Discernment

Discernment: Seeing and understanding people, things, and situations clearly and intelligently

Clear, intellectual reflection + differentiating right from wrong, wise from unwise = discernment

A person who is marked by discernment is perceptive and acts with wisdom and insight.  He or she is able to see what most do not see and can discriminate between appropriate and inappropriate behavior.

Our wise or unwise decisions matter. They shape who we are and who we are becoming.

Discernment Requires:

• VALUE – Decisions have consequences for yourself or for others. Understanding the impact of choices increases the desire to make good decisions.
• DELIBERATION – Most people make decisions based on how they feel in the moment. Discernment requires taking the necessary time to reflect and thoughtfully consider the options.
• MATURITY – Mature people are able to step back from a situation, have the humility to ask the right questions, and follow through with the courage to make the right choice instead of the easiest, most convenient, or most popular choice.

“Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong; it is knowing the difference between right and almost right.”  – C.H. Spurgeon