Judgment or Discernment

Judgment or Discernment

Luke 6:36 Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Proverbs 15:14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

Judgment: to form an opinion, notion or conclusion.

Discernment: to recognize as different from the will of God.

Judgment says, “I see your faults and you have chosen badly. I can do it better. You will fail and I will be right.”

Discernment says, “I see the choice you have made and it is against God’s will for you. I will pray you receive insight from the Holy Spirit and correct yourself so God will be glorified.”

Expected Blessings!

SCRIPTURE

Revelation 16:9b but they refused to repent and glorify him.

Revelation 16:11 and cursed God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.

OBSERVATION - What do I think I just read?

Being miserable, in agony and refusing to repent and glorify God is what we do. It can be our natural response. These people cursed the God of heaven because of their circumstances all the while ignoring their own actions that lead up to this point. They still were in pain and had sores and still refused to repent of what they had done wrong. Repenting in Acts 3:19 means to turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

Could these people have been so blinded by their sores, pain and agony that they could have forgotten the true meaning of repentance?

APPLICATION - How can put what I just read and my observance of that into practice in my life?

What misery or agony am I in? What do I need to turn to God and confess as sin so that He can wipe out my sin. What refreshing from Him am I delaying with my stubborn attitude of doing it on my own?

I need to specifically sit down and repent and praise God no matter what the circumstances.

PRAYER

Lord God, I confess ___________________________, I am truly sorry and do ask for your forgiveness. I am not just sorry due to the circumstances my sin has created. I am sorry because my sin separates me from your full blessings - it separates me from you. It makes me unclean, it makes me weak. Give me the strength to look at my sins face to face and shout out "Jesus Christ is my Savior and He owns this now! He has cleaned me and I have turned to God and this sin is wiped out!"

Lord, show me how not to blame you for my sins. Show me how to keep wise so that I don't curse you. I desire to repent and to praise you this New Year! Help me fill the blessings book with specific things that are from you! Open my eyes to see them!

In Jesus precious name - AMEN