Op-Ed: Victorious living includes praying for discernment
By Dr. Billy Holland
As I awakened this morning and opened the shades, the sun was shining, and the sky was clear. I’m very blessed that I could stand and walk without pain. We seldom think about how often we take the basic functions of life for granted. I walked around outside and looked at the temperature on my watch: 70 degrees. I enjoyed the gentle breeze as I took a deep breath. Being able to breathe is another amazing gift that God gives. I went to the donut shop and enjoyed a chocolate-covered selection and a small coffee. More thoughts came to me. I can see; I have a vehicle and can drive; I have enough money to buy a donut; I can taste, chew, swallow, and appreciate the entire process of digestion. I can go on, but you get the point of just slowing down and concentrating on being aware of God’s presence and all the things He blesses us with every moment. Gratitude for what we have is a sure way to stop whining about what we lack.
Even though I’m retired, I stay involved with working on something or going somewhere most every day. I love to write and create, and one thing I’ve learned over the years is to be very cautious about what I read and listen to. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with trying to learn and gather knowledge, but once we receive something into our minds, we are then left to decide if we will believe it or not. I’m sure that most of you who read this column understand the importance of prayer and are convinced that God listens when we talk to Him. You also realize that asking for wisdom and spiritual discernment is critical if we are to walk in His truth. As technology has opened up opportunities for every person with an idea to have a global microphone, it’s important to not allow the ever-increasing sea of voices to distract, overwhelm or confuse our conscience.
Those who are considered truth seekers love to absorb knowledge and listen to people who are recognized and respected as being wise. The question is whether what is being said is true. For those who have not heard of the “illusion of truth effect”, it’s the tendency to accept certain information as reality, based on repeated exposure. When we listen to an idea over and over, our brain decides whether the information agrees with our current level of understanding. This repetitive confirmation is how many of our personal worldviews have been established. By faith, we believe that what we know is truth (whether it is or not). Building our worldviews is a choice, as our interpretations continue to enhance our confidence; however, everyone’s personal truth (including our own) is not always true truth.
I personally believe it’s good to step away from the chaos each day and find a quiet place where we can talk to God and listen to His voice. As I mentioned last week, “political news” is hardly more than tiny shreds of facts mixed with an abundance of biased opinions. This is exactly what the master of manipulation and persuasion wants. No one has enough discernment to filter the truth from the daily tsunami of political garbage, so instead of allowing our minds to be filled with hopelessness, realize that mainstream media and news talk shows don’t care about carrying the torch of the truth; it’s about ratings and popularity. The masses already know what they believe, so the instigators and accusers try to please the listeners. It’s all about giving the multitudes what they want to hear and see, which is how they stay in business. Sadly, many churches operate the same way.
I’m reminded today that God knows everything about us, what we are going through, and even what we are thinking. The best part is that He loves you and wants to live with you forever. He can cleanse our conscience, forgive us, and give us clarity from all the lies and deceptions. In Psalm 100, God invites us to enter His gates and courts with praise, to walk in His peace and rest. Or we can live in a state of discouragement, depression, disappointment, and confusion. As the Lord will never force us to love Him, He also does not make us pray. If what we believe, and who we trust is a deliberate free-will decision we make every moment, then we can know that prayer and discernment are the difference between surviving and thriving!
Dr. Holland is an ordained minister, chaplain, and Christian author. Read more about LIVING ON PURPOSE at billyhollandministries.com.