Is there a Spirit of Discernment?
Do we need it?
“How do you know when a thought or feeling is from God?” This is a question I hear a lot from students who learn the Sozo tools.
Sozo is all about following the Holy Spirit, so it’s crucial we use God’s spirit of discernment to keep our spiritual eyes and ears open.
But what if you don’t hear from God?
“I’m a literal person!” You say. “I only feel God’s presence when I read His Word.”
The truth is you can hear or sense Him!
It just may be different from how someone else experiences Him.
The Spirit of Discernment
God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and self-discipline.
He’s also given us a spirit of discernment that allows us to identify what’s going on in the atmosphere.
Discernment is crucial for us to avoid deception. It allows us to distinguish between spirits.
It also helps us to know what to do with the information we receive. For instance…
… when you’re in a session and you hear hopelessness, do you share it with the client? Is it even meant to be shared?
Sometimes God gives us information and wants to keep it private. Sometimes we hear incorrectly.
Discernment helps sort out what to do with our insights.
Wisdom in Sharing
While it’s tempting to share every detail the Lord gives us, the spirit of discernment helps us to practice restraint when necessary.
For example, one of my Firsts was in a session with me. They kept hearing the phrase: Go big or go home.
They felt it was from the Lord and declared boldly: “I feel like the Lord is telling you to go big or go home!”
As soon as the words left their mouth, I felt in my spirit, Nope, that’s not right.
The client sat up and said, “What?! There’s no way. I’ve given up everything to move here.”
Thankfully, people are free to accept or reject a word. But some lack the discernment to disagree and it causes damage!
This is where Prophetic Deliverance comes in. When you hear something, lean into the Holy Spirit and decide: is this for me? Or can I share it?
What makes this process difficult is there are so many voices speaking at the same time: the enemy, spiritual atmospheres, and even people who bring their own feelings into a session.
If we don’t rely on God’s spirit of discernment, we’ll miss out on what He wants to do.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Freedom
The Spirit of the Living God has equipped us to hear, sense, and see what’s going on in the spiritual realm.
It’s a wonderful gift that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
If you’re unsure whether a thought or impression is from God, run it by these sniff tests:
1. Compare it to God’s Word: Does it line up with Scripture? If not, toss it in the garbage.
2. Determine if it Encourages, Uplifts, or Edifies: Unless you’re a seasoned prophet with clear accountability, stick to revelations that uplift or edify.
3. Ask God if a Revelation you Receive is Supposed to be Shared: Is your revelation from God? If so, what does He want you to do with it?
These are just a few strategies you can use to discern God’s heart for the information you receive.
Conclusion
Discernment is a wonderful gift. Each of us should hone it so we can advance Heaven’s Kingdom.
Just as God has not given us a spirit of fear, He also hasn’t given us a spirit of powerlessness, immaturity, or foolishness.
Rely on the spirit of discernment to determine what to do with the information you’re sensing, then partner with God to decipher the purpose of this insight.
P.S. If you need more information on how to strengthen your discernment, check out my online training: Shifting Atmospheres.