How to Increase Spiritual Discernment and Recognize the Guidance of the Holy Spirit
Discernment is defined as “the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure; an act of perceiving something; a power to see what is not evident to the average mind.” The definition also stresses accuracy, as in “the ability to see the truth.” Spiritual discernment is the ability to tell the difference between truth and error, and it is basic to having wisdom.
The Source of Spiritual Wisdom
Arguments and debates surround spiritual truth because it is obscure. As the scriptures state, Satan has “blinded the minds of unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 4:4), so God must shed light on the human mind to enable us to understand truth. It is impossible to attain wisdom without God, as He gives discernment or takes it away (Job 12:19-21).
While some have mistakenly defined spiritual discernment as a God-given awareness of evil or good spiritual presences, spiritual discernment ultimately has to do with wisdom and the ability to distinguish truth from error. The Bible says that Jesus Christ is “wisdom from God” (1 Corinthians 1:30); therefore, spiritual discernment is something that comes from knowing Jesus Christ. We learn to be spiritually discerning by knowing Him.
Practical Steps to Increase Discernment
How can one increase spiritual discernment? First, recognizing that God is the only one who can increase wisdom, pray for it (James 1:5; Philippians 1:9). Then, knowing the wisdom to distinguish good from evil comes by training and practice, go to the Bible to learn the truth and, by meditation on the Word, reinforce the truth.
The writer of Hebrews tells us that the mature Christian has been “trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14). To illustrate this process, we can look at how bank employees are trained to recognize counterfeit bills:
- The best way to recognize a counterfeit bill is to have an intimate knowledge of the real thing.
- Having studied authentic bills, bank cashiers are not fooled when a counterfeit comes along.
- A knowledge of the true helps them identify the false.
This is what Christians must do to develop spiritual discernment. We must know the authentic so well that, when the false appears, we can recognize it. By knowing and obeying the Word of God, we will be “trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”
Recognizing the Guidance of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit takes on the role of Guide and Counselor, leading us in the way we should go and revealing God’s truth (Luke 12:12; 1 Corinthians 2:6–10). One of the most important ways to recognize the Holy Spirit’s guidance is to be familiar with God’s Word. The Word is the “sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17), and the Spirit will use it to speak to us to reveal God’s will for our lives. Knowledge of God’s Word can help us to discern whether or not our desires come from the Holy Spirit, as the Holy Spirit will never prod us to do anything contrary to God’s Word.
It is also necessary for us to be in continual prayer with the Father (1 Thessalonians 5:17). This keeps our hearts and minds open to the Holy Spirit’s leading. Another way to tell if we are following the Spirit’s leading is to look for signs of His fruit in our lives (Galatians 5:22–23).
The Role of Spiritual Gifts
The Holy Spirit also distributes spiritual gifts according to His will (1 Corinthians 12:7–11). These gifts include the word of wisdom and distinguishing between spirits, which are vital for the health of the church.
| Biblical Passage | Identified Spiritual Gifts |
|---|---|
| Romans 12:6–8 | Prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership, and mercy. |
| 1 Corinthians 12:4–11 | Word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues. |
| 1 Corinthians 12:28 | Healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. |
Key Gifts for Discernment
- Word of wisdom – This gift describes someone who can understand and speak forth biblical truth in such a way as to skillfully apply it to life situations with discernment.
- Word of knowledge – This involves understanding truth with an insight that only comes by revelation from God.
- Distinguishing of spirits – Certain individuals possess the unique ability to determine the true message of God from that of the deceiver, Satan.
- Teaching – This gift involves the analysis and proclamation of the Word of God, explaining the meaning, context and application to the hearer’s life.