Activate Spiritual Discernment: 18 Decrees that Expose Deception Reveal the Truth
What God Says
To another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits (1 Corinthians 12:10 NKJV).
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God (1 John 4:1-2 NKJV).
Insight
The word for discernment in the Greek text is diakrisis, which means to make a distinction or to judge. This gift is a supernatural gift given by the Holy Spirit to help believers to distinguish, detect, or perceive the source of any spiritual manifestation. The Holy Spirit empowers us with this gift to know whether such manifestations are of God, the devil, or man. The Holy Spirit has empowered the church with this gift to be able to judge prophecy, to weigh spiritual encounters, and even to perceive a person’s heart, intentions, or motive. I do want to mention here that discernment is not suspicion but rather insight from the Holy Spirit. As mentioned earlier, the gift of wisdom is much needed for all the gifts, especially discernment.
The gift of discernment helped the apostle Peter discern the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of Cornelius (Acts 10:30-35). This gift also helped Peter know that Simon was filled with a spirit of sorcery (Acts 8:18- 23). This same gift was used by the apostle Paul when he encountered a woman who was speaking truth but the source of that truth was demonic (Acts 16:16-19).
Now more than ever the gift of discernment is much needed within the Body of Christ. With so many things being said, done, and released on the earth right now, we need to know that what we are hearing and seeing is of God, of man, or of the devil. The great news is that God has not left us ill-equipped! He wants to grace us today so that we will be able to properly test every spirit that might come our way. Let’s activate these truths by speaking the decrees out loud.
Declarations
1 Corinthians 12:10, Acts 16:16-19, 1 John 4:1-2, Acts 16
“I declare that the Holy Spirit is activating the gift of discernment in my life.”
“I say today that I have the ability to distinguish between what is good and evil in Jesus’ name!”
“I decree that I cannot be led astray because the gift of discernment is operating in my life.”
“I declare that God has given me the ability to rightly judge prophetic words that may come my way.”
“When I have supernatural encounters, I know immediately whether it is from God or not because I have been empowered by the gift of discernment.”
“When I discern that someone’s heart motive is not for my good, the gift of wisdom kicks in, gracing me to know what to do.”
“I declare that I am not a suspicious person but a discerning person filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Daily Risk
Ask the Lord today to help you identify when He is at work, man is at work, or the devil is at work. Let wisdom guide you today.
Prayer
Lord, thank You that You have equipped me with the gift of discernment. Lord, help me to know, judge, and distinguish what is from You and what’s not. Amen.
Importance of Discernment
What God Says
We met a slave girl who had a spirit that enabled her to tell the future. She earned a lot of money for her masters by telling fortunes. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.”
This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And instantly it left her (Acts 16:16-18 NLT)
Insight
Bible clearly reveals the importance of the gift of discernment, especially when we are seeking the truth. Thankfully Jesus said that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth, and He will give us the gift of discernment when it is most needed. This gift will reveal the source of a thought, word, or action, no matter how harmless it may seem. Discernment will detect a demonic spirit at work in our lives or in the lives of others for the purpose of freedom. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there will be freedom!
This gift is crucial in creating safe spaces from a human spirit that is unhealthy, needy, and immature. While we want to help others, discernment will give us the cue to set up healthy boundaries in order for us and others to develop and remain free. Discernment will also help us to live in mental health and clarity that diffuses confusion. We live in a day when discernment is of utmost importance concerning the revelation of who Jesus really is and the conviction of His Word.
Declarations
Matthew 9:4, Luke 5:22-24, 1 Corinthians 12:10, James 1:5, 1 John 4:1, Philippians 4:8
“The Holy Spirit helps me to discern His will for my life.”
“The Spirit of God daily leads me into truth.”
“I am discerning; therefore, I operate in mental health and clarity.”
“I have a gift to accurately discern truth and good from evil.”
“I have the ability to discern healthy and unhealthy relationships in my life.”
Daily Risk
Take time today to reflect on the scriptures above. Ask the Holy Spirit for the gift of discernment. Then ask Him to reveal any unhealthy thoughts, words, or actions that are not from Him. God’s Word reveals God’s nature. Ask Him to reveal any areas of your life that need health and freedom. Allow the love of Jesus to bring you into health today. Journal this process.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for giving me the Holy Spirit who guides me into all truth. I receive mental clarity and soundness of mind. Thank You for revealing the source of my thoughts, so that I can live in freedom and grow in maturity. I ask You to increase my ability to discern truth and lies. I ask You to bring freedom to negative cycles in my life. Thank You for keeping me safe. Amen.
Growing in Discernment
What God Says
And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men (Acts 17:11-12 NLT).
Growing in biblical discernment is fundamentally about deepening one’s understanding of and relationship with the authentic presence of God. It involves a diligent and prayerful study of the Bible, where the truths of God’s Word are not merely read, but actively meditated upon and applied to daily life. As a mom and minister, I (Miriam) cultivate discernment by creating atmospheres in my life and home that honor the presence of the Holy Spirit. We must guard our spiritual gates. This process helps me distinguish truth from deception, enabling me to make choices that align with God’s will.
Immersing ourselves in the presence of God helps cultivate a spiritual sensitivity to spiritual atmospheres that can affect our soul. The more acquainted we become with hosting the presence of the Lord, the quicker we can detect an evil or unhealthy climate. This allows us to foster a life that truly reflects Jesus and enables us to walk in truth and freedom.
There is a devil, and he wants to accuse us of being evil and problematic. Discernment reminds us of the true source of evil while revealing our new identity in Christ. This pursuit not only strengthens us personally but also equips us to effectively minister and witness to others in a world filled with conflicting messages.
Declaration
1 John 4:1-4, Psalm 119:65-66, Ephesians 5:8, 2 Corinthians 10:5
“As a child of God, I do not walk in spiritual darkness.”
“My feelings are not my identity; therefore, negative spiritual climates do not control my emotions.”
“I shift negative atmospheres into joyful ones by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
“I am able to discern the source of arguments that try to nullify the truth of God’s Word and His victory in my life.”
“I recognize God’s truth and minister truth to others by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
“My home is a place of love, righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
Daily Risk
This week take notice of when a negative emotion begins to overwhelm you. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the source of your feelings. Did you lose your peace after seeing a social media post or news outlet? Could it be the people around you? Maybe God is revealing an insecurity in your soul that needs health. Whatever the case, your discernment is for a purpose and that is to shift the atmosphere to love, peace, and joy. Pray the prayer below aloud. Journal your process. Did the atmosphere shift?
