Discerning Love: Growing in Wisdom and Grace
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ…”
— Philippians 1:9-11
The letter to the Philippians is full of guidance for growing as disciples. Here, Paul prays for something called discerning love—a love that is both heartfelt and wise.
What is Discerning Love?
Discerning love is not blind or sentimental. It’s a love guided by knowledge, insight, and God’s truth. It helps us make sound decisions in relationships and daily life. It’s about seeing reality clearly and acting with integrity, not just following feelings.
Why Do We Need It?
Paul gives two reasons:
- To approve what is excellent – Without discernment, love might endorse what is wrong or harmful.
- To be pure and blameless – Approving what is not good can compromise our spiritual growth and integrity.
Love without discernment can become soft and sentimental, avoiding hard truths. True Christian love, however, can see clearly, act wisely, and still be compassionate.
Prayer for Discerning Love
Heavenly Father, help me to set aside selfish desires and live in true fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Teach me to hold all believers in loving thoughts and lift them up in prayer. May my love overflow in action and intercession. Guide us to approve what is good and excellent so that we may grow in grace and live blamelessly, awaiting the day we see Christ face to face. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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