10 Bible Verses on Discernment
Discernment is a gift from God, which helps us to tell good from evil, truth from lies, and to perceive and understand hidden truths. For us as christians, this means checking that our choices, our thoughts, our desires and our actions match up with our goal of doing and being good, and with God’s will. Discernment, or “spiritual wisdom,” is therefore closely related to wisdom, which allows us to understand the will of God, “what pleases the Lord” (Ephesians 5:10) and is good for us.
Meditate on these 10 bible passages on discernment, to pray for the gift of holy wisdom to enlighten our intellect, so that we may discern clearly at all times.
To discern the will of God in your life, listen to His word, every day!
10 biblical readings to pray for the grace of spiritual discernment
Discerning God’s will
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. ” (Romans 12: 2)
Discernment as spiritual wisdom
" The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him — the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding" (Isaiah 11: 2)
"I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence ; I possess knowledge and discretion" (Proverbs 8:12)
God, the source of all wisdom
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1: 5)
“It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” (1 Corinthians 1: 30)
Righteousness: the fruit of spiritual discernment
“No harm overtakes the righteous, but the wicked have their fill of trouble.” (Proverbs 12: 21)
“So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong!” (1 Kings 3: 9)
Discerning of spirits
"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God" (1 John 4:1)
Letting God transform us to welcome the gift of discernment
“And this is my prayer: 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.” (Philippians 1: 9-10)
Pray in community with Hozana to learn spiritual discernment !
Throughout the journey of life we constantly have to choose, to make decisions, which can sometimes be very difficult. At these times, we may question how to do God’s will, and how to be sure that we are making the right choices. This is when we should pray, asking God to light our path and to send us the spirit of wisdom, a holy gift which enlightens our understanding.
Pray in community with Hozana to be given the grace of spiritual discernment, with one of these groups :
Follow a 9 day retreat with St Ignatius of Loyola, who guides us through prayer to align our intellect and thoughts with God's holy wisdom.
Pray to the Holy Spirit to receive the seven holy gifts, including wisdom which allows us to discern God’s will in all things.
Open your heart to God and listen for His wisdom by meditating on the Good News every day: little by little, His holy word will shape your consciousness and enable you to receive His graces.
Daily Gospel Reflections with Catholic Mom - Hozana
Five Days to Learn to Pray with the Bible - Hozana
Other Common Questions About Discernment
What is discernment?
Discernment is the ability to judge and evaluate matters wisely. Spiritual discernment enables reflection and decision-making in the light of the Holy Spirit, allowing us to act with wisdom. The Ecumenical Translation of the Bible (TOB) defines discernment as: "the virtue of prudence, intelligence, and practical reason."
What is the gift of discernment?
The gift of discernment is a charism received from the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul details the various charisms given by the Holy Spirit for building God's Kingdom in his first letter to the Corinthians:
"To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues." (1 Corinthians 12:8–10)
How can we act with greater discernment in life?
When facing decisions, we should pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance in discerning the right path and following God's will. The Desert Fathers extensively practiced discernment and offer valuable teachings on this virtue.
