Sunday Devotion and Prayer – July 9, 2023

                               Sunday Devotion and Prayer. July 9, 2023
                                          “Discerning God’s Directions”

“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:6

Sleep alludes me at times, and I wake in the still of the night. No birds singing, crickets chirping, or breeze blowing. Silence fills the atmosphere. I’d much rather awake to the sound of the birds singing …somehow, it comforts me to know if they’re awake, a new day has begun. Discernment is a big biblical word but a straightforward concept. As the birds tell us the day has begun, discernment is the gut feeling guiding our confident steps in this life.

The ESV Global Study Bible notes, “To make straight one’s paths means to continually progress toward a goal. In Proverbs, the emphasis is on the moral quality of one’s life path.” I love how God has woven His Word and creation together to guide us into action, call us to be still, and know He is God.

Discernment for the Christ follower is beyond a typical gut feeling. It’s wise knowing. Wisdom we accumulate over the years of our lives as we follow Christ through literal hell or high water. Each experience we have with Him bonds us closer to Him. Every Scripture He illuminates for us as we take it into our lives opens up a new perspective to our purpose in this world.

Discernment, defined by the English dictionary, means “acuteness of judgment and understanding.” Chapter 3 of Proverbs begins, “My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For the length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.” (vv1-2) Discernment allows us a choice. Each day, we choose what to conclude about the Scriptures we have digested and the prayers we have prayed. “Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!” chapter three continues, “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.” (vv3-4)

God’s directions are not tricky nor meant to trip us up or send us on a wild goose chase. He fully intends for us to end up at home with Him in heaven, after living the fullest life possible on this earth, to His glory. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart;” Proverbs 3:5 continues, “and lean not unto thine own understanding.” “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths”(v6). This life, which is full of chaos and overrun with unfairness, is meant by the Creator of the Universe to be lived to the fullest. Jesus died for it. He said, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Discernment helps us live our lives fully by reading Scripture, praying, and applying it to our everyday lives. Never let loyalty and kindness leave you, Scripture says. “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love,” the Apostle John wrote (1 John 4:8). We don’t live a wise life by studying Scripture alone. Nor do we fully embrace life solely through a rich prayer life. Noticing God and His people throughout our day is wonderful, but alone cannot lead us to life everlasting. It’s a full relationship with God—all of these things combined and a willingness to listen and wait on Him.

Heavenly Father,
Teach us how to be discerning people. We want to follow Your lead, Lord. Jesus promised life to the full, and we want to live it! Help us to see You in every circumstance and person we meet. Shift our perspective to align with Yours, God, for we want to be able to see people as You do. We desire to live according to Your will …because we believe it’s more than we could ever ask for or imagine. As sure as the birds singing tell us it’s time for a new day, direct our steps by Your voice, God.

Thank You for Jesus, and Your Holy Spirit, who helps us hear, understand, and navigate according to Your purpose for us. God, we love You with all our hearts. Tune them to Your wisdom and help us discern what You guide us towards in every situation. In Your son Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.