The power to know
Sophie - December 14, 2009
When I found out that Beth Moore was teaching on discernment at last weekend's Deeper Still, my ears perked up a little bit. Because I'll be honest: discernment, especially in relationships, is one of those things that's been sort of tough for me in the past. I do not like confrontation EVEN A LITTLE BIT, so there have been lots of times when I've ignored a flag in my spirit for the sake of keeping the peace.
So, a lesson on discernment? Yes, please. Bring it on.
Beth began her session with 1 Corinthians 2:6-16, and she said that if we as believers are going to learn to "mind our spiritual gut," so to speak, we desperately need divine revelation in our human encounters. But before we can have confidence in that spiritual gut, we need to know whether or not we can trust what we sense.
This is where a how-to list would be super helpful, wouldn't it?
Well, I am so happy to provide one.
Beth said that there are four questions we need to be able to say "no" to before we say "yes" to our spiritual gut in a given situation.
Remember: 4 NOs = 1 YES.
Here are the four questions:
1. Am I a critical or suspicious person by nature?
2. Am I jealous or do I feel threatened?
3. Do I have anything selfish to gain from this?
4. Are my emotions clouding my discernment?
Beth reminded us that discernment is NOT a critical spirit. A critical spirit is carnality, but discernment operates within the fruit of the Spirit. She also said that we're not called to love blindly; we need to remember that "being entangled with somebody is not the same thing as being in fellowship with them."
Oh, that's a good word.
Anyway, if you answer "NO" to all four questions, and if you know that you know that you know that the flag in your "spiritual gut" is legitimate, what do you do?
Well, according to Beth, when you truly discern that something is off in a situation, you pray and listen for one of four instructions:
1. Run (2 Timothy 3:5). Have nothing to do with them. Obviously if this applies to a situation in a marriage where someone is in physical danger and needs to leave, that person should also seek Godly counsel about what the next step should be once he or she is in a safe place. But if it's the sort of deal where you sense an emotional danger with a friend or acquaintance - or if, heaven forbid, you find yourself thinking about doing things you know you shouldn't do - then SKEDADDLE. Get out of there.
2. Take a step back (Proverbs 4:23). Watch. Listen. Pay attention to what's going on. The flag may be so you don't move too quickly in a situation or in a relationship.
3. Ask questions. If the answers don't add up, ask God if you are to lovingly confront. But do not - DO NOT - do this over the phone. Loving confrontation should always be done face to face. (I missed the Scripture reference here - sorry!)
4. Learn to love with eyes wide open (Obadiah 1:3).
Beth closed by saying that we should be careful not to be cynical (Psalm 116:11), and we must always remember Philippians 1:9-10: "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ."
That's some mighty good wisdom, isn't it, girls?
Melanie
Melanie
Sophie
Sophie
Paige
Paige
Kris
Kris
Comments (13)
Sophie!! I’m so glad you posted these notes. When I heard Beth was speaking on it over at Priscilla’s blog I was SO SAD to not be there! I struggle with this too…mostly because I can usually answer “yes” to one of those 4 questions.
But whenever the nos add up to a Yes, I’d have no idea what to do! Now, I’m gonna tuck this away and make it a point to pull it out now and then for those occassions the Lord brings forth.
thank you so much!! love, rachel
Posted on December 14, 2009 7:13 AM
Sophie,
THANK YOU! I so needed this! I am very grateful you shared this wisdom.
Blessings! Lynn
Posted on December 14, 2009 12:44 PM
Wow. Just wow. I read frequently, but don’t always comment. Thank you so much for posting this for those of us who couldn’t be there. That’s a good word.
Posted on December 14, 2009 5:22 PM
So very timely…
I’ve been praying for discernment, especially as it relates to my teenage daughters (do you feel me here??)!
Thank you for posting. I think I shall post as well!
Posted on December 15, 2009 9:00 AM
Oh girl! Thanks for posting your notes! NEEDED to read these…I’ll be jotting down those questions now. :)
Blessings, stephanie
Posted on December 15, 2009 9:09 AM
This was incredible, something that I really needed to hear…. is there any chance there was a video/dvd/cd made of this teaching. If so, I need to get one post-hastely! :)
Thanks again!
Shana
Posted on December 15, 2009 12:47 PM
Shana - I will check!
Posted on December 15, 2009 1:49 PM
wOW….that was just for me. I really needed that!
Posted on December 15, 2009 6:28 PM
From someone who manages to get all ENTANGLED & tangled up in relationships, this is a GOOD word and a timely word.
Discernment has been a prayer of mine for some time.
Thanks for sharing — I appreciate what you do.
Posted on December 15, 2009 9:32 PM
Sophie and Shana, I attended the Deeper Still in Orlando, and they said that was the taping site for this Deeper Still series - similar to Deeper Still’s Anointed/Transformed/Redeemed Study from the past. SOOO, Beth’s message notes on posted here are the same “meat” as what mine are…you should hear about the DVD/workbook over the next months. There’s just no tellin’ when it will be published! Grace and Peace, Amanda
Posted on December 16, 2009 1:26 AM
Thank you BooMie. This was very encouraging & validating for a current situation I’m facing at church. Thanks for linking from your Keely post.
Posted on December 16, 2009 7:08 AM
I got stuck at # 1.
snickering
then feeling awful about myself
then back to rolling my eyes at myself
No, seriously, that was a great list.
Posted on December 17, 2009 1:22 AM
I have learned this lesson on the hard, hot pavement this year—ending up skidding face first. Really, I have the scars! And you know what I have found? That what Beth says is true! And sometimes, sometimes, the confrontation I have avoided has caused an even bigger monster problem. And I have often prayed, like James says, “Lord, I lack wisdom here and I’m asking for your help.”
And truly, Sophie? I didn’t get it all right this year. Sometimes I didn’t confront when I should have. And sometimes I didn’t respond when I was falsely accused. In both cases, I wish I had.
For now, I lay it down. And ask God to cover. He does that so well!!
Posted on December 17, 2009 6:07 PM