Learn to DiscernSample

Have you ever sat down on a chair and one of its legs broke? 😖 It happened to me the first time I met Cameron’s extended family. Thankfully, I didn’t hit the floor, but there was a loud crack, and they had to give me a new chair; I was so embarrassed!🫣

Discerning God’s will for your life is like building a four-legged chair. One that becomes a sturdy, stable and reliable foundation for your decision to sit on and will save you from future embarrassment and regret.

The four legs are built by asking yourself four important questions:

1. Is it Biblical?

If the answer is ‘no’, stop right there.

However, God’s direction in Scripture is often not clear-cut. In these moments, a specific verse or revelation might offer clarity and confirmation.

When Cameron and I prayed about moving to the US and had many worries, someone shared this verse with us, which gave us peace:

The Lord will perfect that which concerns me - Psalms 138:8

2. What is God speaking to me?

Whatever you’re deciding on, take time to “sit with it” in God’s presence. Listen for His voice in your heart. A great way to do this is through practising solitude and silence. You can find our reading plan on this topic on our Jesus.net - Desi YouVersion page.

The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. – Lamentations 3:25

3. What is God speaking through others?

Two days ago, we discussed the importance of seeking wise counsel. God often speaks through others, and they can also help you to understand what the Bible says about your situation (point 1).

Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise – Proverbs 19:20

4. Do I have peace?

Our God is a God of peace, not of worry. If a potential decision is causing you stress or anxiety, it could be a sign that it is not from God.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts – Colossians 3:15

This happened to me once when I was offered a leadership position. Despite praying, seeking counsel, and initially accepting, I was overcome with stress. I felt that it was God’s way of asking me to retract my acceptance, so I did.

As we conclude our series Learn to Discern, I’d like to end with praying Paul’s prayer from Philippians 1:9-11 over you:

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 for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Hey! You are a Chamatkar

Jenny Mendes

P.S. This is the final day of this plan. The texts from this reading plan come from the daily email subscription Chamatkar Every Day. If you'd like to receive a daily encouraging email, I invite you to subscribe here.