While the world abounds with information as well as “influencers”, “thought leaders”, and “opinion-makers” over the Internet, it has become difficult to discern information and the intent of such personalities who happen to walk among us. What’s real? What’s fake? To get through the confusion, we seek God to grant us discern spirits.
What is a discerning spirit? In the book Deep Within: The Wonderful World of God by Gregory Fetherson, the author defines it as “a gift from God and He wants us to be aware of our surroundings. A discerning spirit shows you who people are without their mask. A whole lot of people are wearing masks and if you don’t have a discerning spirit, you’ll never know the difference.”
Why is it necessary that we obtain such a spirit? The author says it further:
God is Spirit and those who believe must worship Him in spirit and in truth. If you’re not honest with yourself, then it’ll be impossible to think you can fool God, by saying with your mouth you love Him and knowing deep within you despise Him. Thank goodness God judges us in accordance to the reins of our heart, which cannot tell a lie, because what’s in the heart will certainly come out of your mouth. If you don’t have a discerning spirit within, you’ll never know if other people are telling the truth or telling lie.
How can you obtain and develop a discerning spirit?
- Pray to God
To obtain a discerning spirit, you must pray to God, who is the source of wisdom and spiritual discernment. God wants you to develop a discerning spirit so you will know the difference between what’s real and what’s fake. Learn from the example of King Solomon who prayed to God, “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” (1 Kings 3:9).
Replace the word ‘wisdom’ with the word ‘discernment’ in James 1:5-6, and you will have, “If any of you lack discernment, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”
Persistently pray that God will grant you a discerning spirit. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8
- Know God more intimately
A discerning spirit is the fruit of intimacy with God, and intimacy with God is available to you. The Bible shows us that God is intimate with those who trust and lean on Him because the more you trust God, the more intimately you come to know Him. When you get to know Him more intimately, you gain first-hand experience of His love and wisdom and that help you obtain a discerning spirit.
True believers want to experience intimacy with God. The psalmist declares in Psalm 73:28, “It is good for me to draw near to God.” Those who regularly read, meditate and reflect on the Bible take heed of James’ exhortation and promise, “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”
- Get into fellowship with fellow believers
Just as plants need the right environment to grow and bear fruits, you need to be nurtured in an authentic church environment in order to obtain and develop a discerning spirit. An authentic church is a place where you can pray and read the Bible with fellow believers, seek godly counsel, grow your spiritual gift (or gifts), and profess and proclaim God and Jesus Christ. A genuine fellowship with fellow believers (of sound faith and unparalleled love for truth and zeal for righteousness) will help you grow your faith as well as your openness to receiving such a spirit, plus other gifts, from God.
When you are planted in the life of a spiritually healthy, Christ-centered, Bible-based church, you could grow and flourish in your particular gift. “Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.” Psalm 92:13
- Read, meditate, and reflect on the Word of God
To obtain a discerning spirit, you should pray and ask God, then go to His Word, the Bible, especially the Book of Proverbs. Why the Bible?
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
“For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
Make it a habit to read, meditate, and reflect on the Word of God to obtain a discerning spirit.
May God grant you a discerning spirit!
Alex Writes 