It has been on my mind to start a summer series entitled “The Struggle Is Real”. Often times so many people deal with the same day to day struggles in life but we hardly ever hear about them, see them, or know how others dealt with them. I believe that one of the few reasons God takes us through struggles and hardships is to be able to share our story (testimony) with other individuals to help them whenever they may face similar times in their lives (take a look at all of the testimonies God left us through different individuals in the Bible). Over the next 3 months, this series will highlight struggles that many people face but do not typically talk about.
I remember going out with friends and when we arrived where we were going, there was something about the atmosphere that immediately did not feel right to me. I wasn’t sure exactly what it was but it felt like a combination between the music, the people and my surrounding that just didn’t sit right with me, and while I used to be very comfortable in those environments in the past, something about it bothered me in the present. Despite the fact that I felt immediate discomfort in the environment that I had placed myself in, I stayed, I socialized with people, I danced, I sang, I drank, and I chilled. To me, it didn’t make sense to leave when I had just arrived and was with friends who seemed to be enjoying themselves. It wasn’t until the following day that I was able to truly recognize the mistake I made by staying since I was unintentionally rejecting the discernment God placed within me that was pulling me to go.
I remember going out with friends and when we arrived where we were going, there was something about the atmosphere that immediately did not feel right to me. I wasn’t sure exactly what it was but it felt like a combination between the music, the people and my surrounding that just didn’t sit right with me, and while I used to be very comfortable in those environments in the past, something about it bothered me in the present. Despite the fact that I felt immediate discomfort in the environment that I had placed myself in, I stayed, I socialized with people, I danced, I sang, I drank, and I chilled. To me, it didn’t make sense to leave when I had just arrived and was with friends who seemed to be enjoying themselves. It wasn’t until the following day that I was able to truly recognize the mistake I made by staying since I was unintentionally rejecting the discernment God placed within me that was pulling me to go.
When God blesses you with the gift of discernment, the ability to know right from wrong, the ability to be able to assess a particular situation or atmosphere/environment that you’re about to enter or that you’re in, you need to cherish that discernment. You need to listen to that discernment. You need to acknowledge that discernment and immediately remove yourself from the situation or make quick changes so that you may make the right decision. It is so important to never allow the things of this world the power to interfere with what God has planned for your future. By not acknowledging the discernment that God has blessed you with, you create opportunity for different things of the world to throw you off track and blur your focus from the journey that God is trying to lead you on.
If you have ever been in a situation where you did not feel comfortable in the environment that you placed yourself in but you stayed because you were the only one that seemed to be bothered, or you made a decision to do something that in the back of your mind you knew might be wrong, this message is for you. I believe that God wants you to understand the importance of acknowledging your discernment no matter what, because it has a direct correlation to your destiny, and more importantly, to your alignment with God’s will and the Spirit of God.
If you have ever been in a situation where you did not feel comfortable in the environment that you placed yourself in but you stayed because you were the only one that seemed to be bothered, or you made a decision to do something that in the back of your mind you knew might be wrong, this message is for you. I believe that God wants you to understand the importance of acknowledging your discernment no matter what, because it has a direct correlation to your destiny, and more importantly, to your alignment with God’s will and the Spirit of God.
Back in February, I remember opening my bible and reading this verse one day: “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14 NIV).
When I read the notes at the bottom of my bible one part stated: “Don’t expect most people to approve or understand your decision to follow Christ. It all seems so silly to them. Just as a tone-deaf person cannot appreciate fine music, the person who rejects God cannot understand God’s beautiful message.
When I read the notes at the bottom of my bible one part stated: “Don’t expect most people to approve or understand your decision to follow Christ. It all seems so silly to them. Just as a tone-deaf person cannot appreciate fine music, the person who rejects God cannot understand God’s beautiful message.
God has chosen you out of the crowd (how special must you be to him) and although everyone will not be able to understand your decisions, it is important that when you feel God trying to pull you out of a situation or into a certain direction to make the right decision by following the Spirit of God, not man. Man will not be able to always interpret your discernment because it is a gift that comes from the Spirit of God and everyone may not accept things that come from the Spirit of God. That is why you have to be able to distinguish your discernment independently and follow it.
“The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning” Proverbs 17:24 (NIV).
In the month of July, remember that when you continuously reject or ignore the discernment that God has blessed you with it will begin to become more difficult for you to make knowledgeable decisions. Allow your gift of discernment to direct your path and keep you aligned with what God has destined for your future. By acknowledging your discernment, wisdom will easily follow.
“The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning” Proverbs 17:24 (NIV).
In the month of July, remember that when you continuously reject or ignore the discernment that God has blessed you with it will begin to become more difficult for you to make knowledgeable decisions. Allow your gift of discernment to direct your path and keep you aligned with what God has destined for your future. By acknowledging your discernment, wisdom will easily follow.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Great is your mercy and faithfulness and for that we honor your name. Thank you for blessing us with the gift of discernment. Though we are undeserving of such an invaluable gift, we recognize the magnitude of the blessing you have given us and we gratefully glorify your name. Thank you for choosing us, thank you for blessing us, thank you for loving us, thank you for entrusting us, thank you for your commitment to us despite our occasional idiotic decisions that go against your will. We pray that you continue to teach us knowledge and good judgement (Psalm 119:66 NIV) so that we may continuously make clear distinctions between the holy and the common (.Leviticus 10:10 NIV). Give us the strength to immediately take action when our gift of discernment pulls us in a particular direction so that we may stay aligned with your will. We pray that throughout the entire month of July that through our gift of discernment we are covered and blessed in every area of our lives. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Heavenly Father,
Great is your mercy and faithfulness and for that we honor your name. Thank you for blessing us with the gift of discernment. Though we are undeserving of such an invaluable gift, we recognize the magnitude of the blessing you have given us and we gratefully glorify your name. Thank you for choosing us, thank you for blessing us, thank you for loving us, thank you for entrusting us, thank you for your commitment to us despite our occasional idiotic decisions that go against your will. We pray that you continue to teach us knowledge and good judgement (Psalm 119:66 NIV) so that we may continuously make clear distinctions between the holy and the common (.Leviticus 10:10 NIV). Give us the strength to immediately take action when our gift of discernment pulls us in a particular direction so that we may stay aligned with your will. We pray that throughout the entire month of July that through our gift of discernment we are covered and blessed in every area of our lives. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.