Understanding the Spiritual Gift of Discernment

Writer

Updated October 30, 2023

When looking at the world, people take in information from everywhere, process it, and then choose what to do with it. Some people seem to do nothing with what they see and learn. Others seem to take in their surroundings and be one step ahead of it; they make smart decisions, have an almost supernatural ability to determine who is trustworthy, or seem to always have the perfect advice for a situation. They seem to have unique wisdom.

This gift is called discernment, and it is a kind of wisdom that comes from insight as much as from learned experience and knowledge. In the Christian faith, it comes from the Holy Spirit, and is a way of having insight in determining the true nature of a situation, person, or thing.

People with the spiritual gift of discernment have it, though wisdom and discernment can be bestowed to those who ask for it as well. Discernment is a tool God gives believers as they walk through life, though it must be understood and the believer must follow the Lord’s leading to be useful.

What Is Discernment?

In the simplest terms, discernment is wisdom. The dictionary defines discernment as, “the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure; skill in discerning; an act of perceiving or discerning something.” In the Christian faith, it is a similar concept, but it is bestowed by the Holy Spirit, and many denominations believe it can allow someone to know whether a demonic of heavenly influence is over a person, place, or event. It is also a gift that can be requested, used, or ignored.

One of the harder elements of defining discernment, and finding information about it in the Bible, is that discernment is not always the word used in any given English translation. Often the version will use another word. Synonyms include wisdom, understanding, discretion, prudence, testing, and sense. Any time a reader sees these words, that is a signal the subject is discernment.

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Where Does the Bible Talk about Discernment?

There are several general categories under which the verses about discernment can fall. Whenever good law or lawmaking is the subject, discernment is involved. Good behavior and decision making is another general category. It is also one of the subjects of the poetic books Psalms and Proverbs.

In the New Testament, there are many verses about the difference between worldly wisdom and true discernment, warning Christians to lean on the Spirit for guidance rather than what the world says is right and wrong. The apostle Paul focuses on it when speaking to fellow Christians, and emphasizes it when addressing his peers or disciples, such as Timothy and Titus.

Here are a list of verses about discernment. They are all from the English Standard Translation, so the word discernment may not appear, but one of its synonyms will:

Proverbs 8:5 - “O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense.”

Deuteronomy 4:6 - “Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’”

1 Samuel 25:33 - “Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand!”

Job 12:20 - “He deprives of speech those who are trusted and takes away the discernment of the elders.”

Philippians 1:9-10 - “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.”

Hebrews 5:14 - “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”

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Discernment in the Life of Solomon

One of the most famous stories in the Bible is about discernment. After King David died, his son Solomon was anointed and ascended to the throne. Overwhelmed with the responsibility, when God offered him anything in the world, his request was simple, “Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil” (1 Kings 3:9a).

God granted him this wisdom, and much more. He became famous for his wisdom, and solving problems and addressing disputes became a part of his job. When two women came to him claiming to be the mother of one baby, it seemed to be a difficult dilemma. Both had sons, but one child died. Without modern genetic testing, how would he determine who was the child’s rightful mother? At first, it seemed like he suggested something unthinkable, to cut the child in half. In that instance, the women revealed their inner character:

“Then the woman whose son was alive said to the king, because her heart yearned for her son, ‘Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no means put him to death.’ But the other said, ‘He shall be neither mine nor yours; divide him’” (1 Kings 3:26).

God gave Solomon the understanding of human nature to discern which woman had love in her heart, which had malice, and how to extract the truth. The baby was given back to his mother. The full account is in 1 Kings 3:16-28.

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How Can We Be More Discerning?

True discernment starts with prayer. Just like Solomon requested wisdom, the believer should ask the Spirit for guidance and discernment. God smiles on those who ask for it. “The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God” (Psalm 14:2).

It is also a willingness to learn from those who are older and wiser. The book of Proverbs is structured as a father teaching his son what true wisdom looks like. Consulting God in prayer, asking wise believers for their input, and reading the Scripture helps cultivate a spirit of discernment. Applying this wisdom is where the life of a believer makes the difference. Despite all the knowledge available to mankind, Solomon did not apply it when making marriages, and eventually he allowed each bride to worship any god they wished, leading to the spiritual decay of the entire nation of Israel.

If a Christian applies spiritual wisdom, and is listening to the Holy Spirit, that person will exhibit the characteristics of someone wise and Christ-like. Since Jesus is the model for living life, He showed discernment. He also taught on the subject. He emphasized not seeking the wisdom of the world, which clouds true discernment.

The wise Pharisees and Sadducees - the religious leaders of the day - were unable to identify Jesus Christ as the Messiah because they were too wrapped up in their own knowledge. However those the culture would have viewed as uneducated, simple, or foolish saw the truth. Jesus even said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children.” (Matthew 11:25b)

The more wisdom and discernment a Christian exercises, the stronger his or her faith, and the better that person will be able determine what is right, good, and God’s will, manifesting in love for God and others just like Jesus had.

A Prayer for Discernment

Holy Father,

Thank you for wisdom from Your Word and guidance from Your Spirit. Thank you for leading us and making Your wisdom available to us. Lord, I know that without You, I will make foolish, selfish, sinful choices that do not bring You glory or expand Your kingdom. Please grant me discernment. Help me to understand Your will and Your way in all circumstances. Give me conviction to do what is right, peace to know it is Your leading, and the insight to see when I am trying to discern in my own power rather than Yours. Please grant me wisdom to walk through life safely and in a manner that glorifies You. Show me the times of trial and when I am being tempted, so I can lean on You. I want to live a life that is Spirit-led and Spirit-filled. Father, teach Your people to follow the path set before us, to run the race with endurance, and to finish well. Make us discerning like Jesus.

In Your Son’s name I pray, Amen.

Sources

Challis, Tim. The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2007.

Dubay, Thomas. Authenticity: A Biblical Theology of Discernment. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1997.

MacArthur, John. Right Thinking in a World Gone Wrong. Eugene: Harvest House Publishers, 2009.

Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer who uses her passion for God, reading, and writing to glorify God. She and her husband have lived all over the country serving their Lord and Savior in ministry. She has a blog on graceandgrowing.com.