Discernment, From Mom

Perceive, keenness in perceiving and understanding of what is of the Holy Spirit, examine, question

James 4:7  Therefore submit to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  

Satan's schemes always being with a lie, a false lead, a subtle twist to the truth.

Ephesians 6:10-18  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--

Put on the "Armor of God," especially verse 17 (the helmet of salvation)--protect my mind from the attacks of the enemy.

From me:

How do we have discernment?  Looks like Mom went right to the Scripture (what better authority than that!)  Staying close to God, resisting the devil (submitting to him allows a fog to settle over our minds and hearts, blurring our thinking and clouding our communication with the Lord), and keeping God's armor securely in place.  We have His righteousness.  Jesus' substitutional death on the Cross allows us to be clothed in His righteousness.  The Bible teaches us what is true.  We are to walk in His peace, be filled with His peace and share the peace offered in the Gospel.  Faith causes us to believe God and His promises, to trust when all we see is darkness, or wrongness, feel confused or afraid. We do not have to live in fear of what Satan throws at us!  The helmet protects our mind, our thinking. With the Sword of the Spirit we defeat the enemy's lies.  We splay them open for what they are and reveal the truth of God.   When we are walking in this way, we are stay in contact with the Lord and know what pleases Him.  We are able to hear His voice and know which path is correct. Will we sometimes go off in the wrong direction?  Of course.  We are human and I know, for myself, my spiritual hearing gets skewed by emotions, my physical well being, and my own desires (it's amazing what we can make ourselves believe is God's leading when we want to!).  But the closer we stay in contact with God, through prayer and the Scriptures, the more discernment we will have and the less we will get off His chosen path.

Thank You Lord, for Your armor, for teaching us discernment through Your Word, and even sometimes Your discipline.  I thank You for the Holy Spirit living inside of me to lead me in the right way.  Help us all to hear clearly, to desire Your way above our own and to follow You closely, each and every day.