Theme Introduction

Discernment: Gaining Insight into God’s Truth and Ways

A generous friend offered her family’s condominium for me to stay in while I attended a conference in Arizona. It was a beautiful and comfortable place a few miles out in the desert. I enjoyed the peace and quiet, but something didn’t feel right. Some unknown thing was bothering me. I couldn’t sleep, and in general I felt uncomfortable.

I finally asked the Lord to show me what was going on. A few minutes later I walked by the guest bathroom—and a piece of wall art caught my attention. Everything in my spirit seemed to confirm there was something spiritually unholy about the artifact. I prayed a prayer of cleansing—and felt a sense of relief.

I was still clueless about it until I walked through the airport on my way home, and saw a book about that exact artifact on display in one of the shops. I skimmed the book and discovered its historic and demonic roots.

Now what? I thought. It’s probably a very expensive art piece. Do I say something?

When I called my friend to thank her for the use of the condo, I hesitated for a moment, then described my spiritually uncomfortable feeling. Before I could even tell her what I discovered, she exclaimed, “It’s the art piece in the guest bathroom, isn’t it?”

She then asked why I didn’t take it off the Wall immediately and throw it out. Um, I might have been fairly certain the Lord was speaking to me—but I wasn’t that confident!

Discerning God’s Voice

I’m not one to say easily, “God told me.” But there have been many moments in my life when God’s voice has been clear. On occasion His voice has come to me as a precise thought or sentence that has run through my mind. Other times specific Scriptures seem to throw a spotlight on something. The words and truths match with things I have been wondering, wrestling, and praying about.

Sometimes people have spoken words into my life—and I have cautiously paid attention but asked God to confirm. Other times I’ve had thoughts that seem crazy, but I write them in my journal, hold them close and privately in my heart, then seek God for further insight.

Of course, there are convicting moments when the Spirit highlights an area in my life that I need to confess as sin. And sometimes I don’t know what is wrong about a person or situation—I just know something is not right!
A critical part of discernment is being open to the idea that God is eager to speak. But the discipline of discernment is learning to wait, test, and trust God to reveal His truth in His time.

In this issue, Jamie Overholser defines discern as learning to examine or investigate the best way forward according to God’s direction. Unfortunately, many people fail to inquire of the Lord—and so their best efforts are no more than human decision-making. J. Lee Grady warns that believers need to be on guard spiritually because the potential for deception, both in the world and in the church, is increasing. Bill Elliff writes about the importance of leaders interpreting our current reality according to heaven’s perspective. In all of these ways, discernment takes practice!

I’m still not confident enough to start taking art off the walls in my friends’ homes. But I pray that I am growing in my discernment of God’s voice in my life. I’m listening because I know He speaks.

CAROL MADISON is editor of Prayer Connect magazine.