.
Discernment prevents us from experiencing a life of pain and provides us with a life of peace. Walking in discernment, in word and in deed, will change everything for the better!
God, I invite Your discernment into my life. I want less of me in my thoughts and decisions, and more of You. Have Your way, and fill me with Your Spirit. Amen.
This is an excerpt from A Confidence That Changes Everything: Devotions to Shine Bright in This Topsy-Turvy Life, the new book by Hannah Crews!
