Monday, September 7, 2015

Are You a Woman of Discernment?


Today, we begin a 10-week journey on learning more about becoming a godly woman using Nancy Leigh DeMoss' book Interior Design: Ten Elements of Biblical Womanhood. Nancy is one of my favorite mentors and teachers. She doesn't water down Truth, therefore, I love learning from her.

Our first lesson will be on discernment. Few women in today's culture have discernment. They do whatever the culture does and give little thought to how their life choices will affect them in the future. They are described as women who are "ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" {2 Timothy 3:7}. They learn about all the ways of the world; about the latest fashion, decorating their homes, makeup, learning about Hollywood stars, attending higher education, pursuing careers, etc. but never come to the Truth. They are not being raised with biblical knowledge and have lost their ability to know right from wrong. Most leaders in our country have even forgotten the differences between good and evil; God has given them over to reprobate minds {Romans 1:28}. Unfortunately, many churches are afraid to teach Truth for fear of feminist's reactions and displeasure. There are few older women teaching young women the ways of God.

We are NOT this way, thankfully. We desire Truth; even when it's hard. We want to know Truth from error and walk faithfully with the Lord. He is the Lord of our life and is worthy of our obedience. We would hate to do anything that blasphemes His precious Word; this is why it is absolutely imperative that we become women of discernment. 

As I was studying for this lesson, I noticed that Day 4 of this lesson is entitled Always Learning! This made my day! We need to be women who are always learning and seeking God's Truth since we know that His way is the only way we want to live. In Nancy's book, she gives a definition of discernment by Tim Challies on page 26, "Discernment is the skill for understanding and applying God's Word with the purpose of separating truth from error and right from wrong." We need to be mature in our faith; "But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" {Hebrews 5:14}.

Several times during this chapter, it mentions that right thinking leads to right acting. We are what we think! The battle is in the mind. If we fill our mind with Truth, we will easily be able to distinguish good from evil and live accordingly. We must be in God's Word; reading it, listening to it and singing it. There is SO much deception in today's culture but God's Word will NEVER change. It is the same yesterday, today and forever. 

There are many of you who have soft, teachable hearts and you come to me looking for wise counsel. It is easy for me to give advice since I spend a lot of time dwelling on the good and lovely of God's Truth. Almost every night, as I lay in my bed ready to go to sleep, I listen to a preacher teach Truth. Since I have been in the Word now for many years, I can easily discern good from evil and try to give sound advice from my many years of living and experience, but mainly from God's Word.

All of you should desire to become women of a sound mind and discernment. Yes, this takes time but it is well worth your time for NOTHING is better in life than living according to the Lord's plan for us!

Here is a video as a follow-up to this week's lesson; I encourage you to watch. If you have any questions you want to ask or insight from the daily lessons during the week, feel free to comment on this post!

*True Woman 201: Interior Design—Ten Elements of Biblical Womanhood, ©2015 by Mary A. Kassian and Nancy Leigh DeMoss. Used with permission of Moody Publishers. You can buy the book HERE.