In what ways can we ensure our judgments align with God's perspective today? Hannah, Eli, and a Lesson in Misjudgment “Eli said to her, ‘How long will you be drunk? Put away your wine!’ ” (1 Samuel 1:14) Eli’s snap judgment missed the reality: Hannah was pouring out her soul to the LORD, not staggering from wine. His mistake shows how easily human assessments can veer from God’s viewpoint. principles that realign our judgments • Saturate the mind with Scripture – John 7:24: “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” – Regular exposure to God’s Word trains our instincts to echo His. • Ask the Spirit for insight – 1 Corinthians 2:15: “The spiritual man judges all things.” – Pause and pray before labeling a situation or person. • Look at the heart, not the surface – 1 Samuel 16:7: “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” – Resist the pull of first impressions; inquire about motives and circumstances. • Slow down and listen – James 1:19-20: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness of God.” – Give people space to explain; silence often reveals truth. • Check personal bias – Matthew 7:5: “First take the beam out of your own eye.” – Confess sin, acknowledge prejudice; a cleansed heart discerns more clearly. • Aim for restoration, not condemnation – Galatians 6:1: “Restore him gently.” – Even when correction is needed, love guides the tone and method. practical habits to cultivate 1. Daily Scripture reading plan—strengthens biblical filters. 2. A brief prayer—“Lord, show me what You see”—before major conversations. 3. Intentional listening—repeat back what you heard to confirm understanding. 4. Accountability partner—someone free to question your assumptions. 5. Weekly reflection—journal moments you misjudged and what truth emerged. the ripple effect of righteous judgment When our discernment mirrors God’s, misunderstandings decrease, relationships deepen, and His character shines through us. Eli corrected course once Hannah explained; we can avoid the misstep altogether by aligning our judgments with these timeless principles. |
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