How Do We Discern ?

Dusty

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How Do We Discern ?

I know this is a question we all ask - How do I discern God's personal will ?

First of all look at Proverbs 3: 5-6 ..... Trust in the LORD with ALL your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in All your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight


OUr guidance depends on God .... not us . He tells us - " He will direct our paths ' But how?

Well, when we put our trust in Him, focus upon Him , make Him first in our lives , honour and obey His Word and patttern our lives in such a way as to give Him all the praise , honour and glory .

When we desire the things of God instead of the world our whole being is turned around delighting in the Lord instead of our desires . Like David said " Delight yourself in the Lord , and He will give you the desires of your heart " Psalm 37 :4 . But not worldly desires, but heartfelt desires to please Christ no matter what the cost.

Ok .... How do we know if it is just our thinking is really from God ?

First : I would say - Does our desire line up with scripture ?

Second : What do my inner convictions say ? And there again I need to refer to scripture .

Thirdly : Do my present circunstances allow me to venture out with out neglecting relationships and obligations?

Fourthly : What do releiable friends and others say ?
We can listen to their advice , weigh the situation , pray but bottom line we must trust the Lord to deliver the right decision cause it is us who own the decision .

Some more questions to ask oneself -

Am I the benificary or does my desision enable me to serve others?

Will this decison draw me deeper into a walk with Jesus or draw me away from Him ?

 
Dusty, that is all great counsel. Let me throw a monkey wrench from the experience of the desert monks.

They attempted to free themselves of the temptations of the flesh. The more they pursued rigorous righteousness and modesty, the more they focused on SELF in a competition to be more meek than the next, or more self-effacing than the next.

What would happen if in every circumstance, you simply put someone else first? Rather than "What would God have ME do?" it would be "What would God desire for him or her?" Isn't that the essence of Love? Selflessness doesn't even think of self in the equation. It is the opposite of original sin which seeks to live by animal instinct, self first, rather than by the Word of God. Living habitually... unthinking about what God desires for the moment, is the essence of sin.

Blessings in your walk.
 
Thanks for that Bob .

What would happen if in every circumstance, you simply put someone else first? Rather than "What would God have ME do?" it would be "What would God desire for him or her?" Isn't that the essence of Love? Selflessness doesn't even think of self in the equation. It is the opposite of original sin which seeks to live by animal instinct, self first, rather than by the Word of God. Living habitually... unthinking about what God desires for the moment, is the essence of sin.

So true that not thinking and acting in love for some one else is the essence of God's requirement . If we really love God then , yes we will put others ahead of ourselves and the fruit of our labour will become evident . OUr thinking does need to line up with God's desires and in order for us to do that we need to be in the Word to learn about God's character and also be taught by the Holy Spirit .
 
I just read your other thread
Our Agenda ----- God's Will

You already knew this and are just teasing us now ;-)

Ha ha ... Good Catch ...... Cause there are members here who were asking about God's will for their life.

And I wrote that one after this one cause it seemed no one was reading this one .Or at least they did not comment.

I seem to get a bee in my bonnet and just go with it ..... LOL
 
He tells us - "He will direct our paths" - But how?

I thought this was the most beautiful part of your post - there's something rather haunting about 'He will direct our paths' for me, because I see that God does things way beforehand and we don't even realize it until after the fact.
 
I thought this was the most beautiful part of your post - there's something rather haunting about 'He will direct our paths' for me, because I see that God does things way beforehand and we don't even realize it until after the fact.

That's exactly right . That's why He is God and He is all knowing and goes before us preparing the way when we trust Him . He knows the future ... we don't and that to me is comforting cause , He is there .Just like it says in Psalm 23 .... He prepares the table before us . 5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows
 
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