Growing in Spiritual Discernment

Paul’s prayer for the saints at Ephesus (Eph. 1:15-19) expressed his thanksgiving for their faith in the Lord Jesus and their love for one another. He had heard of their spiritual progress, and he was thankful. It did his heart good. But he also knew there was room for continued spiritual growth.

So, his prayers also petitioned God on their behalf, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him” (v. 17). God had already bestowed upon them every spiritual blessing. He had lavished upon them the riches of his grace (vv. 7-8), blessings that included their enlightenment through the revelation of the mystery of his will “in all wisdom and insight” (vv. 8-9).

The apostle’s desire for them was spiritual growth—the growth that comes from greater spiritual discernment. He prayed that they might take full advantage of what they already possessed. “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe…” (vv. 18-19).

This recalls some basic principles that can help us in our spiritual growth. Consider these questions:

Have I asked God to help me know him and his will? Paul prayed for Christians to grow in faith and spiritual discernment. Surely, we should do the same for ourselves as well as for each other. In his reflections on the word of God, the Psalmist in Psalm 119 at length expresses his joy in meditating on it. “O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all day” (v. 97). “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (v. 105). He also prays that God will give him understanding and insight. “Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law… Give me understanding according to Your word” (vv. 10, 169). We ought to ask God to bless us with greater wisdom and insight.

Am I being diligent in the word? Read diligently, carefully, and thoughtfully (2 Tim. 2:15). Humbly seek to grasp the full significance of God’s word and how it should impact us. Seek to advance from milk to solid food, from childhood to spiritual maturity (Heb. 5:11-14).

Am I always ready to apply the teachings of the gospel in daily practice? What does the Lord expect us to do with the blessings he has given us? What do we intend to do with what we read (John. 7:17)? Growth in spiritual discernment is not just an academic or intellectual discipline. It is realized in practice, through walking with the Lord and bearing fruit. In a similar prayer on behalf of the Colossians, Paul prayed “that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col. 1:9-10).

May our God give to each of us a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him.

Dan Petty