DISCIPLINE- D is for Discern

Every summer for the past six years I have spent time on Lake Burton in the beautiful North Georgia Mountains. Camp High Harbour is found way up in Clayton, Ga., and during the 1-10 weeks I would spend there I learned all about the outdoors, how to serve others, about myself- and mostly I learned about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Camp's mission is to teach the person and character of Jesus Christ to campers that range from 5 years old to 17. The learning doesn't end once you become to old to be a camper though. After my one and only week as a camper I was hooked on the place and hungered for more. I worked my way up through the rankings of Staff and soon I found myself not being taught but doing the teaching.

This was by far the most rewarding thing about camp. Having children hanging on every word, ready to absorb any lesson that I had to pass on to them.... truly a humbling blessing.

This summer was my first without Camp High Harbour- I'm in Auburn taking classes and working a far less fulfilling job doing the grind of a typical college student. But I didn't want my being away from Camp to take away from learning about Jesus or my study of His Word- which thrives so strongly at a  place like Camp made 100% for doing such things- so I decided to continue making devotions and here is my first attempt!

Camp has a "word of the summer" for each year with each letter having a meaning- a different lesson/value/tip that the Lord teaches us. This year is DISCIPLINE.

Discipline- D is for Discern

Discernment- to perceive by the sight or some other sense or by the intellect; see, recognize, or apprehend.

When I think of discernment I have no Bible verses that jump out. I can't remember a bumper sticker that says "DISCERN" in the shape of a fish. But I do know that this is one of the most important aspects of following Jesus. You can't believe and you can't follow Him 100% without careful analysis of all the things that happen in your life. Without searching for His meaning in everything we easily lose sight of the path He has laid out before us and begin to focus on US not Him. 

The Lord reinforces the importance of discernment many times in the Old and New Testaments. 

Being able to find the good in the bad and having the ability to see that the Lord does not work in confusion- but in perfect peace- requires many things but mostly I think you need wisdom to discern life like the Lord calls us to. When I think of being wise I am immediately reminded of King Solomon. In the first book of Kings the Lord offers King Solomon ANYTHING he wants. God says,

"Ask for whatever you want me to give you" (1 Kings 3:5 NIV) 

and what does Solomon ask for??? -- not money or fame, he does not ask for victory over the enemies of Israel or for anything material. HE DOESNT EVEN ASK FOR THREE MORE WISHES! 

Solomon says, "Give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong." (1 Kings 3:9 NIV)

This is where the story gets good. The Lord shows his unmatched love for His people and Solomon by giving him more than he asked for --- which if you'll notice is something that God LOVES doing for those who ask anything of Him --- the Bible says, 

"The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”  (1 Kings 3:10-14)

Solomon's faith in the Lord is truly amazing. I pray that given the same opportunity I would have the strength to realize that any riches or material things are trivial in the eyes of the Lord-- the important things are those that bring us closer to Him- discernment is key to having an intimate relationship with Jesus. Unfortunately for us "Non-Kings" of Israel, we must make this conscious decision to be discerning many times- we must actively work toward it. But God is still asking us, "tell me what you want" He wants us to pass our needs onto Him just like Solomon did so that He can reveal His glory in our everyday lives.

In every success He is there, in every failure He is there waiting to give us something better-- and He is waiting for us to ask Him to show us the meaning in our lives-- because it is most certainly there... we just need to find it. 

Today our lives are filled with millions of things that can pull us in every direction including away from the Lord. It is important that we continue to use everything in our life to run toward Jesus. We need to analyze where He is pulling on our hearts to go and those He wants us to help in His name. 

So this week, discern what the Lord is doing in your life. The definition of discernment says "or by some other sense"--- use your faith and trust in the Lord to realize that even if it is  difficult to find His meaning in something in your life- it is there. He promises that it is there. Look for the good vs. the evil. Maybe some things need to be cut out that are pulling you in the wrong direction. Maybe some things need to be focused on even more, the things that are leading you down the right path-- just remember that He is waiting for us to ask Him for His help in realizing what we need to fix/strengthen in our lives.

Always discern, question, and seek in Him--- He will not disappoint.

Thanks for reading! Next up- I is for Imitate

Love,
Jase

1 Corinthians 14:33 

For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.