Prioritizing Prayer and Wisdom in Discernment Process
The process of discernment, particularly in Christian thought, emphasizes the critical roles of prayer and wisdom. Prayer is understood as direct communication with God, an "intercourse of the soul with God," involving direct address rather than mere contemplation [5]. It is a commanded duty, a means of honoring God, and an appointed way to obtain what is needed, especially grace [12]. Scripture encourages believers to "beseech the Lord," "pour out the soul before the Lord," and "draw near to God" [5]. This includes making supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving thanks for all people [8]. When facing affliction, prayer is exhorted for divine comfort, mitigation of troubles, and deliverance from sin [9]. The Bible also records instances where prayer directly leads to divine revelation and understanding, as seen when Daniel's prayer resulted in knowledge being given to him because he was "dearly loved" [7].
Wisdom is intimately connected with prudence and understanding [4]. Proverbs encourages actively seeking wisdom and discernment, urging individuals to "call out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding" [3]. The purpose of wisdom is to know instruction, discern words of understanding, and receive guidance in prudence, justice, judgment, and uprightness [1, 6]. Those who possess prudence are described as understanding their own ways and the ways of God, foreseeing and avoiding evil, and being preserved by it [4]. Diligence in hearing and praying for instruction is presented as essential for securing godliness and the fear of God [10]. The application of wisdom's discourse aims to bring individuals into subjection to religious laws, rectifying hearts and lives rather than merely filling minds with speculations [11]. The Apostle Paul's prayer for the Philippians was that their "knowledge and experience" would increase more and more [2]. This highlights a desire for a growing understanding that informs and guides believers.
Sources
- Proverbs “to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding; -- Proverbs 1:2”
- Philippians “Philippians 1:9 (BBE) — And my prayer is that you may be increased more and more in knowledge and experience;”
- Proverbs “Yes, if you call out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding; -- Proverbs 2:3”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prudence — Exhibited in the manifestation of God's grace -- Eph 1:8. Exemplified by Christ -- Isa 52:13; Mt 21:24-27; 22:15-21. Intimately connected with wisdom -- Pr 8:12. The wise celebrated for -- Pr 16:21. They who have Get knowledge. -- Pr 18:15. Deal with knowledge. -- Pr 13:16. Look well to their goings. -- Pr 14:15. Understand the ways of God. -- Ho 14:9. Understand their own ways. -- Pr 14:8. Crowned with knowledge. -- Pr 14:18. Not ostentatious of knowledge. -- Pr 12:23. Foresee and avoid evil. -- Pr 22:3. Are preserved by it. -- Pr 2:11. Suppress angry fee”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — Is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal. It is a "beseeching the Lord" (Ex. 32:11); "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Sam. 1:15); "praying and crying to heaven" (2 Chr. 32:20); "seeking unto God and making supplication" (Job 8:5); "drawing near to God" (Ps. 73:28); "bowing the knees" (Eph. 3:14). Prayer presupposes a belief in the personality of God, his ability and willingness to hold inter”
- Proverbs “Proverbs 1:3 (LITV) — to receive instruction in prudence, justice, and judgment, and uprightness;”
- Daniel “Daniel 9:23 (BBE) — At the first word of your prayer a word went out, and I have come to give you knowledge; for you are a man dearly loved: so give thought to the word and let the vision be clear to you.”
- I Timothy “I Timothy 2:1 (Webster) — I exhort therefore, that first of all supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks be made for all men;”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affliction, Prayer Under — Exhortation to -- Jas 5:13. That God would consider our trouble -- 2Ki 19:16; Ne 9:32; Ps 9:13; La 5:1. For the presence and support of God -- Ps 10:1; 102:2. That the Holy Spirit may not be withdrawn -- Ps 51:11. For divine comfort -- Ps 4:6; 119:76. For mitigation of troubles -- Ps 39:12,13. For deliverance -- Ps 25:17,22; 39:10; Isa 64:9-12; Jer 17:14. For pardon and deliverance from sin -- Ps 39:8; 51:1; 79:8. That we may be turned to God -- Ps 80:7; 85:4-6; Jer 31:18. For divine teaching and direction -- Job 34:32; Ps 27:11; 143:10. Fo”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 2 (introduction): Men are invited to seek wisdom because it teaches those principles by which they may obtain God's guidance and avoid the society and influence of the wicked, whose pernicious courses are described. (Pro. 2:1-22) Diligence in hearing and praying for instruction must be used to secure the great principle of godliness, the fear of God. hide . . . with thee--lay up in store (compare Pro 7:1).”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 8:32: We have here the application of Wisdom's discourse; the design and tendency of it is to bring us all into an entire subjection to the laws of religion, to make us wise and good, not to fill our heads with speculations, or our tongues with disputes, but to rectify what is amiss in our hearts and lives. In order to this, here is, I. An exhortation to hear and obey the voice of Wisdom, to attend and comply with the good instructions that the word of God gives us, and in them to discern the voice of Christ, as the sheep know the shepherd's voice. 1. We must be dilig”
- Matthew (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Matthew 7:7: Our Saviour, in the foregoing chapter, had spoken of prayer as a commanded duty, by which God is honoured, and which, if done aright, shall be rewarded; here he speaks of it as the appointed means of obtaining what we need, especially grace to obey the precepts he had given, some of which are so displeasing to flesh and blood. I. Here is a precept in three words to the same purport, Ask, Seek, Knock (Mat 7:7); that is, in one word, "Pray; pray often; pray with sincerity and seriousness; pray, and pray again; make conscience of prayer, and be constant in it; make a”