This month, our character focus is Discernment. The operational definition of discernment is “the God-given ability to understand why things happen.”

As the Holy Spirit guides you through the study of His Word, you will be able to grasp the deeper things of God. Having the mind of Christ (or thinking in accordance with Scripture) is the first requirement for learning discernment.

Without knowing the facts, an undiscerning person often arrives at incorrect conclusions, based only on what he sees on the surface. Not only can we misjudge people, but we can also judge situations wrongly. Jesus pointed out this problem to those who came to Him asking Him to prove He was Who He claimed to be. While rightly discerning some factors, they failed to see the greater event.

Similarly, when we are experiencing discipline, do we accuse God (or parents) of not loving us, or do we discern the reasons why He is correcting you and the greater purpose for His discipline? When devastating tragedy occurs, people often ask, “Why did God let this happen?” As you allow the Lord to teach you His perspective, you will begin to see His hand in the situations around you.