Hebrews 4:12-13 12 For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Spiritual discernment is the ability to see life from God’s perspective. It requires that we know how He thinks and acts. The Bible is His unchanging, infallible revelation of Himself. However, the Lord doesn’t simply give us a list of facts about His character and ways. All throughout the pages of Scripture, He illustrates who He is and how He operates.

Although an ancient book, the Bible is in no way obsolete. Its stories may have taken place centuries ago, but its principles and applications are still relevant, offering discernment about situations and guidance for decisions.

God’s Word—which Ephesians 6:17 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: refers to as “the sword of the Spirit”— is active and piercing, like a surgeon’s scalpel. The words don’t simply sit on the page; rather, they penetrate our heart and judge our thoughts and motives. This convicting quality is why some Christians avoid reading the Bible. They prefer to live on a surface level but never understand why they react to situations the way they do. If we don’t want to keep making the same mistakes, it’s essential that we become discerning about ourselves. The way to do that is by approaching the Word of God with an open spirit. Then God will bring to light our hidden motives and unrecognized sins.

Spiritual discernment involves seeing not just circumstances but also ourselves from God’s perspective. Have you learned to embrace the piercing sword of Scripture, or have you avoided doing so because it makes you uncomfortable? Remember, whenever the Lord uses a surgical knife, His purpose is always to make us healthier.

Bible In One Year: Psalms 139-144 Chapter 139 1 O Jehovah, thou hast searched me, and known `me'. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; Thou understandest my thought afar off. 3 Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, And art acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word in my tongue, But, lo, O Jehovah, thou knowest it altogether. 5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, And laid thy hand upon me. 6 `Such' knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain unto it. 7 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall overwhelm me, And the light about me shall be night; 12 Even the darkness hideth not from thee, But the night shineth as the day: The darkness and the light are both alike `to thee'. 13 For thou didst form my inward parts: Thou didst cover me in my mother's womb. 14 I will give thanks unto thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Wonderful are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well. 15 My frame was not hidden from thee, When I was made in secret, `And' curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, `Even' the days that were ordained `for me', When as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: When I awake, I am still with thee. 19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: Depart from me therefore, ye bloodthirsty men. 20 For they speak against thee wickedly, And thine enemies take `thy name' in vain. 21 Do not I hate them, O Jehovah, that hate thee? And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? 22 I hate them with perfect hatred: They are become mine enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts; 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 140 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Chapter 140 1 Deliver me, O Jehovah, from the evil man; Preserve me from the violent man: 2 Who devise mischiefs in their heart; Continually do they gather themselves together for war. 3 They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent; Adders' poison is under their lips. Selah 4 Keep me, O Jehovah, from the hands of the wicked; Preserve me from the violent man: Who have purposed to thrust aside my steps. 5 The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; They have spread a net by the wayside; They have set gins for me. Selah 6 I said unto Jehovah, Thou art my God: Give ear unto the voice of my supplications, O Jehovah. 7 O Jehovah the Lord, the strength of my salvation, Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. 8 Grant not, O Jehovah, the desires of the wicked; Further not his evil device, `lest' they exalt themselves. Selah 9 As for the head of those that compass me about, Let the mischief of their own lips cover them. 10 Let burning coals fall upon them: Let them be cast into the fire, Into deep pits, whence they shall not rise. 11 An evil speaker shall not be established in the earth: Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him. 12 I know that Jehovah will maintain the cause of the afflicted, And justice for the needy. 13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: The upright shall dwell in thy presence. Psalm 141 A Psalm of David. Chapter 141 1 Jehovah, I have called upon thee; make haste unto me: Give ear unto my voice, when I call unto thee. 2 Let my prayer be set forth as incense before thee; The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. 3 Set a watch, O Jehovah, before my mouth; Keep the door of my lips. 4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, To practise deeds of wickedness With men that work iniquity: And let me not eat of their dainties. 5 Let the righteous smite me, `it shall be' a kindness; And let him reprove me, `it shall be as' oil upon the head; Let not my head refuse it: For even in their wickedness shall my prayer continue. 6 Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock; And they shall hear my words; for they are sweet. 7 As when one ploweth and cleaveth the earth, Our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol. 8 For mine eyes are unto thee, O Jehovah the Lord: In thee do I take refuge; leave not my soul destitute. 9 Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, And from the gins of the workers of iniquity. 10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, Whilst that I withal escape. Psalm 142 Maschil of David, when he was in the cave; a Prayer. Chapter 142 1 I cry with my voice unto Jehovah; With my voice unto Jehovah do I make supplication. 2 I pour out my complaint before him; I show before him my trouble. 3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walk Have they hidden a snare for me. 4 Look on `my' right hand, and see; For there is no man that knoweth me: Refuge hath failed me; No man careth for my soul. 5 I cried unto thee, O Jehovah; I said, Thou art my refuge, My portion in the land of the living. 6 Attend unto my cry; For I am brought very low: Deliver me from my persecutors; For they are stronger than I. 7 Bring my soul out of prison, That I may give thanks unto thy name: The righteous shall compass me about; For thou wilt deal bountifully with me. Psalm 143 A Psalm of David. Chapter 143 1 Hear my prayer, O Jehovah; give ear to my supplications: In thy faithfulness answer me, `and' in thy righteousness. 2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant; For in thy sight no man living is righteous. 3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; He hath smitten my life down to the ground: He hath made me to dwell in dark places, as those that have been long dead. 4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; My heart within me is desolate. 5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy doings; I muse on the work of thy hands. 6 I spread forth my hands unto thee: My soul `thirsteth' after thee, as a weary land. Selah 7 Make haste to answer me, O Jehovah; my spirit faileth: Hide not thy face from me, Lest I become like them that go down into the pit. 8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; For in thee do I trust: Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; For I lift up my soul unto thee. 9 Deliver me, O Jehovah, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me. 10 Teach me to do thy will; For thou art my God: Thy Spirit is good; Lead me in the land of uprightness. 11 Quicken me, O Jehovah, for thy name's sake: In thy righteousness bring my soul out of trouble. 12 And in thy lovingkindness cut off mine enemies, And destroy all them that afflict my soul; For I am thy servant. Psalm 144 `A Psalm' of David. Chapter 144 1 Blessed be Jehovah my rock, Who teacheth my hands to war, `And' my fingers to fight: 2 My lovingkindness, and my fortress, My high tower, and my deliverer; My shield, and he in whom I take refuge; Who subdueth my people under me. 3 Jehovah, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that thou makest account of him? 4 Man is like to vanity: His days are as a shadow that passeth away. 5 Bow thy heavens, O Jehovah, and come down: Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. 6 Cast forth lightning, and scatter them; Send out thine arrows, and discomfit them. 7 Stretch forth thy hand from above; Rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters, Out of the hand of aliens; 8 Whose mouth speaketh deceit, And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. 9 I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: Upon a psaltery of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. 10 Thou art he that giveth salvation unto kings; Who rescueth David his servant from the hurtful sword. 11 Rescue me, and deliver me out of the hand of aliens, Whose mouth speaketh deceit, And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. 12 When our sons shall be as plants grown up in their youth, And our daughters as corner-stones hewn after the fashion of a palace; 13 `When' our garners are full, affording all manner of store, `And' our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields; 14 `When' our oxen are well laden; `When there is' no breaking in, and no going forth, And no outcry in our streets: 15 Happy is the people that is in such a case; `Yea', happy is the people whose God is Jehovah. Psalm 145 `A' `Psalm' `of' praise; of David.