Say...Discernment
Things Of Habit
Hmmm…Discernment; the ability to distinguish, to perceive, to make wise judgments. Not enough people have discernment, especially Christians, who are called to be people of wise judgment. Over the last 100 years, the number of people with discernment has drastically reduced. We have fewer and fewer individuals who can discern right from wrong when situations seem grey.
So, why all this talk about discernment?
Well, it’s a new year, and we don’t want to live the same way as before. With all that’s happening in the world, discernment is highly needed. Unfortunately, it’s not in high demand because it has been forgotten, and those who have it are often labelled as conservative or judgmental. But you will need it. You don’t want to walk through 2025 being gaslighted on all sides, do you?
With discernment, you can;
Break down a situation, character, or relationship and rightly judge what is good or bad for you and others.
Perceive the character of a person, sensing when something is unsettling about their interests or intentions. This isn’t being judgmental (imposing biased values on others); it’s about recognising when something isn’t right.
Identify instigating or manipulative words in conversations, news, or texts. It’s like a combination of grammar, logic, and rhetoric.
Differentiate between supernatural forces—those that are evil pretending to be good and those that are true of God. You can even discern the spirit people carry and recognise if someone is possessed or not. (It sounds incredible, but discernment from God is like that.)
There’s more that discernment can do, but this is what comes to mind now.
How do you get discernment?
The best and easiest way is through God. Ask Him, and He will give it to you (James 1:5). Make sure you ask honestly and sincerely (Matthew 7:7), and you will receive it quickly.
For those who have a problem with God, let go of that and believe in His love and goodness. Your life will be much better. But even if you refuse, you’ll still need discernment to see that God is good.
So, how to build discernment:
(Note: I categorize discernment under "Things of Habit" because it can be built like any other habitual behaviour. See other "Things of Habit" articles for context: Things of Habit 1, 2, and 3.)
Be conscious of the fact that discernment exists and understand it’s not about being judgmental, that is biasedly imposing your values on others, but about judging right.
Practice third-party perception. This means trying to see things from another person’s perspective and assessing situations through their experiences.
Observe and analyse the behaviour and words of others. Pay attention to how they structure sentences and the expressions they use with specific words.
Critically assess information intake, such as news, articles, and videos. Look at the use of words, tone, colours, fonts, examples, and background soundtracks, and ask yourself what the person or organization stands to gain from the way the content is presented. Apply third-party perception here as well.
Reflect on your Character, Reactions, and decisions. Review your past behaviour in a situation daily. Assess your reactions (expressions and remarks), learn from the outcomes, and seek guidance when confused or unsure.
Read books that promote diverse perspectives. I recommend novels and stories because they offer various viewpoints, especially those with different points of view. While self-help books can be helpful, they often promote the author’s perspective, which might not build a comprehensive perception. Some non-fiction books that encourage different perspectives include Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, Focus by Daniel Goleman, and The Philosophy of Wealth by Charles Richards.
The goal of reading should be to explore different perspectives and intentionally build your own. Pay attention to the use of words—words meant to manipulate, instigate, etc. Recognize patterns in how others perceive you, and remember that you can shape how others perceive you through your actions, expressions, and words.
The ultimate goal of building perception is to develop discernment. Discernment is heavily based on perception, and if you cultivate an unbiased, healthy, and good perception, you will achieve discernment. Without this, you risk developing hatred and suspicion. This is why true discernment can only come from God. He is all-knowing and all-loving, and with the Holy Spirit, you can discern rightly without struggle.
Belief is your choice. Remember, discernment isn’t about being suspicious or distrustful of everyone. It’s meant to protect you from evil (bad decisions, unfriendly friends, emotional outbursts) and being misled into wrong beliefs or ideas.
So, this year, build your perception and discernment. Keep your mind safe, maintain your peace, and love twice as much.
Disclaimer: If you have a bad character, you will perceive a character like yours as good and develop wrong discernment, which will always lead you to trouble.
All these don’t seem like something a person can achieve purely on their intellect; they require guidance from an ultimate being. And God hits the mark.
