I spent two years focused on one primary goal: regaining my strength. An injured powerlifter is often conflicted. Do we decide for ourselves when we are ready to return to lifting, or do we follow the doctor’s advice? My personal choice after my shoulder surgery was to behave. I say that like I actually had a choice, lol. My husband, my coach, and my bestie would have killed me if I hadn’t done exactly what the doctor said!
There were days, as I felt better, when I struggled with what to do. So I texted the surgeon, or called the physical therapist, or asked my coach for help. It took discernment by each professional to take me from post-op to rehab, from rehab to recovery, from recovery to rebuilding strength, and from rebuilding strength to competing again at an international level. I couldn’t have done this without guidance.
“Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right?”
Luke 12:57 NLT
Seeing this question, I thought about how Jesus taught using stories that His listeners had to pay attention to. They had to discern what applied to them and decide what to do. So how can we determine for ourselves what is right? Discernment is a muscle that can be trained. It’s a muscle that grows with devotion and discipline. Those who chew solid food, (the Word of God) are mature. Time in the Word develops our muscle of recognizing the difference between right and wrong. (Heb 5:14 NLT)
Decide for Ourselves
Discernment isn’t about guessing; it’s about filtering through the information we have, listening to the Holy Spirit, and taking the wisest action. Self-scrutiny is key to assessing our growth and acknowledging where we are in the discipleship process. There may be days when we struggle to decide what is right. On those days, it’s vital that we pray, glean from the Word, and seek out godly counsel.
Discernment doesn’t come all at once; it’s developed over time through spiritual discipline. Like rebuilding strength after injury, discernment requires wisdom, humility, and maturity. As we grow in Him, we become more confident in recognizing His voice and making decisions that align with His will. So don’t rush. Decide for yourself to train the muscle and then trust Him in the process.
*For those of you who prayer walk, ponder where you are in the discipleship process. And for this week’s screensaver click here.