Developing Discernment in Your Life

Ezekiel 44:23

And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

One of the great problems of our day is people who have no discernment. Discernment is the ability to see what is right and wrong, not only for the present, but also in the future. It does not matter if something is right in the present, but where does it lead in the future? Sometimes, something may be expedient for the present, but it will lead to the wrong direction in the future. Let me share several things that you must do to develop discernment in your own life.

First, learn that discernment is not developed overnight. The book of Proverbs shows a young man who is simple, but develops wisdom, and afterwards he develops understanding. It takes time to develop wisdom and understanding, and it takes time to develop discernment. You will never develop discernment in your life if you are not aware of right and wrong. Discernment is developed over time as you follow the principles that I will teach next.

Second, you must teach what is right and wrong. Nobody develops discernment without teaching. It is critical that we teach God's Word. The teaching of God's Word is not just a one-time thing, but it ought to be taught repetitiously so that it is ingrained in the heart of the one being taught.

Third, show someone what is right. Teaching without an example only gives head knowledge without the ability to develop discernment. Notice that I did not say to show right and wrong. If I show someone what is right, they will know what is wrong when it disagrees with the right that they have been taught. We have ruined too many people by teaching them wrong when we just need to teach people what is right. Teaching what is right will reveal what is wrong.

Fourth, be repetitive in teaching and showing. You could never teach right and show what is right too much. We learn by repetition; therefore, we must be sure always to teach and show those whom we are trying to develop discernment in repetitiously.

Fifth, teach history. History has a way of showing us what is right and wrong. One of the great mistakes we make is that we avoid history’s lessons when we ought to teach them because history’s decisions show what will happen in the future. Discernment often looks to history to find out where something will take us if we do the same thing. Don't try to recreate history, but follow its lessons, and you will find discernment will find you.

Sixth, live by principles. If you let principles guide you instead of feelings, you will find that discernment will guide you. Set up the principles that you will live by before facing decisions, and then you must live by those principles if you want to have discernment in your life.

Seventh, let the direction that decisions will take you guide you. Direction is critical because it determines where you will be in the future. Therefore, discernment will be found when you make your decisions based on the direction that something will take you. If the direction that a decision will take you will become wrong in the future, then don't do it. Direction is the most essential thing that you follow in making decisions, for the direction of decisions will dictate your destination in the future.