What steps can we take to better discern God's will in our lives? Setting the Scene: John 13:28 in Focus “ But no one at the table knew why Jesus had said this to him.” Jesus had just told Judas, “What you are about to do, do quickly” (v. 27). Even after three years of teaching, miracles, and intimate fellowship, the rest of the disciples missed the meaning. The verse uncovers a gap between what the Lord was doing and what His followers perceived. That gap still exists whenever believers fail to discern God’s will. Why Discernment Matters • If men who walked, ate, and talked with Jesus could misunderstand His direction, we must take deliberate steps to stay attuned to His voice. • Because Scripture is true in every detail, we can trust it to guide us without error (Psalm 19:7; 2 Timothy 3:16). • God has not left us guessing; He delights to reveal His purposes (Jeremiah 29:11; John 15:15). Practical Steps for Sharper Spiritual Hearing 1. Stay Close to the Word • Regularly read and meditate on Scripture—all of it, not just favored passages (Psalm 119:105). • The more familiar we are with God’s voice on the page, the quicker we recognize it in daily life. 2. Cultivate a Listening Heart • Jesus promised, “My sheep listen to My voice” (John 10:27). • Build in quiet, screen-free moments, giving the Spirit room to speak (1 Kings 19:12). 3. Obey the Light You Have • “Anyone who wants to do His will shall know whether My teaching is from God” (John 7:17). • Small obediences today position us for greater clarity tomorrow. 4. Invite the Spirit’s Illumination • “The Spirit of truth…will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). • Ask Him to make God’s Word alive and to apply it to specific choices. 5. Test Every Impression by Scripture • The Bereans were commended for measuring Paul’s words against the written Word (Acts 17:11). • God never contradicts Himself; what He says privately will align with what He has published. 6. Submit Desires and Motives • “ You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives” (James 4:3). • Lay ambitions at the cross. Pure motives clear the static that distorts divine direction. 7. Seek God-Honoring Counsel • “In an abundance of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14). • Choose advisors who revere Scripture and model holiness. 8. Watch for God’s Providence • Doors He opens remain open; those He shuts stay shut (Revelation 3:7). • Circumstances are not dictators, but they frequently confirm what Scripture and the Spirit are saying. 9. Practice Patience and Perseverance • “The vision awaits an appointed time…though it linger, wait for it” (Habakkuk 2:3). • Just as the disciples would soon understand the cross and resurrection, some answers ripen with time. The Takeaway: From Confusion to Clarity John 13:28 reminds us that even close followers can miss God’s immediate purpose. Yet, by anchoring ourselves in His infallible Word, yielding to the Spirit, obeying promptly, and leaning on godly counsel, we position our hearts to discern His will with growing confidence. When we do, the fog lifts, and the path ahead shines brighter (Proverbs 4:18). |
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