52 Days. Day 46, Discernment.

Nehemiah 6:1-2 (NKJV) 1 “Now it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and [that] there were no breaks left in it (though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates), 2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they thought to do me harm.” Nehemiah is in the home stretch. He’s determined to finish well. But look who shows back up to try and get him off course, his old adversaries. Nehemiah isn’t taking the bait; he’s operating with discernment. In Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 12 about the gifts of the Spirit that God makes available to His people (for His purposes), in verse 10 he mentions, “discerning of spirits.” Discerning of spirits is the God-given ability to have supernatural insight to recognize, distinguish, or perceive the source of someone, or somethings, motivations or influence. Is this from God? Is it from human selfish-ambition? Is it demonic? Having discernment is very important. Not only about others, but also about ourselves. Is my spirit right? Are my motives pure? Discernment is needed in the body of Christ today. We too face those who will seek to distract us at the very moment when complete victory is at hand. Discernment will come when we spend more time in prayer and the Word.