Discerning What Is Best
by Gail Rodgers
Karla was a capable woman. She usually knew what course of action to take. Yet this time she was troubled. Disunity in her circle was causing friction and people were being hurt. She asked God for His help.
Karla knew it was no accident when she picked up her Bible that night and read the words of the prayer Paul had prayed for the Philippians many years earlier. The timeless truth of God’s Word spoke to her heart…
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you maybe able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:9-11).
We all face situations where disunity has the potential to destroy relationships and hurt people who need to feel God’s love. Invite God to give you what you need in the sticky relationships in your life. He will help you discern what is best.
~Father God,
I need Your love to overflow in my heart. My own sometimes grows thin. Help me to be patient with those I find abrasive and to be gentle in return. Help me to reflect Your goodness to others and share my faith in You.
Father, help me to discern what is best and give me strength to follow that course. Let my life be marked by a humility that shows my confidence is in You and not in my own wisdom. Let my life proclaim who my God is!!
Help me to keep my heart pure in thought and attitude and to live my life in such a way that I cast no shadow on Your name. May my life reflect the love of Jesus and may I share Your joy and bring Your peace into areas of conflict.
I ask right now that You would help me to grow in allowing my heart to be filled with overflowing love for You. Let it spill over to those around me as I trust You to give me understanding as to what is best. Keep me growing in my discernment of how Your Truth can help me avoid error in my own life. Please bring fruit out of my life that will bring praise and glory to You. In the strong name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
About the Author
This devotional was written by Gail Rodgers. Learn more about Gail: http://www.talk.thelife.com/authors/gail-rodgers/
Going Deeper
Consider these questions: Do you need to ask God to help you discern what is best today? Ask Him right now for wisdom in your specific circumstance. Expect Him to give it.
Chat: Join us for a 15-minute chat at 10:30 am Eastern, 7:30 am Pacific: http://www.christianwomentoday.com/chat
Related reading
Help for burned out leaders: http://christianwomentoday.com/growth/desert1.html
14 Responses to “Discerning What Is Best”
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What a wonderful prayer! As I have said here before, my “control freak” nature is something God and I are working daily on . . . and He is helping me to rely on
His guidance more and more each day. I am copying this prayer so that I can pray it each morning during my prayer ministry. Thank you again for answering my needs and being God’s messenger. Annie
WOW! Thais is great. I will be saying this a lot. I see so much of myself in this prayer and have said this prayer today and will everyday. IT could be talking about me.
Thank GOD for this devotional
Dear Jesus, please help me choose my words carefuly, and to stop and think before I speak. Help me show Your love to everyone. Please help me with my bad habbit of always wanting to have the last word. I want to say what You would say. I love You Lord. Amen
My problem is when people treat me badly or don’t seem to value me as much as I value them. What I want to do is just say “forget them, I don’t need them anyway.” When I read this prayer, I remember that there is a better way. It’s so hard sometimes to give up your grudge and let God replace it with His love, but I know that’s what I’m called to do. At the same time, I have to be wise enough to not let myself be vulnerable to people who will treat me in ways that hurt me. It’s a difficult balance sometimes.
I have been reading daily, although I have not commented in awhile. What a great devotional. I truly need this as well, I sometimes have the “I don’t need you attitude.” An eye opener.
I’ve just recently signed up to receive these daily devotionals and am amazed at how each day they speak directly to me and my needs. What a wonderful way to start my day. Thank you Lord for your gift of this day!
Who doesn’t have disunity in relationships? A great devotion, and wonderful prayer. Thanks Gail, and thanks to our Lord and Savior for His word to live by. Praise Him!
I get a new Bible each year because I fill each one rapidly with notes. (I hope to leave one of my Bibles to each one of my children.) I check all scripture reference in devotionals, so I can add the notes to my Bible. I did not find the verse you mentioned in my new Bible [The Access Bible (NRSV)from Oxford University Press]@ Phil 1:15. But,@ Phil 1:9-10.
As I hunted for the verse, I read Philippians 2:14-15. It is also very applicable…”Do all things without murmuring and arguing so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world.”
Thank you Linda for taking the time to let us know our error. You were correct, it is
Philippians 1:9-11.
God bless you.
This was definately an answer to prayer. I usually read these devotionals after work when I go home. But I’ve been struggling on and off lately with a friend issue. At times i’m at peace and then at times i’m really bothered. I prayed, God I don’t want to go to anyone because I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. This was perfect, of course God’s word is ALWAYS perfect!
THANK YOU LORD FOR GIVING ME FAVOR LIKE YOU ALWAYS DO AND THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME DISCERN WHAT IS BEST!!!!
~Jess
~Phil.1:15~
even though that verse was different… it was great :)
Along with Philipians 1:9-11
I was too busy to read the devotional this morning. I kept saying I would get around to it. I was then placed in a situation where I needed discernment to deal with a rather difficult family member who is very abrasive and can be very rude. I didn’t listen to the voice of reason telling me to remember who I serve. I did not take a very nice tone and I hurt someone who really needs to know the love of God. How I wish I would not have ignored the nudge to read this awesome inspiration!
We definetely need discernment and if we are ignorant in the word of God we easily get trapped and it will cause disunity and friction. I treasured your prayer. Thank you so much. I will print them and read them daily. So blessed with everyone’s comment as well. Indeed, we need to shine for JESUS!
God knows exactly what we need and when we need it. Today’s devotion and prayer are just some of the things I really needs. I Thank You for it. May God continue to bless the writer and readers.