We have looked at some importance of discernment in two of our recent posts. Part 1 and part 2. Today we provide a list of some important guidelines for actually doing discernment.
- In order to improve our discernment we need to be open to impressions from God and step out in faith on the ones that pass the discernment process. In other words, we need to take some risks with ourselves (but be careful with others).
- Do not use one simple formula for doing discernment. Discernment is not simple and if we reduce it to a simple formula then the Enemy has a great opportunity to deceive us. Some people teach that if it sounds like a voice in your head separate from your voice then it is from God. This doesn’t work because your mind can create voices inside itself that sound like someone else is conversing with you. Likewise, other one-step formulas are unwise.
- The bigger an impact an impression might have on our life, the more important it is to have confirmations. Thus, listen for more impressions, seek advice from others, consider thoughts arising from meditation on Scripture, consider your history of discernment, and wait for assurance of your spirit while in prayer.
- Some impressions are strong and some are weak. The weaker ones need more confirmation if they are high impact. However, weaker impressions can be more important than stronger ones because sometimes God is slowly getting us used to an idea that we are resistant to.
- Through the years, impressions often develop in us first in a weak way as we learn to listen. Then they often become stronger as we become more attuned to the Spirit. But then they might become weak again so that we learn to listen with our deeper self which is still undeveloped. If God only spoke “loudly” to us then we would never develop this deeper discernment because we would be depending on our surface capacity for discernment.
- Satan will make a serious effort to mislead us. He is very clever and will disguise himself as good. “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14, ESV). He “prowls” (1 Pet. 5:8) and “schemes” (Eph. 6:11, ESV).
- Generally, if an impression satisfies the above guidelines, fits your life, leads to good, and others agree or have no objections, then it is safe to start moving in that direction. As you move your discernment should become clearer.
Next week we look at more guidelines for discernment.
