Discern What’s Best - The Crosswalk Devotional - September 19
Discern What’s Best
By Whitney Hopler
Bible Reading:
“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, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.” – Philippians 1:9-11, NIV
As I looked forward to the weekend coming up, I considered how I’d like to spend it. I loved adventures in nature, so maybe I could hike with my husband in a park, even though the forecast called for rain. I thought of how a coworker was planning to binge-watch a new TV show that I also wanted to see, but I didn’t want to let TV consume too much of my weekend. I couldn’t forget my to-do list of work, chores, and errands I wanted to get through, so I planned which ones I might tackle first. All of those choices were good enough not to be bad, but none of them excited me. So, I prayed about my weekend plans, asking for guidance. Then a good friend came to mind, and when I called her, she invited me to attend an event at her church that weekend. At that event, I experienced renewal and revival from a powerful worship service and deep conversations with my friend and other women there. It turned out to be the best choice I could have made!
We’re free to choose from among many options every day as we make decisions. Lots of good choices are possible. But choosing what’s truly best is only possible with the discernment that comes from God.
In Philippians 1:9-11, the apostle Paul prays that our love would grow “more and more in knowledge and depth of insight” so we can “discern what is best”. This love – the love that comes from God – helps us see the choices we face from the perspective of what really matters most. Discerning love comes as a result of relationships with Jesus. When we ask Jesus to help us discern what’s best, his love flows through our lives, shaping our perspective so we can understand what’s truly important. Then, we can make the best decisions day by day.
We can keep growing in discernment by praying for more knowledge and insight regularly. We can read God’s Word often to get to know God’s character and teachings well. We can ask the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts, to help us see the decisions we face from God’s perspective. We can also pause before we make an important decision and ask ourselves questions like: “What is the most loving thing to do here?” and “What decision will produce the fruit of righteousness?” The more we know God from walking with Jesus, the better we can recognize what’s truly best in any kind of situation.
Remember, the goal isn’t just to make good choices; it’s to make the very best choices. So, as we face different decisions day by day, let’s pray for help to discern what’s best. When we do so, we’ll be blessed, and God will be grateful, because we’ll be giving him glory and praise in the process!
Intersecting Faith & Life:
As you consider how important it is to discern what’s best, reflect on these questions:
- Think about a recent decision you had to make. Did you feel like you had a clear sense of what was best, or was it a bit confusing? What factors influenced your final choice?
- This verse connects discernment with love. How do you think a deeper, more knowledgeable love can change the way you approach difficult choices?
- What’s one area of your life where you feel a strong need for more discernment right now? How can you pray for knowledge and insight in that area this week?
- This verse says that discernment helps us become “pure and blameless.” How would praying about your decisions help you grow in holiness?
- How can you create more space in your life for the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts and decisions more?
Further Reading:
Proverbs 3:5-6
Hebrews 5:14
1 Corinthians 2:14-16
James 1:5
Romans 12:2
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/ZbynekPospisil
Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com!
Related Resource: Relapse, Trauma, and the Power of Community
Caroline Beidler still vividly remembers cracking open her first beer under a big oak tree. She was 11. In this episode of Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic, host Jon Seidl sits down with Beidler—managing editor of recovery.com, author, and addiction recovery advocate—to explore her powerful story of childhood trauma, early addiction, spiritual awakening, relapse, and ultimate restoration through faith and community. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, share this podcast or follow Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
