A Lesson on Discernment

I decided to take a moment and share an important lesson I learned on discernment.  

As believers, we're often heard using the following phrases;  “I feel like God wants me to do this…”, and “I feel like God is telling me this…”

or when giving counsel, we ask "What does your heart tell you?" 

I have to admit, I too often relied on my feelings when attempting to understand God's will.  

For instance, when making a decision, it had to “feel right” and "sit well" for me to move forward.  If it didn’t “feel right” then it can’t be God.   

But I soon come to realize, that feelings are often misleading and that God’s instructions shouldn't be comprehended by mere feelings.

His most direct instructions are to be sought and found in the written word he has already provided.  

Feelings should only be used to second or reaffirm what he already said in his word. 

David learns this valuable lesson in 1 Chronicles chapter 13.

The story begins with David’s ambitions to return the Arc of God to its rightful place.  He gathers his leaders and staff for support on his decision.

David consulted with the captains…, even with every leader.

David said …“If it seems good to you…”

“let us bring back the ark of our God to us…”

And because this proposal seemed right to all the people, the whole assembly agreed to it.

They all agreed that this felt like the right thing to do.  

But just because it felt right, didn’t make it right.  

God had already left specific instructions for transporting the Arc of God in his law.  While they did what sincerely felt right, they directly violated instructions God already provided for a situation as theirs.  As a result, a man named Uzza lost his life.

David was afraid... and asked, “How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?”

Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD chose them  …”

It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the LORD our God broke out in anger against us. 

We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.

In other words, let try this again, but this time lets seek and apply specific instructions out of his word.  

 

“My feelings are not God. God is God. My feelings do not define truth. God’s word defines truth. My feelings are echoes and responses to what my mind perceives. And sometimes - many times - my feelings are out of sync with the truth. When that happens - and it happens every day in some measure - I try not to bend the truth to justify my imperfect feelings, but rather, I plead with God: Purify my perceptions of your truth and transform my feelings so that they are in sync with the truth.” -John Piper

 

"Don’t follow your heart. God did not design our hearts to be followed, but to be led.” -Jon Bloom

 

Our Lord wants to give us continuous instruction out of His word; continuous instruction turns hearers into disciples. – Oswald Chambers