Pray for Discernment Part 1

men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do — 200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command; 1 Chronicles 12:32

Who said, ‘I tell you Wellington is a bad general, the English are bad soldiers; we will settle the matter by lunchtime’? Napoleon Bonaparte over breakfast with his generals just before the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Who rejected an offer from Alexander Graham Bell to purchase the patents for the first telephone? William Orton, president of Western Union. Who said, ‘I don’t need bodyguards’? Jimmy Hoffa, a month before his disappearance in 1975. What did all these men have in common? Lack of discernment – and it cost them dearly. When it comes to seeing life’s opportunities and solving life’s problems, you need discernment. It enables you to see what others don’t, fill in the missing pieces, and get to the heart of the matter. If you can see the root cause of a problem, you have a much better chance of solving it. That means when you stay in the area of your core gift, your discernment will be stronger. So if you want to tap into your discernment potential, work from the areas of your strength. But do more. Pray for discernment. It’s one of the nine ‘gifts of the Spirit’ promised to us in Scripture (see 1 Corinthians 12:7-10). Some of Israel’s greatest victories were won when David was king. And when we study the makeup of his army, we read, ‘The sons of Issachar…had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.’ Discernment enables you to see doors of opportunity where others see only brick walls. It will save you from life’s pitfalls and show you what you ‘ought to do’ – so pray for discernment.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to have discernment in decisions before me – and if you have not given me that – place someone in my path with that gift. In Jesus’ Name, Amen