And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11 NIV)
I’m in a Bible study group that recently started “Battle Buddies.” Each of us contributed a word or phrase for which we wanted specific prayer, and then the Battle Buddy was the person who is assigned to pray over you. I have to admit that the person I was supposed to be praying for didn’t have a lot of support that first week. But the person who had me was amazing at looking up scriptures and sending me texts.
The word I had given for prayer was “discernment.”
The writer of Proverbs tells us:
Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you. (Proverbs 4:5-6 NIV)
To me, biblical discernment is part of a constellation of gifts God gives us—wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and discernment—that help us make choices and see the world through His eyes. Discernment is not only about choosing right over wrong; it is also about choosing what is best over what is merely good. It is the ability to recognize where God is leading, speaking, and working, and then to align our lives with His purposes.
The writer of Hebrews reminds us:
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 NIV)
God’s Word is one of the primary ways He develops discernment within us. As we read Scripture, the Holy Spirit helps us recognize what is true, what is pleasing to God, and what leads us away from Him.
This is why regular spiritual practices are so important. Prayer, Bible study, fellowship with other believers, fasting, journaling, worship, and other spiritual disciplines help us stay connected to Jesus, the true Vine (John 15), and sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading. The more we remain in Him, the more our hearts and minds become aligned with His.
These practices also help us do something our flesh rarely wants to do—obey God. Spiritual disciplines create a bridge between our intentions and our actions. Rather than allowing our emotions or circumstances to direct our lives, they cultivate consistency, self-control, and faithful obedience. As we continually submit ourselves to God, we become better able to recognize His voice and follow where He leads.
As we remain connected to Christ and attentive to His Spirit, God faithfully gives us the discernment, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and courage we need to walk in His will. So, today, I pray over you and me:
God of Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, and Discernment,
Thank you for your invitation and challenge for us to stay deeply connected with you, so that we can see through your eyes, hear your Voice, and know what you need us to know. Today we cry out for a deeper filling of your Holy Spirit within us. Use prayer, your Word, fellowship, and whatever other modes you have to bring us closer to you. Help us to be deeply connected with Jesus, our Vine, so that we can walk in wisdom, discover our purpose, and have godly discernment in our lives. Strengthen us from the inside out and inspire us to do what is right. You are our confidence, and you keep us at rest in every situation. Thank you for this gift of discernment. Help us to use it fully and wisely, we ask in Jesus’s name. AMEN.
My child, never drift off course from these two goals for your life: to walk in wisdom and to discover your purpose. Don’t ever forget how they empower you. For they strengthen you inside and out and inspire you to do what’s right; you will be energized and refreshed by the healing they bring. They give you living hope to guide you, and not one of life’s tests will cause you to stumble. You will sleep like a baby, safe and sound— your rest will be sweet and secure. You will not be subject to terror, for it will not terrify you. Nor will the disrespectful be able to push you aside, because God is your confidence in times of crisis, keeping your heart at rest in every situation. (Proverbs 3:21-26 TPT)