The Gifts of Wisdom and Discernment
This post is a continuation of my thoughts on the unique mind the Lord has given to and developed in me. Something, I remind you, that would not be so had my life gone any other way than including Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. God absolutely knows what He is doing! I have seen more than enough evidence to trust His words in Isaiah 55:8-9, ““For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Only through a deep and intimate relationship with my Savior have I been able to reach this level of submission to my circumstances. Because of His faithfulness and love to me, in spite of my failures to do the same, I have gradually been able to see more and more of the reasons for my experiences! As odd as it sounds I am actually thankful for the design my life has followed! I sincerely believe the promise of Romans 8:28 that I have so often referred to!
So what does that have to do with the mind I’ve been given? Well, in my last post on the subject, I talked about how Duchenne has left me with quite a lot of time for simply thinking. In the absence of the ability to do certain things, I am more often than not just considering and analyzing the world around me. If that were not the case, I would have nowhere near as much insight and access to the wisdom of God as I do! Struggle and suffering have a truly profound way of opening up our eyes to see more clearly. There’s evidence of this in my life already, so I choose to embrace what lessons they have to offer!
One result of these notions has been a deep understanding of human nature through simple recognition of behavioral patterns. Why is that? Because, when I am unable to act the obvious alternative is for me to observe. In many cases, while the majority are doing things, I’m watching what they’re doing. I’m watching what everyone’s doing. I’m watching you. I’m watching all of you. I’m watching you right now, and you’re freaking out! Not really… well maybe. Probably not, but possibly. You should just keep reading. And I should get back to what I’m talking about.
What’s the point? As a result of my condition, I’m pretty apt at making observations. I guess you could call me a professional observer. I notice things that most people are unable to see. I pick up on details that are very easy to miss. And it’s not as though I’m constantly trying to read everybody, it just kind of happens. I don’t have to do anything, my brain does all the work on its own. It’s muscle memory really. The parts of my body that get the most exercise are different than everyone else’s. That’s all it is. I’m basically taking the pill from Limitless. Sort of. Just let me have this one, okay!
Now that I got that out of my system, where was I? Usually by no purposeful effort of my own, I am able to recognize certain consistent tendencies and idiosyncrasies in individuals, regardless of who they are. So, let’s just say that there’s a chance that I know quite a bit more about you than you realize. And that’s not to say that I actually literally know everything about you, just that I have somewhat of an idea. Think something along the lines of Sherlock Holmes if you must.
To put it another way, somehow I can effortlessly read the hidden frequencies of another person that exist under the radar of what is obvious. This can show itself in a variety of ways. The most immediate of these ways being the ability to distinguish a specific emotion with very little information. Another being in easily perceiving deep insecurities or uncertainties in others. It can even show up in thoroughly understanding what others mean even when they err or flounder in the words that they use. In summary, God has enabled me to be skilled at quickly parsing through the available info and in turn make a comprehensive determination.
One more thing, I’m not saying that I’m infallible in my judgement. Not at all! I can be REAL wrong when I’m not thinking clearly or am informed by my own bias. ‘Cause ya know, that does happen. In fact, the better I know you the more likely I am to make an incorrect read because of the complicated minutiae that comes with any relationship. When it comes to people that I don’t know I strive to be much slower in coming to a solid conclusion (trying to apply this more perfectly in all areas). But even in this case I can make glaring mistakes when I erroneously think higher of myself than I ought to (Romans 12:3). The reason I share this is that I would hate to leave the impression that I assume to know better than everyone else because, though my flesh attempts to convince me otherwise, I assure you I do not!
And how do these concepts play out in accordance with spiritual matters? 1 Corinthians, chapter 12 speaks about different spiritual gifts that believers in Christ have. Verse 4 says this, “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.” The passage goes on to discuss many gifts of the Spirit, which I won’t go into. But I will mention a few that I recognize in myself, the proof of which is found throughout this post. These would be “the word of wisdom through the Spirit” and the “discerning of spirits”. The gifts of wisdom and discernment, if you will.
I encourage you to take the time to study what your personal God-given skills, talents, and gifts are that you would understand yourself in a greater way and better glorify your Heavenly Father with those very gifts! Self reflection and introspection are important tools in the pursuit of maximizing both your physical and spiritual effectiveness!
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” – I Corinthians 2:12-13
