Living a Discerning Life

Discern: what’s of God, and what’s not of God
1) Be aware [live with our spiritual eyes open]
2) Understand [make sense of it spiritually]
3) Take action [accept the things that are of God, or reject the things that are not of God.

Psalms 19:7-14: The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. {10} They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.
{11} They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them. {12} How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. {13} Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. {14} May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

1 Corinthians 2:10-16: But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. {11} No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. {12} And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. {13} When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. {14} But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. {15} Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. {16} For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

1 Timothy 2:3-7: This is good and pleases God our Savior, {4} who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. {5} For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. {6} He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. {7} And I have been chosen as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles this message about faith and truth. I’m not exaggerating—just telling the truth.

1 John 2:3-4: And this is how we may discern [daily, by experience] that we are coming to know Him [to perceive, recognize, understand, and become better acquainted with Him]: if we keep (bear in mind, observe, practice) His teachings (precepts, commandments). {4} Whoever says, I know Him [I perceive, recognize, understand, and am acquainted with Him] but fails to keep and obey His commandments (teachings) is a liar, and the Truth [of the Gospel] is not in him.