How many times have you wished you had taken the time to think about additional matters and issues, or talk to somebody before making quick or rash decisions and jumping off to do something? The world will push us. God, on the other hand, seeks to preserve us. One of His grace gifts is the gift of discernment. Through the gift of discernment God reveals the deeper, yet often hidden truths behind a matter.
RELEVANCE
I grew up in a culture that trained me to be quick, work quick and make quick decisions. Unfortunately, I became so accustomed to acting quickly, that I acted too often in haste. Even when it came to making important decisions I simply failed to consider many critical issues.
How grateful I have become to have a Father in heaven who taught me how to look and listen intently and process details to discern hidden things; the kinds of things I would have glossed over in my youth. I certainly was grateful the day a cardiologist in the hospital had the wisdom and discernment to consider the wide range of circumstances surrounding my health the day my heart appeared to be deadened.
Solomon, the wise man, had much to say about the value of discernment.
“When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you, to deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things, from those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness…” (Proverbs 2:10-13).
Discernment is the key to wise judgment. It comes through discipline, which enables us to slow down a bit to allow time for discernment to flow and bear fruit.
REFLECT AND RELATE
What things typically cause you to cut short the process of discovery and executing due diligence in making decisions?
How have you observed others make rash decisions? What issues did they ignore?
How would you balance too much and too little of a thought process?
REFERENCES
Proverbs 3:1-35