“So, give your servant a discerning heart… to distinguish between right and wrong…” 1 Kings 3:9 NIV
Have you ever been in situations where you made a decision that was against every fact, figure, statistic, or proof that was in front of you? You just had a gut feeling that you were right and everything turned out in your favour? Such discernment can save us from troubles we have no business experiencing.
I have turned down big client projects because I sensed in my spirit that they weren’t the right fit for me. Facts, logic, or emotion would have advised otherwise. The few times I went again this warning, I regretted it. For example, I once got a new client and knew at once that he was trouble, but I still went ahead to start the project. A project that was to last just two months spanned almost two years, causing me to lose time and money.
Discernment is a gift to appreciate and nurture. It’s not only meant for spotting and casting out devils but for living daily with wisdom, so we don’t create more problems for ourselves.
Scientifically, discernment improves as we get older. Your level of education and experience also increases your discernment skills. However, there is a place for skill and a place for gifts.
We know that sometimes, leaders are not the most qualified people in the room. In the focus scripture, Solomon didn’t regard himself as someone who could rule God’s people. He needed all the help he could get.
You will get to the point where the responsibility on your shoulders exceeds the skills and qualifications you may have. At this point, all you can do is ask for help.
Asking for help may not be the first thing that comes to mind because you naturally prefer to do most things yourself. This is where you rely on your gut that’s influenced by your level of knowledge and experience.
But how about taking some tips and direction from a Spirit which has more experience than you can fathom? That’s a higher level of discernment and when you access it, it becomes a gift to you, not a skill. Asking, as Solomon did, will help you work differently.
Work isn’t just a physical activity but a spiritual one because you’re simply playing out one of the first responsibilities given to man by God in the book of Genesis, even before the fall. So, as you deliver physical results, have some backend spiritual ammo like discernment so you work flawlessly, with grace.
Today’s Task: Be sensitive to how you feel as you have your meetings, close your deals and work through your to-do list today. When unsure, ask the Holy Spirit for help.
You can share this with someone you know that finds it hard to go against facts. It can be what they need.
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